Kia ora, my name is Jen!
I am a kaiako here at Woodlands Preschool. I grew up in Ashburton and moved to Ōtautahi Christchurch in 2019 to do my Bachelor of Design (Applied Visual Art).
As teaching has always been one of my passions alongside the arts, I decided to complete a Graduate Diploma of Teaching and Learning (Early Childhood Education) at the University of Canterbury in 2023.
My philosophy is grounded on the strong belief that the child is a treasure; a taonga, that we should cherish close to our hearts. My practice is rooted in the ability to be present and attentive to where children are looking, how they're communicating and the unique funds of knowledge they bring into the space. By acknowledging and honouring the child's voice, I aspire to uplift and empower each child’s mana and nurture their sense of agency to become confident life-long learners. With the child at the heart of my practice, I look forward to our journey together in cultivating meaningful, reciprocal relationships with your mokopuna, your whānau, and our learning community.
He taonga te mokopuna, kia whāngaia, kia tipu, kia rea. A child is a treasure, to be nurtured, to grow, to flourish.
