Victory School Senior Staff

Wendy Taylor - Acting Principal

Kia Ora, I am Wendy Taylor. I have been at Victory Primary School for seventeen very happy years. Before coming to Victory I taught in several Dunedin schools. I have a husband Dave and two grown-up sons who have both become teachers. I believe the time I have spent at Victory has been amazing!

As a team we have grown our school's capacity in many ways. We encourage and support our students and families to be the best they can be as individuals, families and as a community. This is an exciting place of positive people and energy.

Dave Sullivan - Deputy Principal - Room 15

I have been teaching primary aged children (5 to 13 years old) for fifteen years, nine of which have been in Nelson. I am proud to be part of such a positive and successful multicultural school. My interests include reading, tramping, cycling, sailings and gardening. My family enjoys many of the opportunities that the Nelson Collage for Girls and the Nelson region has to offer.

Glenda Rapley - Assistant Principal - Room 2

I am Glenda Rapley and am very pleased to have been part of the Victory Team for the past 12 years. During my teaching career I have taught most age groups, from Intermediate to New Entrants. I enjoy working with children, helping to develop their knowledge and skills and helping them to recognise and celebrate their achievements. I look forward to developing partnerships with parents/caregivers where we can work together to make the children's time at school a very positive experience.

I am married to John and have two sons in their twenties.

Amanda Hall - Senior Teacher - Room 17

I really enjoy teaching at Victory Primary School and have done so for many years.

I have many interests including gardening, walking and reading. I am usually busy with my two daughters who both attend Victory Primary School.

Louisa Paul - Senior Teacher Bilingual - Room 14

Tena Koutou katoa. He uri tēnei no Ngati Rangiwewehi raua ko Ngāti Koata. He kaiako ahau I roto I te akomanga Harakeke (Room14).

My name is Louisa and I have been teaching at Victory Primary School for the past 10 years. Victory is a progressive/ forward thinking school, which has made my job both challenging and enjoyable.

I thoroughly enjoy the 'light bulb' moment children experience when they realise they can do, or finally understand a concept that previously they may have had difficulty with and knowing that I was a part of that.

I have been blessed while working here at Victory as I have met so many wonderful children, parents and colleagues, of which many I call friends and whanau.

I am the mother of two handsome sons Parekura and Manaaki and I am proud of their achievements to date. In my spare time I enjoy raranga harakeke (weaving) and have thoroughly enjoyed looking at the conservation, preservation and education of Tuatara. I LOVE TUATARA!.

Paul Hampton - Senior Teacher Bilingual Room 8

Kia ora my name is Paul Hampton. I have worked at Victory Primary School for 11 years and have taken on many different roles within that time, all of which have been challenging and enjoyable. This year I am one of the Senior Teachers of the Bilingual unit and I feel privileged to be a involved in this growing and dynamic part of the school.

Both of my daughters have been through Victory as students and my wife Rachel is a teacher at the school also. Victory Primary School and the Victory Community is a fantastic place to be involved with. In my spare time I enjoy diving for paua and crayfish and fishing.

Kerry Mathieson - Team Leader - Room 4

Kia ora, I have been teaching for 20 years and during that time I have taught children ranging in age from 5 to 13 in Primary School and Intermediate. I have three children, my boys are at Victory Primary School in the Whanau classes and my daughter has just started at Nelson Intermediate. I am a keen swimmer and take part in the Nelson Sea Swim series during the summer and I also help with Lark in the Park during the summer. Nelson is a great place to live and Victory Primary School is a vibrant and exciting school to work in!

Lynda Duncan - Team Leader - Room 11

This is my third year teaching at Victory and I find being part of the Victory team one of the most rewarding experiences I've ever had. Teaching in this school is like being part of a village where we support and celebrate the progress made by all our children. I am passionate about learning and teaching and enjoy finding ways to engage and extend my students. I'm married to Mark and we have two great kids Ella and Perry. Great job, wonderful family, beautiful town it just doesn't get any better.

Rachel Edwards - (On study leave)

Kia ora, No te uri o Rongomaiwahine, Ngati Kahungunu, Te Atiawa, Ko Rachel Edwards taku ingoa. I have been teaching at Victory Primary School since 1997. Throughout this time I have taught both mainstream and bilingual and have taught all levels. I am one of the Assistant Principals and I co-lead the bilingual unit. This year I am currently on study leave at Te Wananga o Raukawa and am working towards a Postgraduate qualification in Teaching. I am thoroughly enjoying this new challenge. I love being part of the Victory team, the staff, whānau and tamariki are supportive and great value. My husband Paul Hampton is also a member of the Victory team. Both of our daughters have been through Victory Primary School, which they loved, and my eldest is now studying at Victoria University in Wellington and my youngest has just started at Nelson Intermediate. My interests include yoga, biking and walking.

Victory School Teaching Staff

Denise Proctor - Room 1

I have enjoyed teaching new entrants for quite a while at Victory school. I love to see the enthusiasm of the children when they first come to school and then take pleasure in their progress. It's also satisfying to be one of the first points of contact with new parents. In recent years I have been job sharing and once again I'm delighted to be working with Rachel Tobin.

Rachel Tobin - Room 1

Hi, I'm Rachel Tobin and I am a classroom teacher. I have been teaching for 14 years, most of which I have spent at Victory Primary School. I am currently working three days a week in a job share position with Denise Proctor. Outside of school life I love spending time with my family and friends. I also enjoy reading, yoga, the outdoors and learning new things!

Sarah Petursson - Room 2

Hello, my name is Sarah, I have been teaching for 20 years and am currently working one day a week in Room 2 as well as relieving around the school. I have two children of my own, an 11 year old daughter and a 7 year old son. I enjoy traveling, adventure sports and swimming.

Victoria Taylor - Room 5

I am excited to be sharing this new entrant class with Jane this year. I have had five years teaching in Taipei, Taiwan as well as relief teaching mainly at Victory.

I am excited to be part of such a dynamic team here at Victory Primary.

Jane Lawson - Room 5

Hi - my name is Jane Lawson. I teach in Room 5 on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. My husband and I have two daughters. Isabella who is seven and Olivia, who is 5. They go to Stoke Primary School. I have been teaching in the Senior Syndicate for the past ten years, in between looking after my children. I really love teaching in such a positive school.

Megan Durry - Room 6

I am originally from Christchurch and have a degree in Outdoor Education. I have spent time in Australia, America and the UK working in this field. I have been teaching in the Junior Syndicate at Victory Primary School for the last 4 years and enjoy being part of the school community. My interests are skiing, tramping and gardening. I look forward to continuing to work with the children, parents and staff at Victory Primary School.

Nelson Teariki - Room 7

I am a born and bred Nelsonian and I love living in the sunshine capital of NZ. I have been teaching for 8 years, all of which have been at Victory Primary School. I enjoy working with the staff and children at Victory and think it's a fantastic school. I'm a sports nut but only from the comforts of the couch with a remote in one hand and food in the other. I also love to learn and perform kapa haka with my family. I look forward to continuing to work with the children, parents and staff at Victory Primary School.

Mahina Law - Room 9

Tena Koutou katoa. Ko Mahina Law toku ingoa. He uri au o Ngati Raukawa ki te tonga. No Papaioea au engari kei te noho au ki Whakatu inaianei.
This year I am teaching in Kiekie (Room 9) which is the new entrant class in Nga Mana Kakano o te Wairepo. I love working at Victory School and enjoy the sunny weather in Nelson. I am a keen sportswomen, loving to both watch and play sports. Whaia te iti kahurangi ki te tuoho koe he maunga teitei. Naa Mahina

Susanna Garlick - Room 10

Kia ora! I moved to Nelson in January from Auckland where I have been teaching primary aged children since 2003. My interests include stitching, running and rock climbing. My daughter Ara is enjoying being a year 7 student at Nelson Intermediate School. We are both loving our new life in Nelson and being a part of the Victory community.

Rose Christoforou - Room 12

I have been teaching since 2002. Over that time, I have enjoyed working (and relieving) in a diverse range of schools around the Wellington region. I have recently returned from an O.E. during which I briefly explored Oz and Europe. I am enjoying working with the keen and inquisitive minds in Room 12 and look forward to the rest of this year! My interests include: teaching, learning, reading, writing, cooking, dance(of many descriptions), hula hooping, herbal healing, permaculture and now, roller skating!

Lisa Ward – Room 13

I graduated in Christchurch as a teacher in 1993, moving back to my home town of Nelson to teach for 8 years. Then Christchurch beckoned again and I taught mainly Year 5-8 children there for 7 years. A wonderful opportunity arose to move home again where I began relieving at Victory Primary School at the end of 2010. Room 13 then adopted me as their teacher after Mr Rankin's exciting move to Tauranga.

I love working with these marvelous young people, especially in the areas of writing and ICT. Out of work time I love cycling, cooking, photography, reading and tramping. I also organise bike races around the South Island for New Zealand teams wanting a little bit of the Tour de France in the mainland.

Campbell Head - Room 13 & 15

Hi my name is Campbell Head and I have been teaching for 7 years. Previously I was working in the advertising industry as a copywriter. I teach part time in Room 15 and Room 13 senior classes. My teaching philosophy is about resilience – about being brave, taking a risk and if it doesn't work out, having the strength to get up and have another go. When I am not at school I am an at home Dad looking after my 2 preschool daughters. My interests include rugby, swimming, mountain biking, skiing and the relatively new sport of stand up paddle boarding.

Susan Richards - Room 16

This is my eighth year teaching at Victory Primary School after teaching in South Auckland and Cambridge. Most of my teaching has been in the Middle Syndicate and in multi cultural schools. In my spare time I like reading, gardening, fishing and enjoying the many events Nelson has to offer.

Ashleigh Della Bosca - Room 18

My name is Ashleigh Della Bosca and I am a new junior teacher at Victory Primary School. I have spent the last three years in Christchurch studying at the University of Canterbury. It is great to be back in my home town of Nelson where I feel we are very privileged to live. I am very excited and looking forward to being part of such an inspiring school with great staff and awesome children. My interests outside of school include both playing and following sport, reading and spending time with family and friends.

Monika Burrows - Room 19

My family and I really enjoy being part of the Victory Primary School Community. I love the fact that I come to school and not to work. Everyday something happens to make me smile as children learn and discover life in and out of the classroom. When I'm not at work I enjoy the outdoors with my family and try to make time to renovate out art deco cottage.

Kaiya Smith - Room 20

Kia Ora my name is Kaiya Smith and I am the Kaiako in Ruma ToeToe (Room 20). I come from the Far North but have been living in Nelson for 5 years. I love teaching at Victory and thoroughly enjoy teaching in the bilingual/ whanau classes. My passions are learning Te Reo Maori and traveling. "He moana pukepuke e ekengia i te waka".

Dawn Richardson - Reading Recovery

Hello, I'm Dawn. I teach Reading Recovery which is an accelerate programme, individualised to help Juniors reach their age-appropriate level in reading and writing. Originally from England, I have taught Juniors for many years and have held the role of Assistant Principal. I moved to Nelson to be close to three young and precious grandchildren and was delighted to be offered a part-time teaching position at this vibrant, multicultural Victory school. My other interests include walking, gardening and travel.

"Mr Science" (aka Sterling Cathman)

Hi, my name is "Mr Science" (aka Sterling Cathman) and I teach science at Victory Primary School. My job is to excite the students with fun science and teach them to use their natural curiosity for life long learning, and I love what I do. I am originally from St.Paul Minnesota, USA. We have been in New Zealand for 16 years and Carol and I have three wonderful children, 15,13, and 5yrs old.

Sue Riley - ORRS/Special Needs TA - Room 19

Until these last 3 years most of my teaching was in Golden Bay where I lived on a dairy farm and raised four children - 2 daughters and 2 sons. I've also had a very memorable time teaching in the Cook Islands.

I love visiting different parts of the word and with one of my daughters in Foreign Affairs have had the chance to visit her on postings hence my Christmas holidays trip to Spain this year which was magical.

I love it here at Victory School, especially because of the different ethnicities and cultures, I think we have a very talented and dedicated staff.

Dianne Goodwin - ESOL & Refugee Education

Hi, I'm Dianne Goodwin. I love working at Victory Primary School so much that I've been here more than 20 years!

I am privileged to work with English language learners and their families in my role as ESOL and Refugee Education Coordinator.

Introducing Beda Dahal

Beda is our Nepali bilingual liaison worker. She is at the school every Wednesday and Thursday morning. Beda's role is to assist students, parents and teachers to ensure a smooth transition to school for Bhutanese refugee families. Her help and educational and cultural knowledge is invaluable.