Nicola Philip
Nic has been Principal at Karitāne School since 2009. She loves working for the children and community of Karitāne and highly values the pivotal role that the school has in bringing community together.
Nic believes that a small school education is something to be rightfully proud of and that children from small schools are great ‘all rounders’ who often model qualities and values associated with good citizenship. She sees her job as that of developing relationships – with her pupils, their whanau, the community and other staff members and believes that relationship lies at the heart of good teaching and learning.
Nic is a teaching Principal and this is the part of her job that she finds most exciting – getting into the classroom with children and watching them grow,learn and improve. Her classroom philosophy hinges on children becoming confident, capable and independent as they work on their learning. Nic has two children and a husband who test her to the limit.
Helen Carter
Helen is an inventive and creative teacher. She primarily teaches in the senior room – specializing in education for sustainability, the arts and gifted and talented education. She also delivers the school’s Reading Recovery programme.
Helen firmly believes that all children are unique individuals with their own talents, gifts and dispositions and she works hard to nurture these aspects of the students in her care. Helen has a fine Arts diploma from Otago School of Art and her love of the arts is reflected in her thoughtful and creative classroom programme and environment. Helen is the proud mother of two children – both of whom attended Karitāne school.
Lianne Montgomery
Lianne is our Junior teacher and has the privilege of welcoming students to our school when they turn five. She is a kind, gentle and calm person who is not at all fazed by the chaos that our youngest school members can create in the classroom.
Lianne is a positive person who believes that all children bring their own strengths to the classroom. She works hard to develop a classroom environment that is respectful, inclusive and safe.
Lianne lives locally and loves the connection that she has developed between the school and the wider community. Lianne lives with her husband Monty, son Tawera and dog Bear.
Christine McFarland
Christine is our experienced teacher aide. She spends her time working across both classes supporting individuals and groups of students in their learning.
She is a positive influence in the classroom, calm and kind yet full of energy. It is evident that children enjoy spending time with her.
Christine works with the children every day until lunchtime and occasionally comes on our Education Outside the Classroom trips as well.
A self-confessed homebody Christine appreciates her quiet life in Waikouaiti with her husband John. She enjoys creativity of patchwork and is an avid gardener.
Sarah Dempster
Sarah has been smiling in the office hot seat since early 2019. Comfortable with a variety of roles, Sarah regularly puts on her gumboots working with husband James on their family sheep and beef farm in Flagswamp. Here she enjoys the fresh air and space with her three gorgeous wild farm boys and a cat called Yoda.
Jane Schofield
Jane joined the board of trustees three years ago and now holds the position of Board Chair.
Currently she is studying a Bachelor Degree of Primary Teaching by correspondence from the University of Canterbury. Jane enjoys the water, surfing, swimming and paddle boarding being her favourite pastimes.
She lives with her husband Nathan; children Blake and Eden who attend Karitane School. Together they have a vast and varied assortment of pets that would rival most hobby farms.
Board of Trustees
Chair: Jane Schofield
Ph 027 474 5263
Read the May 2019 chairperson’s report
Trustees: Shelley Gorman, Emily Cooper, Sam Diprose, Jackie Cooper