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.

Hello. My name is Margo. I assist Dianne Goodwin with refugee coordination and teach ESOL on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

I am a secondary trained teacher with a certificate in ESOL. I have taught ESOL for 5 years (in New Zealand and Japan) teaching from kindergarten children to adults. I love the rewarding two-way street of learning about other cultures and the joy of working with children. I live in Victory and have two sons, one at Victory Primary and one at Nelson Intermediate. When I find some free time I enjoy mountain biking, skiing and reading.

My name is Mon Maya. I was born in Bhutan and I left in 1992 to go to Nepal.

I lived in Nepal for 18 years as a refugee. I went to school there for 7 years and learnt English, then I got married. I have 2 sons. Fortunately, I got the opportunity to come to New Zealand. I came here in 2011.

In Nelson I got the opportunity to go to school at the Adult ESOL class and am working at Victory Primary as a Bilingual Tutor and Liaison Worker. I help the Nepali children in class and assist with translating or relaying any school related issues or concerns.

My name is Patali Pradhan. I am from Bhutan. I speak Nepali and I lived in Nepal for 18 years.

In 2010 I came to New Zealand and settled in Nelson. I work at Victory Primary School as a Nepali Bilingual Tutor.

I help Nepali children in class.

Hello I am Zember Peh. I work at Victory Primary School as a Bilingual Tutor and Liaison worker. I assist the Kayan and Burmese speaking children in class and help translate or relay any school related issues or concerns. This is my second year. I am Kayan and speak Burmese, Kayan and Thai. I work here on Monday Tuesday and Wednesday.

I really enjoy spending my time helping the kids. I am interested in learning new things. I also work at Victory Pharmacy as an interpreter on Thursday and Friday.

My Name is Ms. Zam, Deih Cin. They call me Theresa. I come from Myanmar/Burma and I am Zomi. Tedim is the Zomi language and is my mother tongue. I can speak Burmese and English. I am able to write in Burmese and English pretty well on the computer. If you need translating/Interpreting for Zomi and Burmese I am ready to help you.

I worked as Bilingual Liaison /Tutor at Nelson College, Nelson College for Girls and the Homework Academy Programme for Secondary Students last year. I also worked at Yikes International Nelson for kids.

Kei kamin pen Lia. Zam, Deih Cin ka hi hi. Theresa hong ci zong om hi. Kawlgam pan hong hong pai ka hi aa Zomi ka hi hi. Tedium pau a ki ci Zomi te pau ka pau hi. Kawlpau zong ka pau thei aa, Kawllai leh keimalai zong computer tawh hoih tak in ka at thei hi. KAWLMI peuh mah leh ZOMI peuh mah te aa ding in Lailepna/Paulepna ding a ki sam na om uh leh Victory Primary Sang leh Nelson Intermediate Sang te ah a kigingsa in ka om hi.

Abeisa kum sung tengin sang tuamtuam te ah Bilingual a ki-ci Laihilh huh na ah zong ka sem ngei aa sangnaupang te Innlai bawl na ah zong laihilhhuh mah in ka sem ngei lai hi. Kawlgam pan ka sepngeisa nasep tuamtuam te zong tampi tak septheih ding in ka hongpua lailai hi.

Hi, I'm Sue Leya. I love working at Victory Primary School. I have worked here for six years now. I started working here shortly after arriving in Nelson as a refugee. I am blessed to have the opportunity to assist new learners and their families from my community settle into education in Nelson as a bi-lingual liaison.

Hi Im Sarah. I work at Victory school and Nelson South Kindy as a Chin Bilingual liaison worker and tutor. I speak Burmese as well as Chin.I have had the opportunity to learn in NZ using creative inquiry and enjoy helping children discover the joys of this method of learning.

I also am passionate about retaining our language and culture so I teach children in Chin on Saturdays. I love the work I have with such wonderful children. It brings me such happiness. Seeing the new children settle in, makes us feel like one great family. I am very glad to be able to help in our community. I workTuesday to Friday.

I am excited to teaching a new entrant class 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.

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!

Hello, my name is Sarah, I have been teaching for 20 years and this is my third year at Victory School. I am currently enjoying working with New Entrants, I work three days a week in Room 2 where I am job sharing with Rachel Tobin, as well as one day a week in Mahi Tahi. I have two children of my own, a 13 year old daughter and a 9 year old son. I enjoy traveling, adventure sports and swimming.

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.

Hello, my name is Kate Hodgman and I love being a Junior School teacher. I have been teaching for 6 years, at different schools in Blenheim and Nelson. I have a passion for making learning fun and exciting for all students as well as help them to celebrate their personal and academic achievements. My interests outside of school include reading, gardening and spending time with family and friends.

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

Tēnā koutou katoa.

Ko Whaea Suzy tōku ingoa, nō Tamaki Makaurau ahau. He tino pai ki ahau te toi tuitui me te oma. Ko Ara tāku tamahine, 13 ōna tau. He kaiako ahau i te akomanga tekau, ko te Whānau Koromiko tō mātou ingoa.

My name is Whaea Suzy and I moved to Nelson two years ago from Auckland. Two things I really enjoy are stitching together beautiful things from my fabric collection and running the tracks around Nelson. My daughter's name is Ara and she's 13 years old. I am currently teaching a year one Māori-medium class in Room 10, our class name is Whānau Koromiko.

Hello, I'm Kere. This is my second year at Victory Primary School and I am the teacher in Room 12. After a number of years travelling and working overseas, I returned to Nelson where I completed my training in 2010.

I feel privileged to be part of such a dynamic school and enjoy working with the staff and students. When not at school I try to spend as much time as possible with my friends and family, especially my 2 children Arabella and Sitrling.

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.

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.

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.

Kia Ora. I've been in the Nelson region for the best part of fifteen years and have just recently graduated as a teacher via the University of Canterbury. Born an Eastender (London), I feel right at home living in the similarly culturally diverse community that the Victory community has become.

I live locally with my son and love anything to do with the Performing Arts, having worked both as a musician and actor over the years as a performer and a tutor. My interests include playing football, reading, swimming, and studying social law.

I'm excited to begin my journey at Victory Primary and looking forward to meeting everyone and contributing to school life.

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.

Hi - my name is Jane Lawson. 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 at Victory Primary School for the past ten years, in between looking after my children. I really love teaching in such a positive school.

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.

Hi, I'm very excited to be the Maths Support Teacher at Victory Primary School this year. Maths has always been a passion of mine and I look forward to sharing my enthusiasm with the children. Originally from London, I have been living in Nelson for the last 7 years and have been part of the Victory team as a parent, Teacher Aide and Teacher since arriving. I am married to Jim and have one daughter who attends Nayland College.

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.

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.

Kia Ora,
Ko Sharon Tarapipipi tōku ingoa.
No Waimeha ahau
Inaianei e noho ana ahau ki Whakatū i te Wai Pounamu

I have been involved with VPS for almost 20yrs, firstly as a parent and then as a kaiawhina for the last 7yrs in the bilingual syndicate. I have four children who have attended VPS, Alicia(25), Damien(21), Rhiannon(16) and Jakson(11)and he is currently a Yr 6 in Matua Paul's class. I am lucky enough to be working as a Kaiawhina with Whaea Miranda again, in Rm 7 with Yr 3s. My role is to tautoko the kaiako and the learning of the tamariki. I also attend a night class at NMIT in Level 2 Te Reo Māori so I can better support the language needs of the tamariki within the bilingual syndicate.

Ka mutu noa iho ngā korero mo tēnei wa
Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.

Kia Ora. It's a privilege to be at Victory and a joy to work with kids. I'm beginning my 4th year as a school volunteer. The two mornings each week that I work with your children to build reading skills are some of the happiest hours of my week.

The diversity and multiculturalism at Victory guarantees a vibrant and exciting place. I'm humbled by a brilliant staff: dedicated, talented and creative. It's nice when you're on a winning team. I hope to be at Victory for many years to come.