Teachers
Years 5 & 6 Team Kahikatea
Jen Carey (Team Leader) | Kia ora, I’m Jen Carey. This is my third year teaching Year 6 at West Park School. I came from Ireland in 2018 and have loved living in New Zealand ever since. I am the staff representative on the Board of Trustees and the leader of the Rock and Water Wellbeing and Resilience programme here at our school. I am based in Room 14 and can be contacted on my email at jenniferc@westpark.school.nz |
Helen Ayres | Hi. I teach Year 6 students in Room 15. I started teaching a Year 5 & 6 class in Room 12 at West Park School in 2001. I have taught every level except Year 1 and have been relocated to most classrooms within the school. For several years, I have been the coordinator of the Scholastic Book Club which I thoroughly enjoy and love seeing the excitement of the children receiving their ordered books as well as running the annual book fair, which is very rewarding. I can be contacted on my email helena@westpark.school.nz |
Jade Poulter | Hi, I’m Jade Poulter, a Year 5 Teacher based in Room 17. I can be contacted on my email. |
Michael Joseph | Hi, I moved to New Zealand from Australia at the start of 2019 and was lucky enough to begin my teaching in NZ at West Park. I teach Year 5 as well as run the bike program, help organise sport and am the teacher’s rep on the home and school committee. I enjoy all sports, playing football for North Wellington FC and coaching a team for Johnsonville Cricket Club. I can be contacted at michaelj@westpark.school.nz |
Callan McNamee | Hi! I’m Callan. I grew up in Scotland near Edinburgh and moved to New Zealand in 2008. I live in Wellington with my wife Ushani who is originally from Sri Lanka. I can be contacted at callanm@westpark.school.nz. |
Jim McDonald | Hi, I’m Jim! I grew up in Wellington but travelled a lot including Korea, China, Saudi Arabia, Australia, and of course New Zealand. My hobbies include sports, listening to music, and reading. I can be contacted at jimm@westpark.school.nz. |
Years 3 & 4 Team Rimu
Nicola Douthett (Team Leader) | Kia Ora, I have had the pleasure of teaching at West Park for 6 years and have been the team leader of Rimu for the past 2. Prior to that, I taught and team lead Team Totara. I can be contacted on nicolad@westpark.school.nz or pop in to see me in Room 9. |
Jeremy Coenen | Kia ora, I have been teaching for four years at West Park School and I am a big fan of Drama and History. I can be contacted at jeremyc@westpark.school.nz |
Paula MacIvor | Hi, I have been teaching at West Park School for nine years most of which was spent teaching new entrants and Year 1 and 2. This year I am teaching year 4. I can be contacted at paulam@westpark.school.nz |
Laura Bell | Kia ora! I have been living in Wellington for the past 3 years after moving from Tauranga and have been teaching at West Park School during this time. I am a lover of performing arts and am the coordinator of art-related events around the school. This year I am located in Room 10 and can be contacted at laurab@westpark.school.nz |
Devon Ward | Kia ora! Last year I finished my post-graduate diploma in primary school teaching and am so happy to be spending my first year teaching here at West Park School. Outside of the classroom I love sports, music, photography, and spending time with my family and friends. I am located in Room 11 and can be contacted at devonw@westpark.school.nz |
Sally Rowe | Kia Ora! This is my 12th year of teaching at West Park School. Over the years I have taught in a variety of roles at all levels across the school. I have two teenage children who also attended West Park. This year I am mainly working in Team Rimu with Year 3 & 4, providing classroom and beginning teacher release. Outside of school, I enjoy sports, cooking and reading. I can be contacted by email at sallyr@westpark.school.nz |
Year 2 Team Miro
Emily Osborn (Team Leader & Deputy Principal) | Hi, I am a Deputy Principal and Team Leader here at West Park School. As part of my role I get to work closely with the Management Team and I regularly work in classes releasing teachers for their classroom release, leadership release, or provisionally certified release time. If you need to contact me, you can email me on emilyo@westpark.school.nz |
Jasmaine Martin | Hello! I have been living in Wellington for 3 years after a overseas stint in London where I started my teaching career. Through this time abroad I have learnt so much about different cultures and love to celebrate a child’s diversity and individuality in the classroom. I love to read and be creative with a variety of arts in craft. My life revolves around family and friends who are spread all around New Zealand and the world so it keeps me very busy. If you need to find me at school I’ll either be in the classroom or my other favourite place in the school the library! If you have any book related concerns or anything for the newsletter, I am the one to contact on jasmainem@westpark.school.nz. |
Flavia Kuntze | Olá! I’m Flavia Kuntze and I am a beginning teacher working with a Year 2 classroom at West Park School. I’m from Brazil. I moved to New Zealand with my family in 2015 and now can call NZ home too! When I’m not at school, I love spending time with my family and friends. You can reach me at flaviak@westpark.school.nz |
Grace Esquilant | Kia ora, I am Grace Esquilant and this is my third year teaching juniors at West Park School. I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, swimming, dancing and anything animal related! This year I am teaching in room 18 and leading STEM club. I can be contacted on gracee@westpark.school.nz |
Year 1 Team Totara
Alisha Mullen | Kia Ora! I’ve been at West Park School teaching New Entrant/ Year 1 since January 2019 when I moved from Canada to New Zealand with my partner. I have also enjoyed working with children and supporting children’s academic and emotional development. I enjoy spending time with friends and family, reading, hiking, yoga, puzzles, and playing volleyball when I am not at school. You can reach me at alisham@westpark.school.nz or feel free to pop in to Room 3 before or after school to have a chat! |
Melanie Goonan | Hello! I have been living in New Zealand since 2010 with my family and it is our forever home. I qualified as a teacher from Waikato University in 2012, and love teaching. I am leading the Enviro Club and having fun involving the children in their school environment. In my family time, I enjoy hiking, travelling, swimming and relaxing with books and puzzles. Please feel free to contact me on melanieg@westpark.school.nz |
Anna Starr | Kia Ora, I’ve been at West Park School since the beginning of 2020. I’ve had the privilege of working at several amazing schools in London and in the Wellington area. I have enjoyed a wide range of roles and leadership responsibilities. At West Park School I have two primary roles. Firstly, the Seedlings Project Facilitator. This is an exciting, challenging and unique role which leads and supports the design of Literacy and Maths programmes in Year 1 and 2. I am working with a great group of teachers to increase student engagement, accelerate achievement and also create confident, capable and empowered learners. I am also our school’s Reading Recovery Teacher. This is a very special role which I enjoy because I am able to support children’s progress and help develop their love for Reading. Please feel free to contact me |
Zoe Thornton | Hi! I’m Zoe and can be contacted on zoet@westpark.school.nz. |
Staff on leave
| Amy Glendinning | On Leave |
| Amanda Sharpe | On Leave |
