Staff

Stephanie Hurley

Principal Release Teacher - Room 1,  Years 5-8

Teacher: Room 1, Mother Aubert  Yr 5 - Yr 8

Ko Hato Maria te Awahou te Tumuaki (Principal, DRS, Senco)

“He taonga rongonui te aroha ki te tangata

Goodwill towards others is a precious treasure”

Having been brought up in a Catholic environment, including attending a Catholic college in the Manawatu, I thoroughly enjoy nurturing the faith in other young people. The faith and Gospel values displayed by many of our students at St Mary’s Foxton is both an inspiration and a credit to their community.

I have worked with a number of students with diverse backgrounds and learning needs, and I am committed to putting the interests and needs of each learner at the centre of my teaching practice. I am passionate about supporting and empowering students to develop their self-efficacy, which in turn has a huge impact on their learning.

I strongly believe in an ako approach, where the teaching and learning relationship is reciprocal, and every learner has the opportunity to contribute to the collective classroom kete. Learning is a journey which we all take together. I am enthusiastic about adopting new technological tools and pedagogies to engage students and enhance their learning, as well as building students’ own digital skills and capabilities. I enjoy spending time with my family, writing, reading, craft, and anything creative!

Dianne Hurlimann

Office Administrator / Teacher Aide

I came to St Mary’s Foxton in 2016 to serve the community in Catholic Education for children. I have been devoted to education and the pastoral partnership with families since 1990.

I believe in the uniqueness of every individual child, their strengths, diverse needs and personalities. I believe in nurturing their self-efficacy and natural joy. I thrive with ongoing innovative learning and a stimulating educational environment, that includes digital technologies.  My aim is to help children engage in opportunities for lifelong learning. It is my desire to learn alongside children, so that they can meet “unlimited exciting potential” while building Restorative Practices.  Sharing laughter, positivity and looking after the value of my staff is a high priority.

I believe in the values of Compassion, Justice and Virtues Ethics and base my own living on the Social Justice Principles. I believe in Cultural Inclusivity at all times, a positive outlook and the fun of life. This includes the wairua within whanaungatanga, manaakitanga and kotahitanga.  My purpose and identity lies in the core of Catholic Education and all that it stands for.  This is my “Eucharistic love”.  I have spent my career bringing the education world always back to transformational change and the creativity, enjoyment of children and spirituality.

I enjoy spending exciting times with my family, my husband Mark and my daughter Aleida.  They are my life!   My hobbies include art, music, reading and staying active.  I come from a proud Dutch heritage and was born in Waitara, Taranaki by my maunga, Taranaki.

Maria Lawrence

Teacher - Room 3, Years 1-4

“Poipoia te kakano kia puawai” (“Nurture the seed and it will blossom”)

Nurturing learning is at the heart of my work in the classroom.  

At the heart of learning is the learner.

·  “Who is this unique individual, bringing diversity and depth of talent, full of boundless possibility who has been placed in my care?”

·  “Why am I teaching this precious individual who is so full of imagination and curiosity?”

·  “How am I going to enable the best learning possible for this individual?

·  “What contexts can I use to inspire learning?”

In response, my purpose is to create a classroom culture that recognizes the driving force of individual talent and interests; that values sciences, arts and technologies;  

To nurture learning, an emotionally and physically safe environment is important to me and I involve the children in the process of getting this right.   We try to achieve a happy balance between individual talents and needs and the overall classroom “good”.  Together, we share ownership and responsibility for our environment. 

My foundation for nurturing the spirituality of my learners is our Catholic faith and the good news of Jesus; that each person is a unique expression of the Creator and is unconditionally loved.  This radical concept inspires me to work for a climate of compassion, collaboration, empathy and the valuing of individuals,

I have a long and rich shared history in education.  Change has been a constant companion, forever challenging me to adapt while determining what is most worthwhile for each learner’s self-determination.  My learning continues.

I was born in the Netherlands, raised in Taranaki, and have whanaunga connections to Nga Wairiki/Ngati Apa.  I have a large and wonderfully diverse family.   They are my motivation. 

“Poipo"

I have been employed at St Mary’s School since 2007, I started in the role of  Teacher Aide to a past student.  In 2013 I took over the role of Office Administrator part time, in conjunction with the teacher aide role.  

I very much enjoy the opportunity of my dual roles, I love the interaction with our students, seeing them grow, succeed while sharing our school values.  The administration role gives me the opportunity to challenge myself to fulfil all the duties required to keep our small school functioning.

Personally, I enjoy spending time with my family, keeping busy with gardening, crafts and travelling. 

Introducing Ani Skipper, Our Awesome LSC

(My mokopuna Ngawinika 2 and Tamati 5 mths)

Tēnā koutou e te whānau o Te Kura o Hato Mere

Ko Tainui te waka

Ko Tararua te pae maunga

Ko Manawatū te awa

Ko Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Whakatere, Ngāti Kuia, Ngai Tahu, Ngāti Kauwhata ngā iwi

Ko Poutū, ko Kererū ngā marae

Ko Ani Skipper tōku ingoa e mihi atu nei

Kia ora, my name is Ani, I am a Foxtonian native born and bred. I am the new LSC (Learning Support Coordinator) based at Foxton Beach School also working at Manawatu College and here at St Marys. This means I help the teachers and whānau with any students who need extra support in their learning programmes, so let me know if you think your child needs some help, below is my phone and email but also you can talk to the teacher and/or Mary and they will let me know. In my past, I attended Foxton Primary and Manawatu College and went off to Wellington College of Education to become a kaiako in the early 90s. In my teaching career I have taught in Porirua and Lower Hutt areas before returning home in 2003. My husband Rangi is also a Foxtonian (and was taught by the nuns at St Marys) and we decided to bring our three tamariki home to be closer to whānau, community and marae. I have spent 15 years in Foxton Primary School teaching and becoming Principal. I did this for 10 years and enjoyed every moment. I decided to retire from being a principal in 2019 to devote more time to my whānau and my new mokopuna who I adore. I have spent the last year doing things I enjoy, being with whānau, part time relieving and supporting our community during Lockdown. I look forward to working with the students, staff and whānau here at St Marys. 

Phone: 027 7262612 Email: ani@foxtonbeach.school.nz

Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi engari he toa takitini – My strength is nurtured by the strength of many