At Mariposa Kids we pride ourselves in our high ratio of qualified staff to children. We work well as a team ensuring a friendly, fair and secure environment. Regular training courses are attended by all members of staff to guarantee that our qualifications and knowledge is up to date, enabling us to provide the children with the highest standard of care and supervision during their learning. We have regular staff meetings to enable us to converse our thoughts and ideas and plan future events.
Owner / Director
We purchased our first Centre in 2003, Mariposa Kids in 2010 and Shore Kids in 2014.
I have two grown up children of my own – Alexandra and Robert.
I love spending time with my family and when time allows I enjoy reading, travelling and going to movies.
Centre Manager
I see my role as a teacher as someone who supports each child as they learn about their surrounding world and discover new interests and ideas while being valued and respected. I feel it is vital to build a strong relationship with the child and their family, so they feel safe and comfortable and enjoy every day at their school. Being a teacher is very rewarding and knowing I have played a part in a child’s development and learning makes my job all that more fulfilling. As Centre Manager I use my leadership skills to nurture and guide a wonderful team of teachers.
Family means a lot to me as I come from such a big family. I have a beautiful daughter named Holly and a son named Jordan who are both now at Primary School.
Through watching, listening, copying and lots of trial and error the children in this room are mastering so many new skills. Our Kiwi room is set up specifically with this learning in mind, with ample space and resources providing plenty of time for uninterrupted play and learning. Resources provide opportunity for children to mimic and explore ideas through imaginative play becoming mothers of their own “babies”, firefighters on their bikes, or tigers in the jungle enabling them to make sense of the world and their place within it, learning how to work with and alongside others as they play.
The teachers in the Kiwi Room are a vital resource at this highly influential age, and pride themselves in role modelling positive social interactions, encouraging language development and literacy through stories, rhyme and song as well as allowing children to copy and try out “jobs” such as gardening, animal care or baking to name a few.
Repetition is key for children of this age so resources and activities are constantly available, many of which utilize the same skills but in different contexts allowing for practice, practice, practice until our now very independent Kiwis are ready to start their next journey to primary school.
Once your child turns four, we provide a special transition programme in collaboration with the new-entrant teachers of our local schools. Special attention is given to not just word recognition, numeracy and vocabulary but also concentration, working in a group and routines. We encourage aspects of learning and behaviour that will prepare them well for their move to ‘big school’.
Kiwi Room Teacher
My experience with my own children motivated me to change my career to early childhood education after having worked in the human resources field in China. I am passionate about working with the infant and toddler age group. I love to witness their growth and learning throughout their time with us.
In my spare time, I love spending time with my family. I also love to jog, travel, and be social with my friends.
Kiwi Room Teacher
I have a Bachelors degree with Honours in Social Science and a Post Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Development.
My teaching style and philosophy is learner-centred. I absolutely enjoy working with young minds because their imagination is endless. I am also impressed at how fearless and resilient children can be so it is important to me to provide a safe and encouraging environment in which they can grow.
Being with children keeps me young at heart and open-minded. Thank you for entrusting me with your little-one’s early development. I look forward to working with parents on this journey.
Kiwi Room Teacher
I am an unqualified teacher with experience in bringing up my own 3 children and working since 2012 in the Early Childhood industry and arriving in New Zealand in 2017. I joined Mariposa Kids in 2020.
I see every day as a new opportunity to help your children learn, develop, and reach their milestones. I also enjoy interacting with parents and giving them feedback on their child’s progress. I also try to give every child the confidence to come to me if they are having a difficult day – a cuddly shoulder to cry on.
In my spare time I love to read and go on nature walks.
Kiwi Room Teacher
When children feel they are in a safe environment, they will have a sense of belonging and they are better able to build their confidence and develop their exploration and communication abilities. It is good for their holistic development.
I respect the culture diversity of family. I enjoy communicating with parents, understanding their culture and expectations for the child, listening to the voices of parents, and collaborating with them to create a bright future for their child.
One of the most important responsibilities of early childhood educators is to build foundations for children to be lifelong learners.
Kiwi Room Teacher
While accompanying our children’s journey of learning and growth, every day will be an opportunity for me to learn and take me one step closer to becoming a better teacher.
I have a lovely 6-year-old daughter. She enjoys playing tennis, swimming, and
playing the piano and passed the ABRSM L5 test at five. By accompanying her as she grew up, I discovered that I am a person who loves children very much.
I like supporting them in reading, building blocks, and playing Lego and enjoy listening to their ideas.
In my spare time, I enjoy reading, photography and hiking with my family.
We provide a homely environment with all the right stimulation for an infant’s growing sensory awareness. To keep up with best practice we engage in ongoing development to best understand the nature and development of this age group. We have a specialist approach to infant care that is unique to our room and based on the simple principle of respect. Your baby will be actively listened to, responded to, and loved.
We understand that infants are driven by an innate need to self-educate, and simply require us to support their natural curiosity and exploration by ensuring that their environment offers them possibilities and opportunities. We respond quickly to their cues, assure their well-being and belonging, and they naturally gain confidence to learn.
Parents and family are the experts on their children, and we encourage and facilitate open communication to enable us to know your babies and their individual needs and preferences so that their care is specifically tailored to them.
Tui Room Teacher
I feel very privileged to be able to care for and support children during their most formative years and witness the many amazing milestones, achievements and discoveries they make as they grow and develop.
I live in Glenfield and have a daughter who attends Takapuna Grammar School.
In my spare time I enjoy reading, scrapbooking, spending time with my daughter and taking my 3 miniature dachshunds walking on the beach.
Tui Room Teacher
It’s also very rewarding watching children grasp a new concept and knowing I was able to be a part of their learning journey.
I live in Albany with my husband Danny and our first little wee girl Chloe (she was born on Matariki day 2022).
In my spare time I enjoy building Legos, being outdoors and spending time with my family and friends.
Tui Room Teacher
I have worked as a reliever in a number of Centres over the since 2019 and am now employed full time at Mariposa Kids.
In my spare time I like to read books and listen to music. I also love spending time with my family and my two children.
I am originally from the northern part of India and am now a proud Citizen of New Zealand.
Mariposa Kids provides children with morning and afternoon tea and a nutritious lunch every day and we are fortunate to have our own full-time cook. This key role requires weekly menu planning, ordering, preparation of meals and some superb baking as well as keeping everything hygienically clean.
Our regular maintenance jobs around the Centre are professionally taken care of by Joey and Clive, and from time to time even some parent volunteers.
Centre Cook/Relief Teacher
I have 3 lovely daughters. My husband, Joey, is also a teacher and works at Mariposa’s sister school in Northcote.
I enjoy cooking for my family and spending time with them. I love listening to music and going to Church.
Mariposa Kids is my second home and I have been working here since March 2012.
I love being a teacher because I get to build a strong foundation that not only prepares them for school but it also prepares them for life. I have recently taken over the position of cook for the school.
Relief Teacher
I chose my career as an Early Childhood Education Teacher after working as a babysitter, and I realized how much I love to see the smiles of the children as they learn and play. That’s why my first job was as an English Teacher Assistant for aged 5-10 at a Children’s English Center in China.
During my first job, I learned how to communicate and build a relationship with children of different ages. I am loving my journey of discovery as I learn more about Early Childhood Education during my studies and I give it all to the children.