Board

Martin Kroon

Presiding Member

Kia Ora,

I’m honored to serve as presiding member of Te Uku school working alongside our board of trustees, principal, and valued staff in helping develop a healthy learning culture which encompasses Te Uku school’s five R’s.

I currently have 3 children attending Te Uku school in years 3, 6 and 7 who are 5th generation Te Uku school students.

I myself am a registered teacher and have enjoyed working with a wide variety of ages in the Waikato region for the past 15 years. I have an MA and a GradDipT and currently work as an itinerant music teacher in five different secondary schools in the region. I also have considerable experience working in a variety of community groups.

I have a good understanding of many aspects of school systems and am passionate about education and seeing communities work together to see young people grow and flourish.

botchair@teuku.school.nz

Paula Malins

Te Uku School Principal

Kia Ora

I currently live in Hamilton with my husband Stephen. We will be moving to Raglan at some stage 2023. 3 of our children live in Hamilton and 1 lives in Christchurch. We have 7 grandchildren. I am passionate about spending time with my family, gardening, being outside and reading.

I joined Te Uku School at the beginning of 2022. I am really enjoying getting to know the students. whånau and community.

Being part of Te Uku school allows me to enjoy my passions, and to be fulfilled in a job that I love. We have a lovely team at Te Uku School who are all passionate about giving our students a large variety of experiences, where they can explore their own and new interests, to grow as people, and as learners.

Ngå mihi

Paula

Semonne Hogg

Staff Rep

Tena koutou katoa,

My name is Semonne Hogg, I have been in education since 1993. I have a Bachelor of Education along with a Bachelor of Early Childhood. My early years of education began with Montessori in England. This has given me a strong background in understanding the uniqueness of children.

I have lived in the rural Waikato since 2010 with my husband and three children and I have been teaching the Te Uku tamariki since 2019. This year I am very blessed and privileged to be appointed the position of Tumuaki Tuarua, supporting our Tumuaki in leading our kura.

Our school motto is ‘whakawhanake it te ngakau i te hinengaro kotahitantanga’ which means ‘Expanding Hearts and Minds’. I think this motto embodies what we want for our tamariki and that is for them to be expanding on their knowledge, mind growth, becoming confident and being connected to all they do in both heart and mind, being actively involved as they make their own journeys in life.

I love spending time with my family, I adore my children and love the great outdoors of Aotearoa.

I am passionate about the critical role of education, I believe strongly in the philosophy of understanding every child as an individual, and providing opportunities and experiences at Te Uku School that will allow each child to develop the love of learning, confidence and resilience to maximise their potential and make the most of an ever evolving world.

As a parent, teacher and deputy principal of Te Uku School, I wish for tamariki to be strong, confident learners, who are willing to take risks and laugh at themselves. Most importantly I want my tamariki to know that they are important, they are valued and they are loved.

Nga mihinui kōutou kātoa,

Semonne Hogg

Katie Richardson

Elected to the Board 2022

Kia Ora,

Originally from Ireland, I have called Raglan home for the last 10 years. I am a mum of three and my eldest is currently attending Te Uku, with my daughter due to start in 2023. Professionally, I have a strong science background as a physiotherapist and nutritionist.

I am motivated to be a part of the school board to contribute towards the wellbeing of our tamariki at Te Uku. I am focused on developing a strong community around the school and want to work to support the varying and unique needs of the students both academically and socially.

Jay Crowhurst

Property

Elected to the Board 2022

Kia Ora,

I grew up in Te Uku on the family dairy farm and have always considered it home. Having travelled out of the area for further education and employment opportunities it has been great to return to Te Uku to help run the family farm.

Te Uku School is a large part of our family life. The oldest of my three children is currently attending Te Uku School and the younger two will also be attending in the coming years. My wife's position as teacher in the Junior Discovery has allowed her to continue her love of education and teaching that she developed in Australia.

Working with the community and teachers to provide a good foundation to educate and support the students of Te Uku School is an exciting opportunity that the Board of Trustees allows me to have. Working with the Principal to focus on what is best for student learning and achievement is my focus during my tenure on the board.

Graham Hill

Tēnā koutou katoa, nō Wales ahau, ko Snowdon te maunga, ko Dee te awa, ko Hill tōku whanau. Kei Waikato ahau e noho ana ināianei, ko Karioi te maunga, Ko Whāingaroa te moana. Ko Graham tōku ingoa. Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.                                              

I am Welsh, Husband to Lorna and Father of 3, Alba & Cora (both in Te Uku school) and Bryn in Kindie. We have lived in Raglan for 4 years and could not be happier here.

My kids and I are DJ's and supporters at Raglan Community Radio. (We have even played the school disco, and hope to do so again) and used to be a professional entertainer in the UK (Butlins Redcoat if you know it). I love being a parent, music, kayaking, Skiing, Cycling, Paddle boarding and try to surf!

What’s my day job? I am a ways of working lead / business coach so I have a lot of experience in helping people and teams be all they can be through collaboration. Previously I was a Project manager specialising in large complex programmes so very transferable skills into any group working environment.

Being from a minority language country (limited Welsh speaking) I do my best to support Te Reo at work and with my children and hope to continue this learning as part of the school board.

I welcome being approached by other parents (we are here for everyone) and will do my best to represent our Tamariki’s interests as part of the Board of Trustees.

Sarah Court

Tēnā koutou katoa. Ko Pirongia, koa Aoraki ōku maunga. Kō Waipā, ko Waitaki ōku awa. Ko Tainui, Ko Takitimu ōku waka. Ko Ngāti Maniapoto, ko Ngāi Tahu ōku iwi. Nō Te Awamutu ahau - ko Waitetuna tōku kainga ināianei. Ko Sarah Court tōku ingoa. Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa. I was born in Te Awamutu and spent much of my childhood around Waikato and the King Country before my family moved to Auckland. I lived in Dunedin for a long time (I'm a dyed-in-the-wool scarfie) as well as overseas in Czech Republic and Australia. It's wonderful to be home again now and raising my son, Isaac, in one of the important places in our whakapapa. I work as a counsellor alongside my wife, Sue, at our small lifestyle block in Waitetuna where we have an Equine Assisted Therapy business, as well as working with various off-farm contracts in mental health and hauora. Our son, Isaac, has been at Te Uku school since the last term of 2023 and his dad Gordon is also there two days a week working as the school caretaker. Before I was a counsellor, my main career was in opera singing and I'm still lucky enough to sing occasionally, which I really enjoy. Being outdoors on our property brings me so much joy and I find myself spending most of my spare time enjoying the kaitiakitanga of our beautiful home. It's a privilege to have the opportunity to serve on the board of Te Uku school and to bring my passion for arts, diversity, and te ao Māori to the team.