Welcome to the Ruru Team!

Our team consists of five Year 5/6 Classes. Through the The Pukete School Virtues,  Key Competencies and Inquiry Learning, we provide an exciting and engaging programme within our classrooms. We take pride in our teaching, not only being able to cater for the academic side of education, but also offering valuable life skill experiences for our students.  Our aim in Ruru Team is to ensure that children are ready for Intermediate School and we also want our students to know the importance of being a good citizen. 

In our team the Year 6 students enjoy the opportunity to participate in school duties such as milk, lunch and newsletter monitors, staffroom duties and reading out the karakia in the mornings. Some Year 6 students have leadership roles such as Student Leaders / student voice, Road Patrollers, Librarians, and PALS where they have support and guidance from members of our school and our community.

Mr Matt Down is the teacher in Room 5. His passion is sport, he loves to stop and chat about anything sports related, especially Cricket and Rugby. He is the overall Sports Coordinator for the school. Mr Down will be organizing the school sports events and Inter-school teams. BLUE is Room 5’s class colour.

Mrs Emerson Taylor is in Room 6. His many interests include outdoor recreation, technology and sport. He loves harnessing the engagement power of games to teach new skills. Runs the lunchtime MTG card game club and organises the Kapahaka group. The class colour for Room 6 is GREEN.

In Room Four, we have Mrs Erica Andersen. Her passion is for The Arts, Music, Reading and all things admin. You may often hear Mrs Andersen before you see her as she is often singing. Naturally, Mrs Andersen is taking the school choir! WHITE is the class colour, so come prepared to represent Room 4.

In Room 3 we have Miss Sarah Peers. Her many interests include The Arts, Swimming and exploring this beautiful country that she now calls home. She is passionate about the environment and is a leader of the ‘Going Green’ Team and Pukete School. The class colour for Room 3 is PURPLE.

Mrs Sandra Hanks is the teacher of Room 7 and also the team leader. Her passion is children well-being and not paperwork! She enjoys the arts, sports and is excited about the Ruru team using BYOD as she is looking forward to learning alongside the children in this area. Mrs Hanks coordinates our student leaders and will be attending the Young Leaders Conference with them. ORANGE is Room 7’s class colour... ‘GO ORANGE”