Support Team

 

Tāhuna is our office space. Translated as riverbank, this area and the team based here support the learners and provide the infrastructure to keep the school running smoothly.

 

Trine Spence

Trine Spence

Office Administrator

Trine came to Ararira from West Melton School, where she spent 6 years as part of the office administration team with a focus on school finance, communications and being that ‘go to’ person.

Originally from Nottingham, with a background in travel and conference management, Trine moved to New Zealand 25 years ago. 

Trine and her husband Paul can usually be found on the weekends at the West Coast, relaxing with friends, boating and taking part in an ongoing Dept of Conservation initiative to make Te Kinga predator-free for our native birds.

Email Trine via trine.spence@ararira.school.nz

Justine Hogan

Justine Hogan

Office Assistant

Justine lives in Lincoln with her husband Tim and their twin boys who attend Ararira Springs Primary. She loves the warm, friendly atmosphere of the school and the local Lincoln community.

Justine’s began her working life in childcare. Her love of travel led her to the travel industry where she spent over a decade working as a long haul corporate travel consultant. Most recently, and prior to having her children, she enjoyed a long stint working as an office temp for various companies in Christchurch.

In her spare time, Justine loves going to the gym, cooking, spending time with her family, and travelling the world.

Justine is really looking forward to meeting and welcoming our new families and students to Ararira Springs. Email Justine via justine.hogan@ararira.school.nz

Steve Currie

Steve Currie

Caretaker

Our wonderful caretaker Steve was originally from Dunedin, Steve moved to Christchurch with his family from Dunedin aged 7 as his younger brother needed to attend the deaf school in Sumner. After Merrin Street Primary School he attended Burnside High where woodwork appealed. This led to an apprenticeship in carpentry and he has been building ever since. 
 
Steve has a daughter at High School. He is a rugby fan and also enjoys the outdoors, especially tramping. Most long weekends he will holiday with the family in their caravan.
 
Should you wish to contact Steve do so via caretaker@ararira.school.nz
Charlotte McMenamin

Charlotte McMenamin

Learning Assistant

Charlotte has three girls, Lucy, Phoebe and Ella at Ararira Springs Primary and joined the staff in July 2019 after two years at Lincoln Primary School. She loves being part of the Ararira school community and working one on one with our tamariki.

Charlotte grew up in Christchurch and graduated from Canterbury University and the Christchurch College of Education with a Bachelor of Education (Geography) and a Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning.

Her first teaching position was in Auckland before she decided to use her teaching skills and love of travel to work in the UK. After teaching in the West Midlands, Charlotte was offered a position recruiting teachers from around the world to teach in the UK. Charlotte and her husband Andrew returned to New Zealand in 2008 with their daughter Lucy and she continued to recruit during the next six years.

She has lived in the Lincoln community for the past five years. She is a Cub leader for the Lincoln Scout Group and enjoys coaching and managing junior netball teams in the winter.  In her spare time, Charlotte enjoys tramping, camping and skiing. She loves gardening and cooking for friends and family.

You can contact Charlotte via charlotte.mcmenamin@ararira.school.nz

 

Debbie David

Debbie David

Learning Assistant

Debbie came to Ararira Springs as a teacher aide in term 1 of 2019. She studied and worked as a LA for the two years prior to that, at a school in Rolleston. Debbie lives in Rolleston with her husband and their two children who both attend Clearview primary.

Debbie grew up in Karamea and worked in Nelson at various food businesses before moving to London for two years of work followed by four months of travel before coming home to build a home & get married.

Debbie thoroughly enjoys being a TA and loves the one-on-one teaching with kids. A daily highlight for Debbie is knowing someone has learnt something small while being with her. Debbie enjoys doing online courses to learn more to help our tamariki. Debbie has a cake decorating business which she runs from home and keen to teach the basic baking/cooking to the younger generation. In her spare time, she loves to visit family, have coffee dates with friends, go for walks and plan holidays with her family.

You can contact Debbie via debbie.david@ararira.school.nz

 

Hannah Crowe

Hannah Crowe

Learning Assistant

Hannah is just about to move into the Lincoln community and can’t wait to be a part of it all. Hannah has come from Allenvale School where she worked as a learning assistant for many years. Hannah loves working as part of a team and is enjoying getting to know all our tamariki.
 
Hannah is married to Brendon and they have 3 boys Cobi, Braxton and Nixon who keep her busy. They are a sports-mad family but the love of league is one of their favourite past times. 
 
Should you need to get in touch with Hannah you can via hannah.crowe@ararira.school.nz
Jeni Seek

Jeni Seek

Learning Assistant

Jeni joined the Ararira team in 2023 with more than 20 years of experience in the role of learning assistant. She feels honoured to be able to help students on their pathway to become lifelong learners.

Jeni has recently moved to Lincoln with her husband and has 3 grown up children.

She grew up in Nelson and has lived and worked in Hawkes Bay, Great Barrier Island and Nelson.

Jeni is an avid op-shopper, collector of Crown Lynn pottery (she has her own china cup in the staffroom), and also collects Depression era glass.

Outside of school, you can find her enjoying local walks, riding her pink and green BMX bike or down at the gym.

She volunteers at a support group for young people with disabilities which allows them to explore their full potential through music and dance.

Email Jenny via jeni.seek@ararira.school.nz

Kim Parkes

Kim Parkes

Learning Assistant

Kim came to Ararira Springs as a Learning Assistant in term 2 of 2022.  She has over 20 years of experience in the childcare industry as a preschool teacher, nanny and home based educator.  She enjoys working as part of a team and loves working one on one with the children.
 
Kim grew up in Nelson on a farm and after high school she trained as a professional nanny and gained her Diploma in Montessori teaching.
 
She recently moved to Lincoln with her husband and son who attends Broadfield School.
 
Spare time is spent with kids sport, camping and motorsports.  Motorsports has been a large part of her life growing up and is still enjoyed today with her family.
 
 

Email Kim via kim.parkes@ararira.school.nz

Maree Cronin

Maree Cronin

Learning Assistant

Maree joined the Ararira Team in May 2023.

Growing up in Oamaru, then training at the Dunedin College of Education, Maree started her teaching career in Blenheim. From here like many New Zealanders overseas beckoned and Maree spent time in the USA, London, and Singapore. During this time, she was fortunate to combine her passion of teaching withher lifelong love and passion for sport, progressing into secondary school teaching of Physical Education.

Maree has had the privilege of working with many students from all walks of life and is honored to have on many occasions not only been the teacher but the learner. Maree believes being open to seeing and being shown there is more than one way to
learn and finding what ignites that passion in a child is what makes this job special.

Maree and her family now call Lincoln home and are always looking for that next exciting adventure that life brings.

Email Maree via maree.cronin@ararira.school.nz

Etrechia Olivier

Etrechia Olivier

Learning Assistant

Etrechia began her journey at Ararira Springs as a Learning Assistant in term 1 of 2024. Settling into Lincoln with her family in early 2022, she quickly discovered the warmth and hospitality the people of this community offer. Guided by the principle “He tangata, he tangata, he tangata,” Etrechia prioritizes building meaningful connections and fostering positivity in all aspects of life.
 
Etrechia has a background in psychology and coaching. Throughout her adult life she has actively participated in community outreach projects, including facilitating coaching workshops, caring for and teaching young people, and leading community family groups. She has a passion for working with children, connecting one on one, and getting to know their inquisitive minds, unique characteristics, and adventurous spirits. Etrechia views it as a privilege to collaborate with teachers (and caregivers) in these foundational years for our students.
 
Etrechia harbours aspirations to pursue further education in Counselling and Teaching, driven by her desire to make a positive impact in the lives of the next generation.

 

Email Etrechia via etrechia.olivier@ararira.school.nz

Fable Sole

Fable Sole

Learning Assistant

Fable worked in bakeries and cafes prior to starting work with children over four years ago. She has since worked for four years as an assistant supervisor for a before and after school care program in Lincoln, worked in a preschool for a year, worked as a respite carer, and cares for her two nephews as often as possible.

Fable lives with her partner and their cat Star, and enjoys spending her free time dirt biking and riding four wheelers, absolutely loves to be by water and doing anything outside. Fable also enjoys spending quality time with her sister and two young nephews who she absolutely adores and loves to watch as they grow and learn.

Working with children has always been a passion of Fable’s. Learning about each individual child and their quirks and ways of learning and understanding the world is such a special experience to be apart of and she is very grateful to be working with children at Ararira Springs Primary.

 

Email Fable via fable.sole@ararira.school.nz 

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