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Growing Wings Early learning centre

At Growing Wings we empower our tamariki to reach their full potential.

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Shona Topari

Teacher

Kia Ora, olá , nǐ hǎo, Hallo, Dzień dobry, chào chị, Hullo, Namaste, Bula, As-salamu alaykum

My name is Shona, I was born in the Waikato, so definitely feel I have come home. I have worked in various areas of Education, as a volunteer, a tutor, a teacher aide before going on to Waikato University to do a four year Degree in Bachelor Of Education-Primary Teaching, moving to Auckland I worked within various Primary Schools before going on to then complete a Teaching Degree in Early Childhood through Te Tari Puna O Aotearoa.
I thrive on new learning experiences and filling my kete with new knowledge and understanding. I love to nurture and encourage tamariki and pepe to have faith in themselves and to feel safe and aroha.
I have three amazing sons, a beautiful daughter in law, and two beautiful Grandsons.
I love working at Growing Wings Child Care very much, as all who work and manage Growing Wings emulate all that is of true value and very important to me: That is to build Trust , Respect and Aroha of all.

Aroha mai, aroha atu
Love received, love returned

He taonga rongonui te aroha ki te tangata
Goodwill towards others is a precious treasure

Cara Coulton

Teacher

Kia ora!

My name is Cara and I have been working in ECE for close to 20 years. I have worked within all age groups and have enduring passion for each age group. I value developing relationships and feel that by ensuring that the relationships built between whānau, tamariki, and kaiako are the foundation to a successful early learning journey. I love seeing the pride that tamariki see in themselves when achieving a skill, milestone, or their everyday mahi. Messy play, music and movement, literacy, being outdoors exploring the natural environment are passions of mine to include in everyday provocations. I value respectful practices when interacting with tamariki and the environment and my practice highlights that learning is fun.

I spend my time relaxing with my whānau, I have a husband, a 20 year old, and a nearly 7 year old. We like to spend time out in the community, going for walks, and if my 7 year old had anything to do with our plans for the day, to go to the zoo everyday!

Wendy Vincent

Teacher

Kia ora,

 

My name is Wendy. My husband Frex and I moved to Whangamata permanently six years ago after holidaying here since we can remember.

 

We have two sons living in Hamilton. Sam (27) works for Craig’s Investments and Ben (24) is at Waikato Uni doing Criminology and Forensics. 

 

We love the Whangamata lifestyle and all it has to offer. We enjoy travelling and love entertaining and spending time with our family and friends.

 

I am excited to be a part of the Growing Wings whanau and take pleasure in playing a role in a welcoming, supportive environment that encourages belonging, growth, wellbeing and confidence, enabling our precious tamariki to believe in themselves and become our superstars of the future.

 

Talia Gilies

Teacher in Training

Kia ora,

I’m Talia. I have lived in Whangamata my entire life, in my last years of school here I choose to do work experience here, I fell in love with the job and wanted to stay!

I value respectful, professional, and responsive relationships, it is important to me that I make meaningful relationships with the whanau of our tamariki and respect their aspirations for their children along with those of hapu and iwi.

I believe in having a safe, nurturing, environment that encourages children to explore, learn, and play it is important to me that children feel comfortable and cared for, while the environment they experience offers a range of opportunities to build on their knowledge, skills, and independence. Supporting each child as a unique individual as they grow and develop at their own pace is my passion as a kaiako.

Paige Maddren

Teacher

Kia ora!

 

My name is Paige, a qualified kaiako and our preschool rooms team-lead.

 

Originally coming from a design background, I bring creative experience to the classroom, and love to immerse our tamariki in all types of creative and playful learning. I am passionate about providing positive experiences, and how important this is during the early years of a child’s life and their developmental journey.

 

Outside of teaching, I spend a lot of time outdoors, going for hikes with my scruffy pup Mack, and spending time at the beach. I love all things creative, particularly architecture, photography, and illustration.

 

Our tamariki here at Growing Wings continue to inspire me every day, and I feel very fortunate to play a part in their early learning and development.

Micheala Jamieson

Teacher in training

Kia Ora, I’m Michaela.

 

I grew up in Whangamata and am still lucky enough to live and work in our little slice of paradise. Whanau is important to me, and you’ll see me around with my nieces and nephews spending time in nature or supporting them at their sports or school trips. 

 

I am an inspired teacher in training who values the importance of whanaungatanga as developing strong relationships personally and professionally is a big part of my personality. Implementing a culturally responsive and inclusive learning environment giving the best opportunities to the tamariki.

 

Creating a supportive, welcoming environment where whanau and tamariki feel safe to allow the tamariki to learn to their full potential. 

 

Ella Blunden

Teacher Support

Hey, I am Ella!

 

I am 26 years young and love my job as an Early Childhood Educator. I enjoy getting messy, exploring, creativity and getting involved with Papatūānuku. I am an expert bug hunter and forager.

When I’m not at work you can find me at the beach, in nature exploring the Coromandel with my fishing crazed partner Dylan and our beautiful dog Barney and soon to be baby girl next year, so I am sure there will be a lot of change to adapt too.

Sharlene Ryan

Teacher

Hi Parents of “Growing Wings” centre, I’m Sharlene Ryan, I’ve worked for 15 years as a registered ECE teacher. I’m now moving with my partner from Auckland to live in your wonderful Whangamata area. We enjoy fishing and boating so in my nonwork time am looking forward to serious fishing adventures out in the amazing ocean we are blessed to live alongside down here. Being with children of the age of yours makes my everyday a new one, challenging, rewarding, full of life, fun and love. I look forward to joining the team and yourselves and i am committed to contributing all I can to making your children’s time in their pre-school days, both fun and rich in learning.

Vanessa Smith

Teacher

Kia Ora, I’m Vanessa…though I go by Nesse!

 

I am a teacher with a deep commitment to fostering a warm, inclusive, and stimulating environment where tamariki can flourish. With many years of experience working with young children, I believe that each child brings a unique set of strengths, interests, and perspectives, and I am dedicated to nurturing their curiosity and love for learning. As a lifelong learner myself, I continually seek new insights and strategies to enhance my practice, ensuring I can provide the best possible support for each child’s development.

 

Living by the beach is an immense source of inspiration and joy for me. Most mornings I start my day with a swim or a walk along the beach. These are the activities that keep me grounded and energised. 

 

Beyond teaching, I am also a mother to four boys, two of whom are now old enough to navigate the world independently (well mostly haha) My experience as a parent has enriched my understanding of childhood’s many stages and taught me the importance of balancing gentle guidance with opportunities for children to explore, make choices, and build resilience.

 

I am excited to be part of a community where children can feel safe, valued, and motivated to discover their potential.

Cindy De Lange

Centre Manager

Kia Ora

 

My name is Cindy, and I live in the beautiful community of Waihi Beach with my husband and two children.

 

Since 2014, I have had the privilege of working in early childhood education, a role I hold close to my heart.  Supporting tamariki as they take their first steps through life is both an honour and a joy.  I believe that every child’s unique interests spark their natural desire to learn, helping them grow into confident, independent learners who take pride in their achievements. 

 

As a lifelong learner, I am passionate about discovering and exploring the world alongside Tamariki and my fellow Kaiako.  Every day presents new opportunities for growth, curiosity, and connection, and I treasure being part of that journey. 

 

I believe an early childhood centre should feel like a home away from home—a place where each tamariki feels a deep sense of belonging.  My goal is to create a safe, nurturing environment where children can flourish, build confidence, and develop to their fullest potential. 


“Children are not things to be moulded, but are people to be unfolded” –Jess Lair

 

Emily Lond

Teacher - in training

Kia ora koutou,

My name is Emily, I am a teacher in training and will be working with your tamariki three days a week. 

I am currently studying at Wintec doing my Bachelor of Early Childhood degree, I have been teaching for 3 years now after finding my passion within ECE. 

I am a friendly, bright, bubbly social butterfly who believes in developing meaningful relationships with whanau and tamariki. 

My teaching philosophy is based on nurture and nature, creating strong relationships and spreading aroha to the tamariki and whānau. My passion for teaching is to make a difference in the tamariki lives and to be there to support them on their learning journey through development during their early years of life. To watch them grow, develop, and find their path in this life. 

I follow manaakitanga by showing respect and care to whanau and tamariki. 

With aroha,

 Emily 

Sarah Bell

TEACHER SUPPORT

Kia Ora 

My name is Sarah also known as Sarah B or Lulu. I live in Ngāruawāhia with my partner and 2 kids

I am a very family orientated person and love spending time with family and friends. I also enjoy going to the beach, jet skiing, fishing, swimming and enjoy a nice chill home day to relax as well.

I have always had a passion and love for children growing up i was always babysitting and the number one go to person when anyone needed help with their babies/kids, after having my 2nd child i knew i needed to pursue my passion for early childhood. I enjoy building strong relationships with tamariki and their whanau so they can feel confident to come to me with anything they need. I started at growing wings on grey in April 2024

I look forward to meeting you and your tamariki

Ngaa Mihi

Sarah

Jette Gibbons

TEACHER SUPPORT

Kia ora, I’m Jette,

 

I was Born and raised in Auckland; I discovered my passion for nurturing young minds at an early age. Moving to Hamilton at 12 where i started high school the year after. In 2015 I embarked on my journey in childcare, combining my innate love for working with children with formal education. I’ve dedicated myself to studying childcare, driven by the joy of witnessing children grow and flourish in their abilities. Alongside my commitment to childcare, my kitchen is my sanctuary, where I unleash my creativity through cooking and baking.

Now, as a proud member of the Growing Wings Whanau, I am thrilled to continue my journey in shaping young minds and nurturing their potential. 

Rae Mischewski

TEACHER SUPPORT

Tena koutou,

My name is Rae and I am a mother to 3 wonderful children!

I love animals, we have one dog, three cats and 3 pet fish. I also enjoy netball and soccer.

I am about to begin my studies in Early Childhood Education and I am so excited!

I love teaching children through messy play and letting their imagination run wild with arts and crafts.

Seeing children grow and find their own personalities is one of the best things to witness and be apart of.

 

Nga mihi nui,

Kaiako Rae.

Aria Whanga

TEACHER SUPPORT

Kia Ora, my name is Aria. I am one of seven children and have lived in Hamilton my whole life. Being part of a big family has given me lots of opportunities to help out with younger siblings, nephews and nieces. We are a family who have been taught to love and nurture where we see a need. 

 

For the past 5 years I have spent time volunteering in nurseries, planning kids’ activities, community events and keeping children entertained, and over that time I have developed a passion for working with children. 

 

I enjoy painting, music, playing guitar, piano and drums. I believe in creating a safe space for the children to grow and learn and am really excited to have the opportunity to work with your children.

Nelia Guitierrez

Teacher - in training

Hi, my name is Nelia Gutierrez.

I graduated Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a Mathematics teacher in the Philippines. I spent many Sundays’ volunteering as a kaiako in our church in the Philippines and now here in New Zealand at Hope Chapel, which developed my love for working with children. I studied the New Zealand Diploma in Childhood Education and Care Level 5 in Vision College and currently studying Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Early Childhood Education) in New Zealand Tertiary College. Having the ability to influence children and to be able to make a difference in the lives of the tamariki and their whanau in meaningful ways is what I love most about being a teacher. Another part of being a teacher which I love is the continuous learning I am experiencing from the tamariki, my co-teachers, whanau and the community and having the knowledge about the different cultures of the different tamariki. As part of my studies, I will be in the Early Childhood Service for a teaching placement to put into practice the knowledge I have gained so far.

I am very excited to learn from you all.

Anita Gibbons

Teacher

Kia ora koutou katoa
Ko Knocknarea tooku maunga
Ko Garavogue tooku awa
Ko Star Queen tooku waka
Ko Airani tooku iwi
I tipu ake au ki Taamaki-makau-rau me Rotorua
E mihi ana ki ngaa tohu o nehe
o Kirikiriroa e noho nei au
Ko Chris tooku hoa taane
Ko Stacy raatou ko Ashley ko Emily ko Katelyn ooku tamaahine
Ko Anita tooku ingoa

Kia ora e te whaanau

I’m Mama to 4 daughters who over the years have taught me about the wonders and challenges of discovering who you are and creating space in the world to be yourself.  I’m a qualified kaiako who loves learning and exploring new ways of doing things, often researching or finding professional development to enhance my own understanding of the world around me and the people who are my community.

Whanaungatanga (relationships) is central to everything that I do, I love making connections to others and finding out backgrounds, whakapapa, whaanau values, aspirations, the things that each whaanau hold important to themselves and their tamariki.  This helps me to understand who the tamariki are, the kete of knowledge and skills that they come with and how I can nurture, uphold and support the mana, wairau and mauri of each tamaiti.  I’m a heart centred kaiako who believes in creating a nurturing environment that is a home away from home, with plentiful opportunities for tamariki to explore and guide their own learning, and that celebrates the uniqueness of each tamaiti.

~ Poipoia te kaakano kia puawai ~

~ Nurture the seed and it will grow~

Jaynee Millar

Teacher

Kia Ora, I’m Jaynee 

 

My Passion for working with children started when I was still a child, always caring for those younger around me, at church and at school. I completed a Bachelor of Teaching in Early Childhood Education at the University of Waikato in 2019 and have been growing in my knowledge as I work ever since. I started at Growing Wings as a Reliever. 

 

My other passions include Music, art, Crochet, photography and doing puzzles 

 

‘Children are a blessing and a gift from the Lord’ Psalms 127:3 CEV

 

I believe that all children are a blessing completely individual and that they have the right to have their voices heard and their basic needs met. I am currently developing my knowledge of social competence and promoting positive guidance, as well as developing on my limited knowledge of New Zealand Sign language, so support our Tamariki in their Communication. 

 

Outside of teaching I have my Husband Elisha who is training toward becoming an ordained Minister in the CCAA (Church of confessing Anglicans Aoteroa) this involves him studying theology part time. Together with our Church we are going to be planting a new church in the Glenview/Melville Area. 

Abby Edwards

Teacher in Training

Kia ora 
My name is Abby Edwards and I am super excited to be joining the Growing Wings on Grey whanau!
I am originally from a small town in New South Wales, Australia but I have been living in New Zealand with my partner for over 3 years now. I have been Teaching in Early Childhood for 4 years and I absolutely love building strong, safe and secure relationships with my tamariki and the entire whanau. I love making fun and exciting resources to suit all of my tamariki’s learning goals and personal interest. I am about to enter my second year of my Bachelor of Teaching and love learning more ways to best support tamariki on their learning journey. 

I am also a Mum to my very busy almost 2 year old Amelia who will also be joining the Growing Wings whanau. 

 

I am looking forward to joining you soon and getting to know you all.  

Sarah Pratt

Teacher

Kia Ora,

My name is Sarah, and I am very glad to join the Growing Wings Team.

I have been working and teaching in Early Childhood Education since 2019, having developed a passion to teach and care for children from a young age.

I graduated from my Bachelor of Teaching ECE in late 2023 which has been a wonderful opportunity of growth to better support our tamariki and develop as an educator.

Prior to teaching I worked for a decade in hospitality and front facing administration. These experiences have woven and continue to support me, today. I embrace and value Whanaungatanga (relationships) as the foundation for all I do. I love to have a chat, getting to know what is important to each of my whanau and their tamariki so I can support them in a responsive, caring, and positive manner.

I am a Mum of 2 daughters, who are in primary school and have been married to my husband since 2010. Together we love to keep busy, camping, exploring, and spending time with friends and family.

In my spare time I enjoy baking, crafting, pottering in the garden or sitting at the beach taking in the peace and calm.

As a kaiako my passion is to support each child as unique individuals as they grow and develop in their own time. I wish to support my tamariki with their social and emotional development through communication and Aroha, following their interests to empower them as confident and capable members of society. 

Glori Wang

Teacher

Kia ora koutou! I originally came from China over two decades ago and now consider myself a “Chiwi”. I travelled quite a bit during my last career in international business. Until I had my daughter in 2014, I became an enthusiastic learner and practitioner in child development, early intervention (my daughter started walking after three years old due to her cerebral palsy condition), early childhood education, and curative education. I worked alongside specialists and therapists as a family coordinator/counsellor to help other children with special needs and their families. That was how I found my passion in working with children and fostering their learning and development. Then, I completed my Graduate Diploma in Teaching (ECE) and gained my registration in 2019. I have been enjoying and proudly working in early childhood education since then. 

I uphold love and reverence when working with tamariki. I value Ako as a responsive and reciprocal teaching-learning process, which empowers tamariki to develop their meta-cognitive ability to ‘learn how to learn’ as competent learners who view learning as a lifetime journey. I treasure positive and meaningful relationships with tamariki, kaiako, and parents/ whānau. Together, we build a solid foundation to support our tamariki to learn and thrive as “it takes a village to raise a child.” 

Outside work, I enjoy being in nature, gardening, plant-based cooking, and camping with friends and families.

 

I look forward to exploring new learnings and beautiful experiences with you and your tamariki along this journey.

 

Nga mihi maioha,

 

 

Glori

Manpreet Kaur

Teacher - Swallows room

My name is Manpreet Kaur. I moved to New Zealand in 2016 from India. I adore living in this amazing country, where I graduated in 2021 with a degree in early childhood education. Along with my husband and our lovely baby, we currently living in Hamilton.

I enjoy teaching because it allows me to watch young children develop in front of my eyes. I enjoy playing a significant role in their lives as they work towards their future objectives.

Working with Growing Wings where we promote child-led learning, excites me. I agree that every child is unique, and we should provide for them in accordance with their needs.

Matthew Zhang

TEACHER

My name is Xumo Zhang, and I’m from China. I currently live in Hamilton, New Zealand, with my family. I’m a proud father of an 8-year-old son who inspires my passion for early childhood education. In my free time, I enjoy cycling with my family, exploring the beauty of nature, gardening, and doing creative craft activities that spark imagination and creativity.

As a registered teacher with a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from AUT, I advocate for culturally responsive teaching, respecting and embracing each child’s cultural background. I believe every child brings unique potential, and my role as a teacher is to support their exploration, create a respectful and inclusive environment, and help them feel a sense of belonging and confidence.

In my teaching, I observe children’s interests and design personalised activities to spark their curiosity and creativity. I also value working closely with families and communities to support children’s overall development, ensuring their cultural identity and background are respected and celebrated.

“Every child is a unique seed; it’s our responsibility to provide the sunlight, soil, and rain they need to grow.”

Emma Elliot

Teacher

Kia ora, 

My name is Emma and I have been teaching for over 20 years now. During this time I have developed a huge passion for infants and toddlers, spending most of my years with this age. I have also spent a lot of my teaching career mentoring and leading other teachers, and hope that I have left a positive mark on all of them in some way. My job/career means a lot to me, and I strive to make this reflective in my daily practice. I hold a mindset of continuous growth and learning for myself, putting what I learn into practice and striving to be a better teacher, leader, work colleague and version of myself. 

I am a very family-orientated person and have three children of my own, three fur babies, and an awesome husband that I’m doing life with. In our spare time we like to go dirt biking, mountain biking, camping, and taking our family on adventures making memories with them. We really value the importance of experiences over things in our home and spending quality time together. 

As a teacher I believe in the importance of open-ended play and allowing children to take control of their learning, showing confidence in them and their capabilities. I am a strong advocate for respectful care and believe I am an authentic, teaching from the heart kind of teacher. I like to bring love, nurture, and laughter into the centre environment, so that children can develop healthy secure attachments, helping them to thrive in their learning and development. I also enjoy being outside and getting messy with the children, being at their level and having fun 😊. 

Image of Leane one of the teacher at bankwood Centre

Leane Ashby

Teacher - Fantail room

My name is Leane, I am a mother of 4 boys and have just finished the last practicum placement before gaining my Bachelor of Teaching in Early Childhood Education with The Open Polytechnic. My favourite part of teaching is watching young children explore their world and grow confidence in themselves. I enjoy giving children time to explore their senses through the use of different materials. Allowing them to individually learn from these experiences I will engage in creating messy activities for us all to be involved in. I strongly believe play promotes intentional exploration and develops a sense of joy toward learning, allowing for positive and successful outcomes for our tamariki.

I am a passionate, caring and friendly teacher who truly believes in letting the uniqueness of each individual child guide my work. I aim to foster and build on the knowledge children bring each day, ensuring that I respect and understand the differences in identity and individuality. Supporting a strong sense of self within each tamariki I strive to ensure each child feels included giving them a strong sense of belonging to their world.

“Anei au, too pou whirinaki”

“I’m here, I’ll support you”

Luke Crabb

DIRECTOR

For me this started as a project of passion. How can I personally create a great environment for my child that is coming into the world very soon, that will allow my wife Becks to be able to keep teaching and also be able to be Mum. As part of the journey of understanding what we wanted to build I learnt that there was a fantastic opportunity to be able to grow individuals in the industry, how can we develop a brand that is recognised in the future as being the place that teachers want to work at. One that is going to grow our teachers and help with their career progression.

Peter Shepherd

DIRECTOR

As a finance professional, I have had the privilege of working in several successful business, surrounded by some excellent leaders. I got involved in Growing Wings because I wanted to help create a centre that gave future leaders of the industry an opportunity to thrive while growing our tamariki to reach their full potential. As a leadership team, we stand behind our people to empower them to create a place where parents entrust us with their children, where kids learn and grow and where teachers are truly valued and encourage to express their passion for teaching. Our vision is to spread our values and partner with others to grow our wings as a leading early childcare centre in the industry.

Rhiannon Donkin

CENTRE MANAGER

Kia ora, ko Rhiannon toku ingoa. I come from the small town of Ōpōtiki in the Bay of Plenty where I have grown up surrounded by the beautiful awa, tātahi and ngahere. I now call the Waikato home where I have lived for the past 6 years with my two cats Archie and Aggy.

I have been teaching in early childhood education for the past 9 years with a strong focus on infants. I believe in all tamariki having equitable opportunities to learn, grow and develop. I believe that all tamariki should have endless possibilities to be immersed in Te Taiao and have the freedom to explore at their own pace. I recognise that our tamariki bring with them a kete full of knowledge and it is our job as kaiako to support them alongside their journey as they unpack this. All of our tamariki are capable, confident explorers and it is through the respectful, reciprocal relationships we build that we see them flourish.

Becks Crabb

REGIONAL CURRICULUM LEAD

Kia ora I am Becks one of the Growing wings owners, I am a registered primary school teacher and have been for the past 8 years working mainly in the junior years as well as 2 years in Growing Wings

I believe in creating an inclusive environment where children’s individuality, values and beliefs are respected and diversity is acknowledged and praised. I am passionate about children creating strong links to nature and their environment. I feel very lucky to own and work at a centre that is able to facilitate this through and leads to endless opportunities for enriching learning experiences. With primary school teaching as my background, I plan to use this to help grow, support and nurture our tamariki into being school ready.