Staff
Our dedicated team of experienced teachers and support staff, work collaboratively to ensure the best possible learning environment, programmes and outcomes for our students.
Our Board of Trustees has a commitment to providing opportunities for ongoing Professional Development for staff
Tania Savage
Tena koutou katoa. Over the past 16 years I have been fortunate to be part of Catholic education within Wellington. Firstly as a staff member at St Francis Xavier, Tawa, then as Deputy Principal at Holy Cross, Miramar. I have had extensive experience leading e-learning development within education over this time. In July 2015 I was delighted to be appointed as Principal of Cardinal McKeefry School. As a product of a small country school in Timaru, I know the value in growing up in an environment that allows all students to take up leadership opportunities. It is a privileged to be a member of the CMcK staff who offer excellent academic education that is tailored to the individual. I am currently working towards a Masters in Education at Victoria University and can often be found exploring educational issues with my professional learning network on twitter.
Estelle Henrys – Library Manager/ Teacher Aide
I began my early life in West Auckland as the youngest of a family of 7 children and the daughter of a grocer. I qualified as a Primary School Teacher and taught for 10 years before starting a family. With 4 children, a move to Wellington and a scientist husband often away doing fieldwork, I put teaching aside. I became involved as a volunteer at Cardinal McKeefry when our children started school here. When the library went from the old card catalogue system to being automated I was thrilled to be employed for library and teacher aide work. Children’s books, tramping, Parish life and Tai Chi (as a beginner) are my passions. I feel lucky to belong to such a wonderful little school and Church community.
Jo-Anne Day – Administration
Kate Reynard
Tena Koutou. I am lucky enough to be the Room Four teacher at Cardinal McKeefry School. I teach the New Entrant and Year 1 children. If you visit us in Room Four you will find us working away happily together. Our focus is on literacy and numeracy skills so we are always thinking about numbers, letters and words. We use lots of music and dance to help us in our learning and we also make sure we do plenty of Physical Education to keep our brains active. I wear some other hats here at Cardinal McKeefry too – I am the teacher responsible for Special Learning Needs (SENCO) and I am also Deputy Principal. When I am not at school I am usually busy with my three young children; coaching their sports teams, taxi-ing them to their various activities and baking together just to name a few or I am studying! This year I am working towards the completion of my Masters in Specialist Teaching which is challenging yet rewarding.
Laura Thomsen
Talofa Lava, my name is Laura Thomsen and I am privileged to be the teacher of room 1. I am a young Samoan woman who has had the opportunity to live not only in New Zealand but Samoa and Fiji as well. This journey sparked an interest of mine which led to me gaining a bachelor of arts degree majoring in religious studies. I love learning about how other people live and what impacts their lives. This in turn directed me towards teaching as I want to be a positive impact and role model for the younger generation. When I am not teaching, you will usually find me walking my two little poodle cross dogs around the local community with my family. I have 3 sisters and 1 brother, we are a tight knit family and remain close even with two of my sisters living on the other side of the world. I like to stay active and social so whenever I have free time it will usually be spent outside with friends and family.
Bridget Wylie Teacher Room 2
Mary Ryan
I feel very fortunate to be part of the Cardinal McKeefry school community and enjoy the enthusiasm and interest that our students bring with them to school each day. I love the fact that as a teacher you never stop learning yourself, there are always new ideas and ways to help students to reach their potential. I teach the year 3 and 4 class in Room 5 and try to create a safe, challenging and happy learning environment where each student’s needs are met. As a keen reader myself I am interested in all areas of Literacy and in particular sharing quality books with the class. I also love helping students create and experiment in the visual arts.
Lynne Blumsohn Teacher Aide
My Name is Lynne Blumsohn and I have been working as a Teacher Aide at Cardinal McKeefry school for nearly 6 years . I am originally from South Africa but have been living in Wellington for 11 years – and last year our family proudly became New Zealand citizens. I work with a few individual students in rooms 3 and 5 to achieve specific goals. I also support individuals / small groups in literacy, handwriting and Maths within the classroom environment. The part of my work I love most is seeing children’s eyes light up when they finally “get something” in Maths sessions.