2019 Common Election results

Greetings all, I am seeking your support for re-election to the board of trustees at Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo for a second term. My wife Debbie and I have lived in the area and been a part of the community for the last 15 years and have raised two wonderful girls in this time. Both girls have attended Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo with Molly now at South Intermediate and Lucy in Year 5, both girls have loved their time at Somerfield and Debbie and I have enjoyed watching them develop their "SMART"s throughout their educational journey. I am passionate about children's education and have found the past three years on the board (with the position of personnel) an extremely rewarding way of giving something back to the school and our community. Being a member of the board and working together with our wonderful teachers, the community and the government to ensure our children get the best possible education is our ultimate goal and our current board has worked hard as a team to achieve this, however for me some of the other highlights have included the redevelopment of our staff room and class room blocks (with more to come), our focus on developing an inclusive curriculum to improve outcomes for all children which resulted in a fantastic E.R.O report, developing a close working partnership with our cluster schools and their boards and also the ongoing focus on collaboration. The past three years has flown by and as mentioned above we have achieved so much, but the journey in some regards has just begun.

I would very much appreciate your vote so I can continue to be your voice on the board and continue to represent our community.

Regards Mark Callaghan

Lucy Patricia Green
Elected

Kia ora koutou

I am mum to Noah, a student currently in year four and Xander who is 18 months. My husband and I chose to move to Somerfield in 2017.

I think Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo is a special place. I love its commitment to diversity, the school's values-based approach and the high quality teaching and learning. I feel very grateful for the welcoming and down-to-earth nature of the school community and I would love to contribute my skills and experience to the school's Board.

I am currently employed as a Communications and Marketing Adviser for a large national charity. I have over a decade's communications, public relations and marketing experience having tackled everything from corporate work, through to grassroots and not-for-profit community work. During this time I have developed my ability to assess the strategic needs of an project or organisation, then plan and deliver to meet these needs. I believe these skills would be useful to build on the current strengths of the school.

I am committed to using my experience as a way to build individual and community capacity, connect people with good information and provide strong advocacy.

I think my experience and values make me a great fit for the Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo Board and, if elected, that I will be well-positioned to make a positive difference to this wonderful community.

Ngā mihi, Lucy

Nalini Meyer
Elected

Tena Koutou Katoa, ko Nalini Meyer toku ingoa, no Otautahi ahau. Philippe and I are proud parents to Sylvie, who is in space 13, year 3. We feel so fortunate to be a part of the Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo community, and whose values and philosophy we share and love. SMART together with the mission and vision of Somerfield Te Kura, reflect our own view that kindness and inclusivity are keys to a more peaceful and just world. That raising our children with these values, is as important as academics; both provide them with the strength and skills to meet life's challenges, whilst also being active, healthy and happy community members. I was a lawyer for 17 years, and have recently moved to work in Governance, sitting on a number of Boards; work which I find fulfilling, challenging and a match to my skill set. I am privileged to be appointed by the Minister of Health as a Lay Member, and also Deputy Chair of the New Zealand Psychologists Board, the Authority which regulates the Psychology profession, in accordance with the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003. I also Chair the Christchurch City Mission Board, an organisation I love, and which seeks to look after the forgotten and vulnerable in our society. I sit as a trustee on the City Mission Foundation, the Anglican Care Trust Board and the St Georges Hospital Advisory Committee. I am passionate about Social Justice, and all these organisations seek to bring more equity to our Society. I offer my legal skills, communication skills, governance experience, strategic thinking, pragmatism, enthusiasm and open nature as a nominee for the Somerfield Board of Trustees. Ma whero, ma pango, ka oti ai te mahi - through cooperation the work is done.

Stephanie Elizabeth Muller
Elected

My name is Stephanie Muller and I am standing for the Board of Trustees for Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo. I am a current parent representative on the Board, and have served in this role since 2016. My husband Lance and I have lived in Somerfield for 13 years and have a strong connection with the school community. Our son Hadley has been through Somerfield School and is now in his final year at Cashmere High School. Our eldest daughter Emily is in Year 4 at Somerfield School, and we have a younger daughter Lucy who is in Year 1. I have an interest in youth achievement. I have been a tutor at the University of Otago law school and disability support office, and a mentor with First Foundation, which assists students to achieve their potential through tertiary education, often the first in their families to do so. I am currently involved with hosting international students through Cashmere High School. I believe the Board needs a balance of skills and experiences to operate effectively. The Board's overall responsibility to its parents and community includes legal obligations covering curriculum, property, personnel, finance, and health and safety. I am a lawyer with over 15 years' experience working predominantly with businesses in corporate and commercial law. I believe that my qualifications and experiences have equipped me with the expertise and enthusiasm to make a meaningful and positive contribution as a Board member. I believe I work well in a team, have good communication skills, the ability to ask challenging questions and exercise careful judgement, to contribute to sound decision making. I welcome the opportunity to positively influence and benefit the Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo community through serving as a member of the Board of Trustees.

Current co-opted member of the Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo Board of Trustees as a Maori representative, since 2018. My wife Andrea and I have two kids at STKW presently (in years 3 and 6, respectively), with our eldest boy currently at Chch South Intermediate, who previously attended STKW. As well as being a stay-at-home dad, I am also self-employed in the local tourism industry. Born and raised in Chch, I whakapapa back to Taranaki: Ngaa Rauru raaua ko Ngaati Ruanui ngaa iwi. Co-coach of the STKW Year 6 rugby team for the second season. Also coach kids' softball outside of school. Our family loves our school and its wider whaanau/community, and our tamariki have flourished as a result. My standing for election to the Board is a reflection of my family's desire to give back to our school and its community, by providing Denise and the wonderful team at STKW the necessary continuity of support at governance level. This will ensure all of our tamariki can continue growing into SMART Somerfield kids.

Craig Weston
Elected

Kia ora whanau. I am putting my name forward to stand for a third term on the Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo Board of Trustees. Along with my wife Anna and three boys we have been part of the school community for 10 years, with Levi in Y4, Ethan now at South Int and Harry at Cashmere High.

One of the great opportunities we have on the Board is to see first hand how blessed we are to have a great group of passionate, highly skilled and dedicated staff who love our kids and want the best for them. They go above an beyond time and time again to ensure each tamariki reach their potential.

As a Board member I have also enjoyed the opportunity as a team to set the strategic direction of the school and then during the year ensure that our leadership are delivering to goals that were agreed upon.

As a Board we are halfway through delivering our property development project and I am looking forward to doing my part in helping ensure we create the physical spaces that will serve our school community for years to come.

Nga mihi nui Craig Weston