Staff

Team Leader - Room 19

Bailey Fraser

Welcome to Room 19! This is going to be our best year yet!

What did you get up to over the summer? I bought a dog! Her name is Pippin and she is a miniature poodle crossed with a lowchen, which means little lion dog. As you can imagine, most of my summer has been spent with her; training her, playing with her, taking her to the vet etc. No complaints from me though, I’m so excited to own my own dog!

As for a bit more about me, I have been teaching for a few years now. Initially, I taught in Auckland. Moving to Hamilton in 2020 was the best decision and I haven’t looked back since! I am passionate about music (playing and listening to it). My favourite group is BTS and I am a big K-pop nerd! I also speak French and coordinate the Berkley trip to New Caledonia.

In our class, you can expect nothing but positivity and support from the students who were in my class last year. They have been around the block with me already and will be able to show you all the ropes.

As you will soon realise, our class is full of different personalities, each with something special to bring to the table. We always do our best and persevere when it’s challenging.

This year, we are in ARANUI, which means the ‘great pathway.’ Mr Meiklejohn, Mrs Gardner, Mr Coombridge, Mrs Polaczuk, Miss Wilkinson and I will be working hard to ensure you have the most successful year possible and achieve to the best of your ability.

I can’t wait to get to know you all!

Miss Bailey Fraser

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Teacher - Room 23

Ethan Coombridge

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Teacher - Room 22

Garry Meiklejohn

Kia ora,

Garry Meiklejohn is my name and I have been lucky enough to work at Berkley for the past seven years. I must admit that in my earlier years I did not see myself where I am now. Traveling around the world led me to teaching and the current position I enjoy at Berkley.

After gaining my undergraduate degree through Otago University (a long time ago), I packed my bags and left on my big OE. However, choosing to stop off in Japan on my way to Europe was my biggest mistake; I ended up meeting my wife, having a child, and spending the next seventeen years of my life immersing myself with Japanese culture. It was during my time in Japan that I developed my love for teaching.

At Berkley, I manage the water polo team, oversee the EOTC education programme on Great Barrier Island and teach Japanese as part of the foreign language curriculum we have at Berkley. I do believe in Berkley’s motto of taking up the challenge, so in order to model this to my children I am currently completing a Masters of Education Degree, which I do online.

I believe the programmes we have on offer at Berkley go a long way in developing truly holistic learners, prepared for an ever-changing world. The positive learning environment at Berkley provides students endless opportunities to extend themselves on their lifelong learning journeys. Being involved in that journey motivates me to provide quality learning experiences for my students and keeps me passionate about teaching.

Oh, and I enjoy the occasional game of golf. So, if anyone needs to make a four, drop me a line ;- ).

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Teacher - Room 22

Sarah Gardner

I was born and raised in Hamilton and live here with my husband Nick, son Sebastian and dog Louie.

I studied to become a teacher at Waikato University. I have completed my Honours in Education and I am currently working towards my Masters. After my teacher training, my husband and I moved to Bristol in the UK where we both taught for three years.

One of my favourite things as a teacher is seeing my students learn new things and get excited about what we are learning. You all have something unique to bring to our classroom and I am excited to see you all grow into amazing young individuals.

I love traveling and have explored many parts of the world. Some of my favourite places are France (because I speak some French), Italy (because of the amazing food), China (because it is so different to New Zealand) and South America (because of the rich culture).

My hobbies include reading, dancing and trips to the beach with my family.

Mrs Sarah Gardner

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Teacher - Room 21

Ruth Polaczuk

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Teacher - Room 20

Baylee Wilkinson

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Team Leader - Room 2

Jason Hanson

Kia Ora,

I was born and raised in a city called Rotorua, not so far from here.  I moved to Hamilton to complete my degree at the University of Waikato.  I found my passion for teaching through my experience working at a holiday programme with students aged 5 through to 13.  I really enjoyed working with this age group which helped me in my decision to pursue teaching as my career.  

I try to participate in all things that interest me even if it does mean leaving my comfort zone at times.  My main hobbies are base around sport.  I play some social sports throughout the week.  You will soon learn that my favourite sport is basketball and you will come to understand just how much I love the game!

Golf's easy right?!  All you have to do is use a metal stick to hit a ball into a hole...easy! However, they put the little hole 400m away to make it a challenge.  Some people call me a shade lover on the golf course (this means that I often find myself searching through. the trees for my golf ball).  After delivering a great "whack" with my stick (golf club), my ball navigates its way through the leaves in search of a tree trunk.  I should cut myself some slack because I have just started playing.  It can be frustrating when my friends are hitting off the fairway and I am staring at trees that will not allow safe travel for my ball.  I enjoy playing in the sand (some call this a bunker).  It When I'm not on a bush walk looking for a golf ball, I enjoy playing in the sand (some call this a bunker).  Its a second home for me on the course and one I am well-trained in getting out of.  I'm taking up the challenge of golf and I will keep you posted as I develop new skills.

As a teacher I work hard to see students achieve, overcome challenges and work outside their comfort zone while enjoying themselves.  We will be spending a lot of time together - lets make the most of it!

If you have any queries or wish to see me please feel free to make contact via my email.

Jason Hanson

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Teacher - Room 12

Estelle Pietersen

My name is Estelle Pietersen and I am delighted to be joining the Berkley whaanau and Kia Kaha team this year. 2025 marks my 13th year in the teaching profession.

I was born and raised in South-Africa. I moved to New Zealand when I was 11 years old and instantly fell in love with the country and the culture. I spent the next few years in Gisborne before moving to the Waikato to study teaching.

I met my husband Haydon a few years after I graduated from University. We live in Huntly and we have three beautiful kids: Cruz (14), Charlie (6) and Lily (almost 4).  As you can imagine, 3 kids keep us pretty busy but we wouldn't change it for the world. On the weekends you can find us at the beach, watching or playing football, working on the house or in the garden, or exploring the beauty that is New Zealand.

Teaching has always been my dream career.As a classroom teacher it is my hope that all my students feel a sense of belonging, feel valued and feel respected. Having the opportunity to foster a love of learning, encouraging students to be the best they can be, and guiding our future leaders along their journey through life is incredibly rewarding to me. 

I believe a strength I bring to the classroom is building positive relationships with my students and working with them to develop the skills they need to make good choices and meet their potential.As JK Rowling once said:"We don't need magic to change the world. We carry all the power we need inside ourselves already. We have the power to imagine better.”

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Teacher - Room 13

Marcel Bormans

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Teacher - Room 14

Sengodi Madhavan

Kia ora,

A warm welcome to all our Room 14 students and whānau.  I hope you all had an enjoyable holiday and are supercharged for an adventurous year ahead.

I am Sengodi Madhavan, the teacher in Room 14 within the Kia Kaha team. This is my fifth year teaching at Berkley and I enjoy teaching at this kura with all my heart.  I originally came from the southern part of India where I completed my Masters degree in Microbiology and then moved to New Zealand with my husband in 2008.  Both my children, Aryan and Saaral were born in the garden city, where I spent most of my time as a research student at Lincoln University, before we made our own little nest in Hamilton.

During my time as a research student at Lincoln I had to do a number of presentations as part of my work.  In one of the challenging competitions, I had to present my research work in three minutes.  I was fairly new to the country back then, so I was nervous about a lot of things, but I was encouraged by my professor to take up the challenge and do my best,  There were two awards - an overall winner and a 'peoples choice' award.  Guess what?!  I ended up winning both awards and represented Lincoln University at the Australasia competition in Perth.  If I can do it, you can do it too!  I am hopeful that you will bring with you a positive attitude to take up the challenges that you come across at Berkley and give them your best shot.

As your Kaiako, I bring with me a combination of living, working and learning experiences from two contrasting world which help me better understand and facilitate learning for young adolescents like you.  I believe in working to the needs of individual students and in making learning an enjoyable experience.  As Timothy Hamilton said "without a solid foundation and relationships built on trust and respect, no quality learning will happen".  I truly enjoy developing positive relationships with all my students and their whānau and I'm looking forward to welcoming you all for an enjoyable year filled with exciting opportunities here at Berkley.

Nga mihi

Sengodi

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Teacher - Room 1

Shaun Leath

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Team Leader - Room 26

Barb Shepp

Hi everyone, and a warm welcome to you all for your 2026 year at Berkley. My name is Ms Shepp and I am very excited to be your new classroom teacher for this year. I would also like to welcome you to the Mahi Tahi team. As the new Team Leader, I am looking forward to collaborating with the other Mahi Tahi classes and bonding through some fun events, activities and ‘teaming’ together.

I grew up on a farm in Waitoa and attended Waitoa Primary school and then Te Aroha College. As a little girl, I had always dreamed of being a teacher and studied for my teaching degree at Waikato University. I taught in Hamilton before moving to Australia for 11 years and had 2 children: Anton and Shontelle (Shonny).  My family also includes a dog called ‘Roxy’ and a cat called ‘Missy’.

As I was growing up, I enjoyed playing sports. I played a variety of sports socially but I became competitive at table tennis. I represented NZ for several years and thoroughly enjoyed the travelling opportunities associated with it. After a long break I decided to start playing again and I am looking forward to some upcoming tournaments and trainings this year too. Travelling for sport has always been a valuable experience for me. I get to see new places, meet new people and play a sport that I love.

In my spare time, I also enjoy catching up with friends and family for coffee, movies and going to restaurants. Oh, and the beach! I love it when summer arrives and I can walk along the hot sandy beach, dipping my toes in the cool, refreshing waves. NZ has stunning beaches and I always feel grateful that we live within an easy drive to a beach nearby. You will often find me in Whangamata in summer with my family, soaking up the sun and appreciating the relaxing Whanga town vibes there.

My philosophy of learning motivates me to be the best teacher that I can for my students, their whanau and the school. It is as follows:

“I believe that every student is unique and has their own gifts and talents to bring to our classroom. I aim to find ways to connect with every student, create a safe environment, offer a positive attitude with a variety of learning experiences and challenge each student to their fullest potential.”

There are a lot of exciting events happening this year and I am looking forward to sharing these with you and motivating you to ‘take up the challenge’.

Please feel free to contact me anytime if you have any queries.

Barb Shepp

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Teacher - Room 25

Rachel Keightley

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Teacher - Room 27

Timote Naulivou

Kia ora Room 27 Students and Parents/Caregivers

Welcome to Room 27 and Team Mahi Tahi! I am super excited to meet you all and begin our journey as a class.

I am Matua Timote Naulivou, but I am called Matua Mote in the classroom. An interesting fact about me is that I was a student at Berkley a long time ago. I am of Tongan and Pākehā descent.  My wife Shanice and I are massive fans of board games; so much so that our board game cupboard is overflowing!

In education, I am really passionate about our holistic growth and learning. This year at Berkley is packed with a variety of learning experiences that will help us grow our heads, our hands and our hearts. In Term 1 we haveCamp Ngatuhoa, giving us awesome out-of-class learning opportunities. As we enter the year with the "taking up the challenge" mentality, we will get many opportunities to experience new things and grow.

As a class, we are a team. So you can expect to be shown support and care, as you also show support and care to your classmates.

Looking forward to getting to know you all, 

Matua Mote

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Teacher - Room 28

Leonie Belk

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Teacher - Room 29

Zane Hartley

Ko Kahuranaki te maunga

Ko Ngaruroro te awa

Ko Takitimu te waka

Ko Tanenuiarangi te whare

Ko Kohupatiki te marae

Ko Ngati Kahungunu te iwi

Ko Zane Hartley toku ingoa

Kia Ora and welcome to Room 29 for 2026. Moving from a small little town called Waipukurau in Hawkes Bay to the ‘city lights’ of Hamilton was a daunting task for a young boy. However, that move many moons ago has paved the way for my journey so far.....

As a keen sportsperson, foodie and traveller, I got to experience all three when playing cricket in a small, cold, rugged English town in 2014.  I will never forget the frosty summer mornings, freshly baked pasties and old castle-like buildings. When I returned to NZ, I worked as a PE teacher and tennis coach - working with students of all levels and ages. I saw so much potential and growth in adolescent students that I wanted the challenge of teaching them! 

Berkley is a special place, with many opportunities for you to take on. I encourage you to 'give it a go' and 'be better than before' as you embark on one of the most exciting times of your school life.

Zane Hartley

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Team Leader - Room 17

Hannah Macaulay

Kia ora,

My name is Mrs Macaulay and I am the teacher in Room 17 and Team Leader of Tainui team. I am currently in my sixth year of teaching at Berkley and enjoying every moment. I am so excited to be your teacher this year!

This year will be full of so many new and fun learning opportunities. Make sure that you are ready to fully immerse yourself into everything Berkley has to offer!

I have lived in the Waikato for my whole life. I attended Tamahere Model Country School, Berkley Normal Middle School (as a student!) and Hillcrest High School. There are a number of teachers all throughout my extended family, both in New Zealand and overseas and this was where my passion developed. I really enjoy creating positive relationships with all learners and watching them progress amongst all areas of school life.

Growing up I have really enjoyed being involved in netball and over the years have coached a number of netball teams. At Berkley there is a huge variety of extra curricular activities which students can participate in and this is something that I admire. As a teacher at Berkley I make an effort to support my students to give everything a go and participate where possible.

I am really looking forward to getting to know each and every one of you - I know this will be a great year in Room 17!

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Teacher - Room 15

Tom Fitisemanu

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Teacher - Room 16

Caleb Parsons

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Teacher - Room 18

Glenda Knox

My name is Miss Knox. I am thrilled to be working with you this year in Room 18 and as part of team Mahi Tahi.  Together we will learn more about ourselves, each other and the world around us, making sure we have fun along the way!

A Bit About Me…

I was born and bred in Rotorua and have been fortunate to have had a wide range of varying roles and experiences, all of which I draw from when teaching. I originally studied sport, health and fitness, then obtained a degree in business management. I worked for Perry’s, Sport Waikato and Squash Waikato until I decided to follow my heart and pursue a career in teaching.

I have three delightful children who light up my life. Jaimee, Kate and Michael. I have enjoyed getting to know many Riverlea/Hillcrest families over the past 20 years through being actively involved in Playcentre, local schools, events and various sports as either: a side-line Mum, coach, coach developer, manager, administrator or participant.

We are an active family who like to embrace new opportunities and have fun with our extended family and friends. Much of my time is spent as the ‘MUM TAXI’! I do enjoy supporting my children’s sports and interests but if time allows, I opt to keep active. It may be playing sport (especially squash or table tennis), biking, going for walks or trying something new. I love growing my own veges and have an avid interest in overall hauora; our health and wellbeing.

Sport is something I am passionate about and it has always been a large part of my life. I have been involved as a player, club volunteer and regional sport developer in squash and contributed at all levels from grassroots to high performance. I represented NZ in squash many moons ago and was proud to work towards reclaiming my A grade in more recent years. I state this because these experiences have taught me SO much, especially how to manage oneself most effectively, how to work successfully with others and the importance of setting high but achievable goals. I share my learnings and draw from these experiences when I teach. 

Why I Teach?

I find it rewarding working alongside our diverse multi-cultural youth and other teachers, learning, growing and being challenged together, embracing new opportunities and striving to be the best versions of ourselves that we can be. What a way to spend my days!

My role gives me the chance to make a difference to many and to ensure that students are HAPPY when at school! This is essential as this is when the best learning happens!

My Teaching Philosophy…

I aim to create a warm, supportive and family-like feel in class, where students feel safe to ask questions and be true to who they really are.

I genuinely care about my students and their lives as a whole and value family involvement. By keeping in touch with each other we can ensure learning is optimsed. Feel free to email me to share out of school experiences, achievements or challenges, to allow for strong links between home and school.

I encourage my students to be curious, empower them to form their own opinions and support them to develop the confidence to participate in class, the wider school and in their community, now and in the future.

This is going to be YOUR year and it will be my privilege to support you every step of the way!

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Teacher - Room 24

Monique Fritz

Welcome to Room 24! I’m extremely excited to meet all of the new students and to see all of last year’s students. This year, we are part of the Tainiu team, and we have some wonderful teachers in Tainui. 

I think 2026 is going to be a fabulous year. There are so many things happening at Berkley that you have to look forward to, including but not limited to camp, book week (one of my personal favourites), swimming sports, and lots of other opportunities to challenge yourself.

A little bit about me: I was born and raised in South Africa, and I moved to New Zealand 9 years ago. I am bilingual; my home language is Afrikaans, and I love answering any questions about both South Africa and how to say different phrases in Afrikaans, so feel free to ask me anytime. I’m close to my family, so you will often hear stories about them and the funny things they said or memes they sent.

In my free time, you can find me with a latte in one hand and a book in the other. If I’m not reading, I’m spending time with family or friends, going for walks, attempting to knit, or playing Dungeons and Dragons with my friends. I have a passion for all things fantasy, sci-fi, and I am a little bit nerdy, so don’t be surprised if you hear a Harry Potter quote in the classroom now and again.

In terms of the classroom, my aim as your teacher is to create an environment where you feel safe to be who you are and to challenge yourself, try new things, and discover what you are capable of. I believe that every one of you has something special to offer, and I am overjoyed that I get to go on this journey with you to discover what that may be.

I’ll end this with one of my favourite quotes: “Have courage and be kind, where there is kindness there is goodness and where there is goodness there is magic.” - Cinderella.

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Team Leader - Room 11

Patrick Purcell

My name is Mr. Purcell and I am delighted to be your classroom teacher for 2026. The purpose of this letter is to provide you with valuable information about myself, my goals for the year and finally the expectations I will have of you and your fellow classmates so that we can all have a fantastic year.

Having a new teacher can be daunting but here's a little bit about me to hopefully put your mind at ease. While football is my main passion, sport in general is a major part of my life - whether it be coaching, playing, or supporting. Aside from kicking a ball around, I've also been known to grab a pen and start writing when the creative waves are flowing. At Berkley I'm in charge of football, the Lit Quiz teams and I will also be taking your P.E sessions, all while leading the mighty Te Aroha team!

This will be my eighth year teaching at Berkley and I am determined to make it the best one yet - but I'll need your help. We are a class filled with different personalities and strengths and we're all at different stages of learning - and that's great! What I expect, regardless of where you are at, is that you give everything your very best effort and that you never give up. Success and growth comes from learning from our mistakes.

I'm a huge believer in Berkley's motto of "Take Up the Challenge" and I'd love to see you embracing it as well. We've got lots of awesome opportunities coming up this year including Camp Ngatuhoa. Make sure to get involved!

I hope you're as excited as I am. Let's make 2026 unforgettable.

Mr. Purcell

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Teacher - Room 10

Eva Mitchell

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Teacher - Room 9

Laura Deegan

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Teacher - Room 8

Philippa Burchett

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Teacher - Room 7

Hermann Tuia-Thomsen

Talofa, Kia Ora and Welcome to Room 7. My name is Hermann Tuia-Thomsen and I have the pleasure of being your teacher in 2026.

This year I would like for you to Take Up The Challenge as we embark on our journey, both as individuals and valued Te Aroha Team members. I’m excited to see you learn, explore and challenge yourself to succeed. Nelson Mandela once said, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” This reflects the many challenges we will face throughout the year, but as a team, we will always find a way to achieve the best we can.

I am a teacher with over 20 years’ experience, and it has been a privilege to see my students achieve their best.

I was born in Samoa and then-moved to New Zealand as an adolescent, where I completed my schooling pathway from Primary through to Tertiary.

I was fortunate to see New Zealand through Rugby League, and was later presented an opportunity to pursue this in Australia early in my teaching career. During this time, I undertook teaching roles in Queensland which I have relished doing for the past 15 years.

This is my fourth year back teaching in New Zealand and Berkley. 

In my spare time, I rally up my family for a day in the outdoors; this would consist of a lazy day at the beach with our gas cooker, frying sausages for a traditional kiwi snack. We enjoy tracking through bush walks, taking in the pristine beauty nature has to offer. I also enjoy playing a wide range of sports with my family, this keeps us connected and allows us to build lifelong memories.

My hobbies reflect my love for sports and the outdoors. They consist of coaching, playing and spectating across a range of sports. I believe playing sports is a great way to build solid team foundations, develop trust and positive relationships. I look forward to many opportunities with you throughout the year.

I am excited to take this journey with you. I look forward to working with you and your family in supporting your development this year.

Fa’afetai lava

Hermann Tuia-Thomsen

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