New Year: New Staff

We are expanding our staff this year, and our new staff members bring in new talents, skills and capabilities which is very exciting for our team. Some teaching staff have been appointed to replace the staff who have left or to fill in for teachers on maternity leave but some staff are an addition to the team.  As well as enhancing the diversity of our team, we are hoping that increasing the size of the team will enable teaching staff (and senior leaders) to focus more on the core aspects of their roles.

INTRODUCING.....Peter, Julia, Erica, Helene and Luisa

Peter De Blois - Music Teacher

Peter de Blois B.Mus, Grad.Dip.Teaching, LTCL, ARSCM

I graduated from Victoria University of Wellington with a degree in in Performance Voice and for many years worked as a soloist here in Wellington and elsewhere in NZ. For the last twenty-seven years I’ve worked in cathedral music both in NZ and the UK; my last job was as Director of Music at Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland.  My early musical training began in Dunedin where I learnt singing and the violin for eleven years and was in both the Dunedin Youth Orchestra and Dunedin Youth Choir.  I then jumped instruments and trained as an organist.  For nine years I was a member of the  New Zealand National Youth Choir and spent a further two years as Assistant Conductor before joining the semi-professional choir Voices New Zealand. In addition to this I spent eight years as a Music Examiner for the International Examinations Board Trinity Guildhall and examined all instruments from pre-Grade One to the Fellowship Diploma all over the South East Asia region.  I have been heavily involved in the NZ Choral Federation and am a conducting mentor and currently serve on the Association of Choral Directors’ Advisory Committee.  In 2012 I enjoyed conducting the national anthems at 5 of the Rugby World Cup pool games!  That same year I decided to train as a teacher and last year had a job at Scots College where I taught Years 1 – 4, 10, 11 & 13.  I’m married to Lynda and we have two children, Ella (15) and Henry (9), and a cat called Garfield.  I’m extremely excited to be one of the team at Amesbury School and look forward to meeting both students and parents/caregivers as the year progresses.  Please come and introduce yourself.

INTRODUCING....

Julia Avia - Music Teacher

Hi there,

My name is Julia Avia, and I am excited to be teaching music at Amesbury School again this year on Fridays, with individual and group lessons in music and the creative arts! I have been involved in working with children for many years and began my journey at aged 14 when I taught my first group of students the piano! I am a busy Mum to four daughters, ranging in ages from 10 to 21, and am currently completing Music, Maori and English papers to extend myself at Victoria University. I have written and produced many musicals and shows for children, with my favourite parts being the choreography of dance and drama. I am a qualified teacher through the Modern School of Music, with both teaching diploma, and Grade 7 Musical theory with Honours. One of the highlights of my career so far was to coach and then take a group of children from Wellington to tour schools in Fiji, performing songs, dance and drama. I am passionate about the next generation, and believe if children are given as many opportunities as possible to explore their talents and develop their musicality, this will contribute to a high self-esteem and build confidence, complementing all areas of education. Amesbury is definitely leading the way in the creative arts and many other areas, and I feel privileged to be a part of this leading edge school. 

INTRODUCING....

Erica Meads - Teacher in Koru Hub

Erica is an experienced junior teacher having taught in schools around Wellington and also in the UK. As a teacher she is particularly focused on crreating positive learning environments which value students as individuals. She sees literacy and numeracy as teaching strengths and is proficient at using ICT within the classroom to enhance student learning. Erica says that PE and fitness are an important component of all learning programmes because "fit and active children learn a range of skills more easily and gain an important sense of achievement." Erica is employed on a fixed term contract and will finish her time with us when Lisa comes back full time.

INTRODUCING....

Luisa Avia - Office Administration

Luisa will be working part-time in the office helping Gail with administration. This will relieve Gail's workload a bit so that over time Gail can take on a more 'management' role in finance, property and personnel. Lesley is looking forward to this because it will significantly impact her workload and allow her to focus more on her most important role -being the education leader of the school. 

Luisa is Julia's daughter and has recently completed her degree in film and theatre at Victoria University. Luisa is proving to be a fast learner and has excellent ICT skills. We are thrilled!

INTRODUCING....

 Helene Robinson - Teacher in Harakeke Hub

Helene is a very experienced, teacher who has come to us highly recommended by her previous principal. Helene has come to us from KingsWay School - a very large Auckland School - where she was a senior teacher in charge of the year 5/6 syndicate. Her referees say that she is a very committed and hardworking teacher who develops great rapport with students and knows exactly what her students' next learning steps are. Some of the words used to describe her are: patient, encouraging, thoughtful, kind and compassionate, diligent, committed and meticulous. Apparently her one weakness, if she has one, is that she works too hard!

We look forward to getting to know Helene and seeing her in action here at Amesbury.