Meet The Team

Becs

Centre Manager

Kia ora,

My name is Becs.  I have been an early childhood educator for over 20 years.  Early childhood is always where I saw myself growing up and has always been my passion.  I have worked in a variety of different roles throughout my career and am excited to have the opportunity to be the Centre Manager here at Sparrows Early Learning Centre.  I love the bonds we make with the Tamariki and their whanau and the fact that no two days are ever the same.   A big part of my teaching and leadership philosophies are based around respectful practice and positive communication.  Away from ECE I am married and have two teenage children who are both my greatest joy and biggest challenge.  I look forward to getting to know you and working in partnership with you during your time here at Sparrows ELC.

Mel

Team Leader

Kia ora koutou,

My name is Mel. I have been working in early childhood education for the last 21 years, with 11 of those years being in different leadership positions. I have always had a strong passion for working alongside our young tamariki and pēpi. I have recently moved to Hamilton from Whitianga with my husband and our 13 year old son.

A huge part of my personal teaching philosophy is based around the importance of relationships that I create with our tamariki, their whānau, and our community. It is through these relationships we can empower our tamariki to have confidence in standing strong in their identity and thrive in our learning environments. When we have amazing relationships with our tamariki, we are able to follow their lead and create learning environments that help them flourish through play. “Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood” – Fred Rogers.

I look forward to meeting you!

“Ehara tāku toa I te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini”
“My strength is not as an individual, but as a collective”.

Arohanui
Mel

Monique Atkin

(Teacher in training)

Kia ora! My name is Monique. I have been in ECE for three years, and am currently studying to gain my Bachelors of ECE. I have just recently moved to Hamilton from Tokoroa as my teaching journeys have led me here since doing my practicum for study over these ways and this is where my partner lives. I really enjoy being able to get to know so many different people in this career. I treasure the relationships that we as Kaiako/teachers get to make between tamariki/children, whanau/family, and kapa/team as to me, this forms a great sense of trust and comfort which will provide a welcoming and loving environment for your tamariki to spend their time with us. I love that each tamaiti bring their own sparkle to our days and have their many ways of showing us the beauty of each day. 

Outside of teaching I love hiking, especially the Mount Tongariro hike, and exploring our beautiful Aotearoa. Study takes up a lot of my time but when I do have spare time, I love to go for a run in the reserve right behind my whare and spend it with my whanau and friends, and seeing if I can drag them along in my walks/hikes. 

Kim

Registered Kaiako

Kim, her husband, 5 children and 2 cats live in Forest Lake and love to make use of the BMX track and mini train railway they live close to. Kim is a girl mum to her 3 daughters aged 11 years, 1 year and 3 months; she is also a bonus mum to her 15 year-old stepson and 10 year-old stepdaughter.

Kim always saw herself becoming a kaiako and after the birth of her first daughter in 2012 she decided to follow through with a Bachelor Degree of Teaching. Kim trained in a mixed aged centre and has loved working at Sparrows since she started in 2021. She adores the dedicated team of kaiako she gets to work with and the open and caring whānau.

Kim is so excited to return from her maternity leave in February 2024 to work part-time with two of her daughters who will attend alongside her – Neriah and Manaia.

Reese

Teacher in Training

Kia ora,

I’m Reese. I am currently studying towards a Bachelor of teaching (ECE). I have always had such a large passion for working with young children and I have been taught so much by my peers throughout my study and my time so far at Sparrows. I always love to have chats with the whanau about their awesome tamariki and I aspire to create meaningful relationships with all of the children, parents and families. I am a confident, bright, bubbly young kaiako and I am very ecstatic to be able to be a kaiako here at sparrows! 

I am looking forward to continuing my study and creating partnerships with everyone at Sparrows.

Tara

Registered Kaiako

Kia Ora,

My name is Tara and I’m a newly qualified teacher. While studying I worked with babies, toddlers and preschoolers where I enjoyed the variety of developmental stages and routines. I’m so happy to be here at Sparrows in a mixed age learning environment where I get to teach tamariki of all ages. I have a patient and respectful approach to teaching where I observe the children and wait for their cues to see how I can support them rather than intervening unnecessarily.

In my spare time I enjoy spending time in the outdoors whether it be going for walks, to the beach or a ride on my bike. Fittingly my favourite place to be is outside in the sun with the tamariki exploring the environment and engaging in spontaneous play.

Roshmeen

Registered Kaiako

Kia Ora. My name is Rosh. I’m a provisionally registered kaiako. I qualified last year and have been working at different centres since to reach my fully registration. I am Fijian Indian and have lived in Aotearoa New Zealand for most of my life. I have love cuddles and trying new games. I often make up games to play with our tamariki.I believe that having a great relationship with our tamariki is the best way  to ensure that we are able to help them to reach their full potential.
I am an avid traveler and have been to a few different place around the world. I love getting to experience other cultures and trying new food.
I love to bake/ cook. I try to make sweet treats for/with tamariki on Fridays as I believe that everyone deserves a treat to start off a fabulous weekend.

Sparrows Early Learning Centre