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Amy Fraser
Owner/Manager
BA in ART; Post Grad. Teaching (Primary) Full Registration Kia ora whanau and ākonga (learners), my name is Amy Fraser. I have recently purchased what was called Kids Express and what is now Pineapples Early Learning Centre. I have had the pleasure of working in ECE for over 7 years and have always had the passion to purchase my own centre. I have managed 2 centres prior to this exciting new venture and 2016 I gave birth to a baby girl that now brings my grand total of beautiful and confident daughters to three. My determination and drive for the best outcomes of children lead me down the path of Early Childhood and now centre ownership. My purpose in my career as an educator of tāmariki (children), is to support, nurture and develop the learning of all ākonga. I am passionate about ensuring that ALL tāmariki have the opportunity to access an early childhood environment and mātauranga (education). I strongly believe that what we do everyday is the foundation for their future learning before they progress to their primary school. With the assistance of the kaiako (teachers) here at Pineapples we have created a warm, caring, nurturing and supportive environment for our tāmariki, so that they all feel safe and loved, while learning and growing. We live and work in a diverse community of varying beliefs, cultures and upbringings, whose tāmariki don’t always have the same advantages as others. So my team and I strive every day to be educators that encourage our learners to aim higher and achieve more. We encourage Whānau and the wider community to be a part of the centre and play a role in the education of their tāmariki. Our role as Kaiako is to unlock the potential and passions of our children to give them a strongest start possible for their futures. My teachers are continuously going above and beyond their roles as ECE educators for our tāmariki in their learning and life journeys. With their well-being nurtured, our ākonga can concentrate on the business of learning. All our children are unique, they all come from different backgrounds and cultures. We teach all our children to cherish their own individuality and identity, while teaching them to respect that of others. Early childhood education is all about how you feel, what you see and what you hear. We all aspire to want our ākonga leaving our centre to have the knowledge, skills, confidence and independence to make the transition to primary school easy and to ensure that our tāmariki are equipped to be life-long learners. As a collective of educators we work tirelessly everyday to make this happen for all our tamariki. |
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Lauren Ashford-WhiteTotara (Under 2's) Team Leader
BA in Teaching (ECE) Full Registration My name is Lauren Ashford-White and I’m a new teacher joining the team. I am a qualified and fully registered teacher and will be the team leader of the under 2’s when it is up and running. I studied my Bachelor of teaching at Waiariki Institute of Technology in Rotorua. I’m looking forward to the changes happening here and am very excited about the new area being built. Before coming here, I previously worked with toddlers ages 2-3half and before that I was an under 2’s teacher. I have worked with all ages over the years and LOVE what I do. I have just moved up from Tauranga and have only been in Auckland for a month, which makes me very new to the area. I love adventures and going out for brunch and I really enjoy a good cuppa tea, so if you have any recommendations of excellent cafes or restaurants to visit please don’t hesitate to share them with me. If you have any other questions, please come over and introduce yourself, I look forward to getting to know you and your child. |
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Lara WilliamsKauri (Over 2's) Parent Liaison / Health & Safety Co-ordinator
BA in Education (Early Years) Full Registration My name is Lara and I have a Bachelor of Education ECE from Massey University, I have full registration. I have been working for Kids Express, now Pineapples Early Learning since January 2009. I have a husband and 3 exceptional children that are all involved in the performing arts in some way. I became interested in early childhood education without even realising what was happening I was only 10 years old at the time! My desire was reignited when I had my first child and became a blazing fire when I had my 2nd so at this point I decided to go to university to get my degree. Through having my own children I have developed a passion for children with additional needs and also those that have special abilities. |
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Sinead AndersonKauri (Over 2's) Team Leader
Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) Full Registration Kia Ora Whanau, My name is Sinead Anderson and I will be joining the team here at Pineapples Early learning centre in September 2019. I am a registered early childhood teacher and have over nine years’ experience working with Tamariki. During this time I have gathered knowledge around different areas of play and believe that children are always learning and growing. I look forward to working with everyone and getting to know you all a little better. Aroha mai |
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Natasha Legge-MurrayTotara Room (under 2's) Teacher
BA in Teaching (ECE) Provisionally Registered Kia ora, ko Natasha Legge-Murray tāku ingoa. I am a student, studying a Bachelor of Teaching- Early Childhood at Unitec. My passion for early childhood education has been a result of my upbringing. I am the eldest grandchild of a large family and have always taken on the role of looking after the younger children. I love watching children’s confidence grow and their learning theories involve as they change and discover the world around them. In my spare time I enjoy, reading, baking, listening to music and spending time with family and friends. |
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Emma O'SullivanTotara Room (Under 2's) Teacher in Training
Teacher in Training (Open Polytechnic - 3rd Year) Non-Registered Kia Ora, My name is Emma O’Sullivan and I am a teacher in training here at Pineapples Early Learning Centre. I am currently working towards a Bachelor of Teaching in Early Childhood Education with the Open Polytechnic of New Zealand and I can’t wait to finish and become a fully qualified teacher. I have two incredible daughters aged 8 and 5 who sparked my passion for Early Childhood Education. I began my Early Childhood Education journey through Swanson Playcentre, where my children and I spent a total of 8 years. I have a strong passion for education in outdoor settings where children are free to explore the natural environment, learn from real life experiences and optimize their learning and development. I love working cooperatively with children and helping them to build confidence and reach their own personal goals. I feel privileged to work alongside all the amazing teaching staff at Pineapples Early Learning Centre and look forward to meeting all the amazing Whānau and Tamariki who are part of this great learning community, please feel free to come and talk to me anytime. |
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Steph LaycockKauri Room (Over 2's) Teacher
Bachelor of Education (Teaching) Full Registration |
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Natasha TilleyKauri Room (Over 2's) Teacher
Bachelor of Teaching (ECE) Full Registation My name is Tash, I am a wife and mother to three beautiful children with my youngest also part of the Pineapples family. I am a qualified and registered teacher with 10 years experience. I am an enthusiastic and passionate teacher who quickly forms strong bonds with the children. I believe these bonds and the relationships with both children and Whanau are the key to all powerful learning. My teaching philosophy is based on the value of incorporating hands on authentic learning such as exploring and connecting through play with a particular interest in loose parts and other open-ended resources. I am so passionate about children experiencing a natural environment with nature and animals so I am so excited to be able to join the Pineapples team and to learn alongside your children in an environment that provides opportunities to explore in such a large outside area with real grass, trees, gardens and animals. I look forward to getting to know you and your children. |
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Sarah SmeetsTotara Room (Under 2's) Teacher
Non-Registered |
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Angela LaurieTeacher
Teacher in Training Non-Registered I’m Married with three sons aged 17, 18 and 21. Both my husband Gary and myself are born and raised in West Auckland, we now live in the older area of Riverhead, where we have raised our boys.I have worked in early childhood for three and a half years, spending time within the two and three year old rooms and in a mixed aged centre running the outside area in a montessori learning environment. Prior to entering into early childhood I had experience within the scout foundation, helping train a junior rugby team and worked alongside a behavior optometrist doing exercises which help prepare the eyes for learning to read and write. My hobbies are arts and craft and in my spare time I enjoy kayaking and sailing. My goal now is to return to study to complete my Batchelor of education. |
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Casey PowellTotara Room (Under 2's) Teacher
Non-Registered Casey has been employed at Pineapples as a support Kaiako for our Under 2’s Kauri teachers, as well as supporting the over 2’s teachers when and if needed. Although currently unqualified she brings with her an unwavering passion for working with young children. With 2 young children of her own (Levi and Addison) Casey brings with her plenty of life experience and will be commencing her ECE training in 2020. We welcome Casey to the Pineapples family and we look forward to working closely with her. |
Suzie CoatesKauri Room (Over's 2) Teacher
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Alexandra RenalTotara/Kauri Room Teacher in Training
NZTC - Graduate Diploma in Teaching (ECE) Hello, I am new to Pineapples - starting as a student teacher in January 2020. I discovered my passion for education while I was on a working holiday in Spain. I spent time volunteering in a room with children from ages 3 to 6 and loved it so much that when I returned to New Zealand I applied for a graduate diploma in teaching. Feel free to say hi at any time 😊 |
Hayley SoarKauri Room (Over 2's) Teacher
Non-Registered |