I have lived in NZ since 2010 and I am married with 2 teenage sons.

I have been at Orewa North School for 5 ½ Years I really enjoy my job and work with a great bunch of people. I enjoy working around the school and looking after it, but I also enjoy getting involved with other aspects …including Athletics , Rugby, Swimming, Cross Country, Soap Box Derby, Woodwork and any other events the school needs help with.

I feel Orewa North is very much a community school with great parents and of course  an awesome group of students.

I was a Primary School teacher for 43 years, teaching pupils from Year 2 to Year 8. I spent 9 years teaching overseas in the UK and Nassau, Bahamas. The remaining years I taught at Glamorgan School in Torbay as well as Whangaparaoa and Orewa Primary Schools . I also worked at Silverdale School as Deputy Pincipal. I was also a teacher at Orewa North Primary School and spent 11 years there before retiring from teaching. My wife, Jackie Elias, was the Associate Principal. 

For nearly 50 years I have been involved with school libraries. During this time I set up 3 new libraries and re-developed 2 others. Now I spend an enjoyable two days each week (Mondays and Fridays) at Orewa North School sharing my passion for books with pupils and staff.

​​My family and I emigrated to New Zealand from the U.K nearly 15 years ago.  I have taught at many schools in the UK and have been teaching at Orewa North Primary School since we arrived in N.Z. 
I am passionate about creating a safe and stimulating learning environment where even the youngest children can feel relaxed and free to begin their learning journey of discovery and enable them to build a solid foundation of knowledge and skill.

My classroom is a stimulating learning environment where the children are engaged in the learning process through interacting with their environment, offering lots of choice, flexibility and hands on experiences. I help guide the children to make decisions, form lasting positive relationships, establish a good work ethic and most importantly have a fun and a positive start to their school life.
We even have a beautiful classroom cat who comes in to see the children every day!

​​After spending many hours in my daughter’s classroom during her early years at school I discovered an interest in teaching and decided to leave my career in the photographic industry and follow my new found passion.

One of my ultimate objectives in teaching is to facilitate learning by helping students gain the necessary skills to take control of and become active participants in their own learning. I truly believe that knowledge gained through active participation is knowledge that will stay with an individual.

​I believe that teaching and learning can be done in a positive, inspiring and encouraging way so that children develop their own desire to want to learn. To me successful teaching is instilling a desire for life- long learning in children, promoting critical thinking and equipping children with the knowledge and skills required for them to be the best they can possibly be.

Kia Ora

Lisa Prestwood

Tracey Johnson

Sarah Frain

I have been a member of Orewa North Board of Trustees since being co-opted at the end of 2014. 

​​Kia Ora,

I joined Orewa North staff in 2016 and have thoroughly enjoyed my time here.

Previously I have taught in Pacific Island Bilingual Units, London and across Auckland. 

My role at Orewa North is senior teacher and DP release. My passion and strength in teaching is visual arts and Te Reo Maori.

I am a relieving teacher at Orewa North School for year 3 and 4 students.

I have been teaching for over 20 years and have taught all year levels from new entrants to year 8 and even had a stint in tertiary, training teachers.

I currently teach Year 3/4 as part of Tui syndicate but spent several years as a junior school teacher in the Fantail syndicate. I have spent most of my teaching career in New Zealand but did also teach for three years in London.

I still love teaching and getting to know the wonderful children we have here at Orewa North! I believe that if I establish a positive relationship with the children and their parents and school can be interesting and fun then the learning will follow.

I am fortunate and excited to be a part of  Orewa North Primary School.
I feel privileged to be part of our children’s early years of exploration, discovery and dreams of the future.

My first impression when coming to Orewa North School was of a fantastic school with a friendly, family feel. This continues to be the case and the main reason why I love being a teacher and part of the school leadership team.
Before coming to Orewa North to teach, I taught in the Manawatu for several years.  I have a passion for seeing children happy and engaged in their learning, and I enjoy finding ways to ensure this happens. Building positive learning relationships is the key to our children being successful at school and in the future.

I take opportunities to continue my own learning into successful education practise, and am currently a member of the New Zealand Aspiring Principals Programme. I love living and teaching in this wonderful community, where we are so spoilt for choice with our beautiful beaches. ​

​​I have been teaching at Orewa North Primary for a few years. I absolutely love the collegial and family friendly environment at Orewa North Primary. When I am not teaching, I am running around after my 3 children. We live in Silverdale with husband Jon, a very fat Labrador and 2 cats.

I have always taught in the junior syndicate and I also have a background in early childhood. I have a Post Graduate Diploma in teaching and my major area of interest is teaching literacy as well as environmental education. I love to make learning fun for kids and I believe a sense of humour is imperative to being a successful teacher.

It is my privilege, since the beginning of 2015, to be the Principal at Orewa North Primary School.

This is my third such position, having previously been the Principal at Tomarata School and then Wainui School. I have also been the Deputy Principal at both Takapuna Primary School and Devonport Primary School.

I believe strongly in the school philosophy of providing a wide range of educational and social opportunities for our children. We live in a world where there is increasingly rapid change and growth and as our technology and attitudes develop, then so our children’s learning needs and the way they learn will surely need to change and grow as well. My vision also embraces the diverse ethnicity we have at our school, with particular focus on and celebration of Maori and Pasifika cultures.

Upon finishing North Shore Teachers College in 1978 and teaching in New Zealand for a few years I went on my O.E. for a while.

I returned to take up a positon at Orewa Primary before returning to Auckland Teachers College to retrain as a Technology teacher.

I then secured a teaching position at Pinehurst School and started the intermediate school there.

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In 1998 I was appointed Deputy Head of Orewa North and have been teaching at Orewa North ever since.

I still very much enjoy my teaching and the reward of developing young minds while still appreciating the many moments of fun and hilarity that only children can bring.

My first impression when coming to Orewa North School was of a fantastic school with a friendly, family feel. This continues to be the case and the main reason why I love being a teacher and part of the school leadership team.
Before coming to Orewa North to teach, I taught in the Manawatu for several years.  I have a passion for seeing children happy and engaged in their learning, and I enjoy finding ways to ensure this happens. Building positive learning relationships is the key to our children being successful at school and in the future.

I take opportunities to continue my own learning into successful education practise, and am currently a member of the New Zealand Aspiring Principals Programme. I love living and teaching in this wonderful community, where we are so spoilt for choice with our beautiful beaches. ​

I have taught at Orewa North School for nearly 20 years. Although I have taught at most primary age levels, my teaching experience prior to teaching at Orewa North was predominantly at Year 7 and Year 8.

In education, I am interested in developing what is referred to as the hidden curriculum. This is primarily concerned with developing the students attitude and self belief, exploring values, developing motivation, and giving the learner courage to look beyond perceived boundaries, self-imposed or otherwise.