Staff Snap Shot

Hello I am Mr Church and I have been at Cosgrove School for 3 years now. My first class was Year 1 & 2 in Room 16, and for the past 2 years I have been teaching Year 3 & 4 in Room 28. I have taught for 20 years, beginning my career at Tawhiuau School in Murupara. I have also taught overseas, in Hong Kong in the early 90’s teaching English, and at the end of 2003 I went to the UK for 2 ½ years. I really enjoy working at Cosgrove because the children here are the achieving and the learning kind.

Hi, my name is Miss Leadbetter. I have a mum and dad, 1 sister, 2 brothers, with one of those brothers who is a primary school teacher in Christchurch. I am Room 18s classroom teacher. I have been working at Cosgrove since 2008. This is an awesome School and I am very proud to work here. I live a quiet life at the beach, but I enjoy the busy lifestyle at Cosgrove.

Ms. Stockley has been at Cosgrove since January 2007. That’s 3 ½ years! She likes the enthusiastic staff and children at Cosgrove. She has helped to supervise the school’s Mathex team and she also plays tapuae with Room 2 if she has time and is happy to have us take on all challengers. Besides teaching at Cosgrove, Ms. Stockley has taught at Greenmeadows Intermediate, Manurewa Intermediate, Murupara Primary School and Kadimah College. She thinks Room 2 are simply the best! By Michael Room2

Hi! My name is Mrs Maxwell and I am lucky enough to be Room 25’s teacher. I have been at Cosgrove School for 1 ½ years and have loved every minute of it!!! I love teaching Maths and Reading and another favourite is playing football at lunchtime with the Middle School Children! While I am not at school I like to play a range of sports including, tennis, softball, touch, football and indoor soccer. I also love to read and spend as much time as I can outdoors. I have no children but have two absolutely beautiful Persian cats called Saber and Seefa.

Hi, my name is Mrs Cook and I have been teaching at Cosgrove for the past four years. I am currently working with the children in Room 14 and this term we are looking at The Farmyard, the products we have that come from the farm and the amount of jobs that are created because of farming. Visual Art is something I enjoy teaching and we try to make our classroom as bright and interesting as we can. On a personal level I have two daughters, one who is a mum at home and the other is attending university. My interests include spending time with my family, reading, netball and when I can find the time horse riding.

Hello my name is Mrs Huston. I am in my third year teaching at Cosgrove School, but have had a long association with the school as my two children Leon and Samantha both attended primary school here. I have a great love of books and will read just about anything. Most of the books in the school library I have read. My next love is computers. I spend my weekends relaxing after a hard week in room 3, by reading books or trying out new computer games. I also love food, the more cream the better, and have been known to start a meal with pudding first, Pavlova’s are the best. That’s why I look after the Fruit in Schools. My favourite holiday would have to be Hawaii but the Gold Coast will do. One day shopping, one day beach or pool. Maybe next year.

Talofa Lava My name is Mrs Asomua and I have been teaching at Cosgrove School since 2008. During these years it has been a wonderful experience seeing students strive to the best of their abilities. It has also been a privilege meeting with parent’s one to one, discussing ways which will help support their children's learning needs at home. I also enjoy teaching the Samoan Culture Groups, as well as watching the group put on many great performances for the school and out of school. I am a proud mother of four boys, all of whom have enjoyed their learning here at Cosgrove School. During my time out of school, I am a very busy mother supporting my children with their homework and other extracurricular activities. Family is very important to me because with the support of my family I am able to do my best to help others to be their best. As a mother and a teacher I strongly believe that “the more we put into our children’s education; our children will prosper in the future”. (I dedicate this to my parents because without them I would not be who I am today) Tofa Soifua, ona o Iesu.

Mrs Goslin has been at Cosgrove School for a number of years teaching in the Junior School. She enjoys seeing children succeed in their learning and would like this learning to continue past High School to a Tertiary Education. Mrs Goslin believes attendance at school is very important for children’s progress. It’s cool to be at school. Mrs Goslin also has a passion for hockey and coach’s two senior women’s teams and a junior team. Her daughters play in one of the senior teams. There are a number of Cosgrove children who play in Mrs Goslin’s Junior Team who are having some success at the beginning of this season. She also plays and umpires hockey. Just recently Mrs Goslin’s family moved house to help with her father who has Alzheimer’s. As one big family they now have seven cats and one dog. They have all settled well into their new environment.

Mr Salisbury loves to teach and learn new things. He is in his tenth year of teaching. He has taught in the United Kingdom and in Uganda, Africa. He thinks that teaching at Cosgrove is the best because the teachers and staff are awesome. Mr Salisbury loves to win and enjoys playing a wide range of sports including being a surf lifeguard in Whangamata. He got married to Hannah two years ago, but they don’t have any kids (yet). He has a terrible sweet tooth and loves to eat, he can also wiggle his ears and run very fast.

Mrs Raman in Rm 27 loves to teach and learn with children. Her hobbies include reading and putting together 1000 piece jigsaw puzzles (amazingly relaxing!!!). Mrs Raman also greatly enjoys travelling and admiring nature.

Mrs Rout has been teaching at Cosgrove School for a long time. She has taught in lots of different areas but mainly in the Junior area. She loves teaching at Cosgrove because there are great children and staff at the school. Mrs Rout says it is important for children to attend school everyday so they are ready to learn.

Hi, my name is Mrs Mundy and I have been teaching here since 2000. I started in Room 3 teaching year 5 and 6 children. I have taken leave twice to have my sons, Ben now 6 ½ and Matthew 4 ½. Each time I have come back in a different role initially teaching New Entrants in Room 9, then teaching sports to everyone from NE to Y6. My favourite subjects are maths, science, PE and art. I have many hobbies but the most rewarding is spending time with my children playing games or looking through their albums I have scrap-booked. With the cricket season approaching I am managing Bens team for Drury.

Let me introduce myself, I am Frances Jamieson, teacher in Room 1. I am just about to finish my fifth year here at Cosgrove School. I have a grown up family, with my only child Cameron away at Massey University. So what do I like to do outside of school? Well cars play a very big part of my family, especially Fords. I am currently helping to restore a MK1 Escort -1300 Sport called Ernie for me. I am also involved with motor racing. Being a member of the Pukekohe Car Club, I help organise events such as rallies, hillclimbs etc. Unfortunately, because I am usually one of the officials, I don’t get to sit in a car often, but over the years I have had the opportunity to sit beside some very famous rally drivers and go for a skid.

Hello, I’m Mrs Martin and I live in Room 24. I was born in Northern Ireland and my family came to New Zealand when I was 6 1/2. I went to several Primary schools as my family tried to make a better life for us in New Zealand. My Dad always told us that the only thing that would get us a better life was education, so we grew up with lots of books and stories of far away places that my Dad and grandparents had seen. That is probably why I have such a love of reading and travelling. I really enjoy seeing how other people live and listening to their stories from their different cultures. I have been at Cosgrove School for ever, and I love the mix of cultures we have. I really enjoy talking to the families in this area and seeing children grow and learn and try to make a good life for themselves. I feel really old when past pupils come to see me and bring their children – I have even taught the grandson of a boy I taught in my first year teaching at an Intermediate school in Taranaki!

Hello my name is Mrs Nel. I have been teaching for 12 years and have loved every moment of it. For those that are not too sure, yes it is true… I am South African. I have two beautiful little girls. One is 5 years and the other is 3 years old. I have a handsome husband also but I will be in trouble if I tell his age. My favourite thing is playing with my girls or painting. My favourite food is Sushi. My favourite school is… COSGROVE!!!! I am super lucky to teach at this awesome school and feel honoured to be teaching these wonderful students.

Ko Hikurangi te maunga, Ko waiapu te awa, Ko Ngati-Porou te iwi. Kia ora Koutou. Ko Matua Koia au. ( I am Matua Koia) I love to help tamariki to learn. I have lived in Tainui for eight years. I enjoy bodysurfing (when I can), playing the guitar and Maorioke. I have five mokupuna, who all live overseas, so I now have facebook and skype to keep in contact with them. I look forward to my new role teaching basic Te Reo and Tikanga at Cosgrove School. No reira e tu rangatira! Nga nihi nui mo tenei tau hou.

Hello my name is Mrs Hardley-Rout and I am one of the school secretaries. I am in my 5th year working at Cosgrove School, and can honestly say “I love my job”. I have a 17yr old daughter and my son will be 14 next week. They both attended Cosgrove School. I have an amazingly supportive husband, who just so happened to create our fantastic new website.

Hi folks, for those who don’t know me, my name is Peter Rout. I’ve had the privilege of teaching and working with your children for nearly 2 decades! Officially my title is Deputy Principal, but some would question that if they saw
how I jump up & down doing everything that our lovely office ladies ask of me. Very much like my wife!! We have two lovely children (well that’s what they say anyway) Talia is in her 3rdyear of University, while Logan is in the 5th form (Yr 11) at Papakura High School. Having raised 2 children we are very aware of the trials and tribulations of bringing up kids - from trying to get them up in the morning, to getting them to bed at night, and everything in between. So just like you we want the best for our children. I want the best for Cosgrove children as well, so I am more than happy to talk to parents about my experiences.

Hello my name is Mrs Taylor and my husband’s name is Andrew. We have four lovely children. We emigrated to New Zealand in 2007 because we wanted to give our children a better way of life, and we knew we would find it here. I loves the beaches and countryside, and I especially love the sunshine. My favourite hobbies are playing scrabble and going to the movies. I love lots of different animals, and my cat has just had 6 beautiful black kittens. I began working as a Teacher Aide in 2009 with my own son because his school needed the support, and I continued that career here at Cosgrove, supporting a wonderful girl in Room 2. Everyone has made me feel very welcome at Cosgrove Primary; the teachers, staff, students, volunteers and parents, and I wouldn’t wish to work anywhere else. P.S. Room 2 rocks!!

Hi I’m Mrs M (McSkimming) and I teach maths at Cosgrove School. I have been a teacher aide for nearly ten years and usually work with children with Special Needs. I have three children of my own, all boys! My family is mad about soccer, both my two younger boys play, and I have been a soccer manager for the same teams for ten years. We even have a dog called Fifa (named after the soccer world cup). All my children also do Tae-Kwon Do which is really good for their fitness. My family is also crazy about maths, which is why I enjoy teaching numeracy. I work with groups from the middle and senior school. Learning maths doesn’t just happen at school. A child can do heaps of maths activities at home. Help your child to do fun things, like counting the items of clothes hanging on the washing line, or perhaps count how many power poles they pass on the way to school. It all helps!