Meet Tui Team
Meet Tui Team
When children start school at Pukete they will all begin in the 'Foundation' class. This class focuses on ensuring children have the foundation skills required for accessing the formal school curriculum: school routines, phonological awareness, oral language, numeracy, social skills, gross and fine motor skills, vocabulary, understanding about print etc.
When children are ready (based on certain criteria), they will move through to a 'Next Step' Year 1 class for the remainder of the year, where they will receive more formal curriculum teaching.
Room 11 - Caitlin Gardner & Pip Crawshaw
Mrs. Caitlin Gardner has joined Pukete School this year in Room 11. She was previously working in Auckland before moving to Hamilton in 2023. Caitlin has experience teaching Structured Literacy and is passionate about the Arts. In her personal time, she enjoys reading and going on adventures with her daughter.
Room 12 - Nikki Neville
Mrs. Nikki Neville has been at Pukete School since 2020. This year she is in Room 12 again teaching year 1’s. Her teaching background in ECE further supports children as they settle into school. She loves art, music, and literacy. She loves to bake, read, and spend time with her husband and 2 children when she is at home.
Room 13/14 - TERESA Smith (Team Leader)
Mrs Teresa Smith is in Room 14 working with Anna Manukau in the Foundation Class. She has been at Pukete School since 2007. She is an experienced teacher and has a real interest in the teaching of Literacy, Te Reo Maori and our school Virtues. She loves getting to know all students and families and enjoys transitioning children to school and being a part of the beginning of their school journey.
ROOM 13/14 - ANNA MANUKAU
Mrs Anna Manukau is in Room 14 and will be working with Teresa Smith in the Foundation Class. She has been at Pukete School since 2020 and has previously taught in ECE. Her interests include literacy, te reo Māori, Learning through Play and supporting tamariki and their whānau to transition to school. She is on the School PTA, the Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) team and the Health and PE team as the organiser of the Out of School Sports teams.
TUI Release - Jackie PhilLips
I have been teaching at Pukete for over 19 years. I have taught in all areas of the school, and my last full time position was as the Kea team leader. I now teach for 2 days of the week and am privileged to be able to work in a lot of wonderful classes across the school as the curriculum release teacher. Outside of school, I am kept busy living on a lifestyle block in Tauwhare with 3 grandchildren, 4 cats, 5 sheep, a cow and numerous chickens.
