MEET OUR TEAM
SARAH
Manager
Area of leadership: Te Motu Kairangi Restoration and māra
Kia ora, My name is Sarah and I am the manager here at Miramar Childcare. I hold my Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Classics, my Graduate Diploma in Teaching (ECE), my RIE Foundations, my He Papa Tikanga (Certificate in Tikanga Māori), my Post Graduate Diploma in Leadership (ECE), and am currently working towards my Masters in Education.
I have been a kaiako for the past decade; spending one year in an orphanage in Kenya, 6 years teaching pēpi, and the past 3 years in leadership roles supporting kaiako, tamariki and whānau.
In my practice as a kaiako I am passionate about outdoor learning, forest sessions, sustainability, helping tamariki to develop their own relationship with Papatūānuku, Te Tiriti based practice, respectful practice, and infant toddler well-being.
I am of Kai Tahu descent through whāngai on my nan’s side, and am currently exploring my whakapapa through a lost adopted line where we whakapapa to somewhere in the Whanganui region.
In my spare time I enjoy writing, photography, travel, and spending time with my whānau, friends, kūri, and my step children.
RACHAEL
Kaiako
Area of leadership: Moana - Raukawa
Kia ora, Talofa, Nĭ hӑo. My name is Rachael Cornish and I am a qualified teacher here at Miramar Childcare. I love getting to know the families here at the centre and love hearing about their lives and interests outside of the centre. I am a Mum myself and have 4 children so I know what it’s like to be busy! I really enjoy watching the children here learn new skills, challenge themselves and reach milestones, e.g. crawling, walking, learning how to jump and hop. I really enjoy cooking and baking with the children and also love art and music and anything sensory, e.g. messy play and water play. I enjoy being outdoors as well and watching the children explore our beautiful outdoor setting; finding insects and flowers and watching our garden grow.
AISLING
Kaiako
Area of leadership: Manu
Kia ora, my name is Aisling Halligan. I am an Irish girl and have lived in Wellington with my partner, Bryan, for over two years.
I gained a B.A (Honours) in Social Care in 2011 before deciding to leave Ireland and travel the world. I have many years’ experience in my previous roles, working with young children across a variety of settings. I have a great passion for educating little minds and encouraging and supporting children to have a love and curiosity for learning. I enjoy co-constructing and sharing knowledge, skills and theories with the children.
I love working with both the children and their whanau here in Miramar childcare.
MAKAELA
Kaiako
Area of leadership: Land and local history
Kia ora, my name is Makaela. I have completed my Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) through New Zealand Tertiary College. I have grown up and have lived in Miramar for my whole life. I enjoy being around my family and friends, getting creative and have a love for animals.
As a teacher I believe that each child is a unique individual who needs a secure, caring, and stimulating atmosphere in which to grow and learn. It is my desire as a teacher to help students meet their fullest potential in these areas by providing an environment that is safe, supports risk-taking, and invites a sharing of ideas. My role as a teacher is to give children the tools with which to cultivate their own gardens of knowledge. To accomplish this goal, I will teach to the needs of each child so that all learners feel capable and successful.
MILLA
Kaiako
Area of leadership: Pest Control
My name is Milla, and I've been actively involved in early childhood education for two years now. I had the pleasure of doing my student placement for my studies at Miramar Childcare, and now I'm lucky enough to be a teacher here.
I believe that children build great skills and experiences fro imaginative play with their friend and by themselves. I love to see the children getting involved in water play and messy play! I also really enjoy learning from the children through observation and interaction as they have some great knowledge to share.
I encourage all our tamariki to be kind to all living creatures, humans, animals and trees alike. I am to have a big focus on our bi-culturalism and multiculturalism as we have so many wonderful cultures here.
SONJA
Kaiako
Sonja is currently on parental leave but will be rejoining our team (and her little ones too!) later in the year.
Kia Ora, Hello and Guten Tag, My name is Sonja Steinmetz and I am thrilled to be part of Miramar Childcare.
I arrived in New Zealand in January 2015 to study for the Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education at the University of Auckland and once my course was over in November of that year I moved to Wellington. I have loved getting to know this city and look forward to extending my knowledge of Wellington and New Zealand as a whole.
My mother is Singaporean-Indian and my father is German, which explains why I look and speak the way I do. My childhood was spent in Germany and the wonderful time I had growing up there really influenced my decision to be an early childhood teacher. I am fluent in German (although a bit rusty at the moment) and look forward to incorporating it into the classroom when appropriate. Discovering new cultures and food through travelling is one of my favourite activities and I love spending time with loved ones and my 2 cats who recently moved over from Singapore. I am very passionate about children having creative ways to express themselves as well as being able to take appropriate risks and develop their sense of independence. I’m excited to be part of this team and look forward to getting to know all the children and whānau at Miramar Childcare!
BEE
Cook
Bee is our centre cook and works closely with the Health Heart Foundation to create delicious healthy kai for our tamariki. Bee is active in the garden with our tamariki, engaging them in caring for our food produce, and utilising our home grown kai in our cooking!