Toki Pounamu Team

Toki Pounamu Cluster is located on the West Coast of the South Island.

VID_20191106_112849.mkv

CLUSTER MANAGER - ALLIE COSTELLO

Kia Ora,

My name is Allie Costello and I am the Cluster Manager in Toki Pounamu for the Summer Learning Journey for 2019. This is my third year in this role and I am really looking forward to visiting all the schools in the Toki Pounamu region again.

I am currently working at Grey Main School in Greymouth, in various roles from librarian to classroom relieving teacher. I live in Greymouth with my husband Mark. I have two children, my son Josh is currently living in the UK and my daughter Kate works and lives in Franz Josef Glacier.

I am excited about taking up this role again this year. We have a fantastic team ready to blog with you all over the summer.

After the programme has finished in February, I am really excited as I will be venturing to the UK to visit my son and have a really good look around Europe. We have plans to go to Ireland, Wales and France while we are there.

I love to go to the movies, I find this really relaxing and enjoyable. You can’t beat watching something on the big screen. My other favourite thing to do is to catch up with my friends over a cup of coffee.

I am looking forward to meeting everyone as I make my way around the coast and am excited to follow your journey through the Summer Learning Journey once again.

If you would like to contact me, you can reach me on my email: tokipounamucluster@gmail.com or please check out my SLJ blog: https://tpslj.blogspot.com/ with information for the Toki Pounamu Cluster.

Allie

BLOGGER - LEISHA FERGUSON

Kia ora!

My name is Leisha Ferguson. This is my first year with the Summer Learning Journey and I am very excited to be a part of the Toki Pounamu (West Coast area) team.

I am a third-year Bachelor of Education student at the University of Auckland, finishing my primary school teacher training this year. Next year I will be working as a year 3 and 4 teacher at Rutherford Primary School, Te Atatu Peninsula, Auckland.

I was born and raised in Otorohanga (a small country town in the King Country region), which is where most of my family still live, however I lived in Australia for four years and then travelled through Europe and the United Kingdom, working on a cruise ship for a few months, before moving back to New Zealand and settling in Auckland. I have now been living in Auckland for the last five years.

For fun, I love to cook, getting my hands into anything creative from crafts to cake decorating and spending quality time with friends and family. I also enjoy being active, with bush walks and yoga being at the top of my favourite activities.

I am really looking forward to being a part of the Summer Learning Journey over this summer break. I cannot wait to connect with you, getting to know you and reading your blogs.

Leisha

BLOGGER - MATILDA HEWETT

Hi there!

My name is Matilda. This is my first year doing the Summer Learning Journey and I am so excited to read all of your blogs! I have just finished my first year studying a Bachelor of Education (Primary Teaching).

I have lived in New Zealand my whole life and am currently living in Auckland with five of my best friends. I have two little dogs and heaps of cats! Some of my favourite things to do are baking, walking the dogs, snowboarding, reading, and spending time at the beach.

I am so excited to be part of the Toki Pounamu team and hear of all the fun things you'll be writing about!

Matilda

BLOGGER - BEREN ALLEN

Kia ora koutou,

My name is Beren Allen and this is my first year with the ‘Summer Learning Journey’ programme. I’m currently in my 2nd year of study towards completing my Bachelor of Education at the University of Auckland.

I love learning, travelling, and connecting with people through stories. I grew up in Auckland and consider myself very lucky to be a New Zealander. Both my parents are writers, and through their influence I have developed a strong passion for literature, movies, and music.

Before I decided to become a teacher, I spent several years working in the film and television industry. It wasn’t as glamorous as you might think, but I did get to work on some exciting music videos and even a feature film! Although this was sometimes scary and challenging work, I learned a lot about myself and how to inspire others. Through these experiences I decided I wanted to retrain as a teacher so I could help others discover their passions.

I’m really looking forward to reading all your blogs and learning a little bit more about you, it’s going to be epic!

Beren