Ruru Team - Years 1& 2

Rachael Rowley - Room 15

Year 1 & 2 Teacher & Team Leader

I love teaching at Ōtūmoetai Primary School. This year, I am the Team Leader for Ruru (the NZ Morepork). I have a Year 2 class in Room 15 and work with a wonderful group of teachers.  Teaching students of this age is very rewarding especially when seeing their confidence, skills and knowledge grow as the year progresses. I like to foster creativity, collaboration and leadership within my classroom. I have a passion for Writing and The Arts along with teaching across the curriculum. 
In my spare time, I like to walk my two dogs, garden and spend time with my family and friends.
 r.rowley@ops.school.nz

Rori Loughlin - Room 13

Year 1 & 2 Teacher

Kia ora, ko Rori toku ingoa. My name is Rori Loughlin and I have just joined the amazing year 1 and 2 team at Ōtūmoetai Primary School. This will be my third year teaching and I have absolutely loved spending each and every day in the classroom. At the beginning of 2023 I left Auckland, where I had been living for five years, and made the great decision to move back to my home town. 
 
I run an inclusive, child-centered classroom. I am creative teacher who believes in that each and every child can succeed. My strengths and passions in the classroom are Literacy, Art and Science, I absolutely love sharing these passions with my learners. It's important that in my classroom we give things a go, try new things and of course have fun along the way. 
 
When I am not at school I love to spend my time at the gym, spending time with my whānau, my dog and friends, baking, and sitting down with a great book. 
 
I am looking forward to being apart of the inclusive and welcoming teaching staff at Ōtūmoetai Primary School in 2023.
 r.loughlin@ops.school.nz

Kathy Nicholson - Room 14

Year 1 & 2 Teacher

I am an experienced junior school teacher and love teaching at this level. It is a delight watching my class grow in their independence, self belief and seeing the children challenge themselves to meet new goals. 
I like the children to be engaged in a wide range of hands-on activities and for them to use their wonderful imaginations to create a variety of arts, crafts, models and stories.
Physical activities are a daily part of my programme. The children always feel proud when they develop and master new skills. 
I believe in nurturing the whole child and creating an environment where we learn from each other. 
In my free time, I love being physically active. I enjoy biking, hiking, swimming and exploring new places with family and friends.
 k.nicholson@ops.school.nz

Anika Abbott - Room 16

Year 1 & 2 Teacher

I really enjoy starting children on their school journey and love their curiosity and inquisitive natures. It is really rewarding seeing the gains the children make in their learning in such a short period of time. Children are like sponges and soak up so much new learning through play, social interaction, reading, writing, maths and trial/error with experiments. 

I have a strong passion for literacy and have been a Reading Recovery teacher in the past and have studied Specialist Literacy Education. I taught in Rotorua for a number of years and then moved and taught at Bethlehem Primary for 16 years in years 0-3. Last year I worked for Resource Teachers ofLearning and Behaviour.

I enjoy reading, walking and baking with my children who are 7 and 11. I also spending time with my family and friends.

I look forward to this new exciting journey at Otumoetai Primary school in Room 21.

 

 a.abbott@ops.school.nz

Emma Sherratt - Room 17

Year 1 & 2 Teacher

This is my third year teaching at Ōtūmoetai Primary School. I am very excited to be joining Ruru team, having taught the last two years at year 3 and 4 level. Prior to teaching, I worked as a solicitor in both Auckland and Tauranga. 

I am passionate about creating a positive, engaging, and fun classroom learning environment where everyone finds success. I love working with children as their energy is infectious and curiosity is contagious!

Outside of school you’ll find me somewhere near the ocean either surfing, swimming or walking my two dogs down the beach. I also enjoy cooking and love getting stuck into a good book.

 

 e.sherratt@ops.school.nz