Being upgraded in 2023 – Room 1

Laura Matthews – Room 2

Hi, I’m Laura Matthews and this year I am teaching year 1 students in the lovely room one classroom. I grew up and was educated in the Taranaki and am passionate about giving back to my community and teaching in the same environment.

Lisa Sawtell – Room 3

Celeste McLean – Room 8

Kia ora whanau,

My name is Celeste McLean. I am a fourth year teacher who was very lucky to join the Paetoki team in Term 3, 2022.

I am passionate about sport, particularly golf and netball. On the weekends I enjoy spending my time outdoors and you may find me on the golf course, at the netball courts, exploring our beautiful region, or in my backyard gardening.

Prior to teaching I spent some time overseas where I attended Fairleigh Dickinson University on a golf scholarship. I was very fortunate to travel all over America to compete in a sport that I enjoyed. Through sport I found that I loved teaching and helping tamariki further develop their skills. As a teacher I aim to provide a safe environment where students are confident enough to take risks with their learning.

The Vogeltown whanau has made me feel very welcome and I am looking forward to the year ahead!

Matt Goodwin – Room 9

Kia ora Whanau,

My name is Matt Goodwin, although I have been teaching for a few years now, this is my first year teaching at Vogeltown School. I am excited to be a part of the Paetoki team, where I will be working out of Room 9 with the Year 5 & 6 students.

I really enjoy developing people’s skills while having fun along the way. I am passionate about sport, you can often find me at different sporting events as a spectator, I can be easily found following the Spotswood United Rugby teams in the winter months, and at East End Beach in the summer months watching my children participate in Surf Life Saving skills.

I am really looking forward to being a part of your child’s learning journey for 2023.

Rachel Pretty – Room 10

Teaching has been a late but very rewarding career choice for me. I started at Coastal Taranaki Area School in 2005. This was a great experience as it was a brand new school. After a few years at Coastal, I got a job at Vogeltown. I am very privileged to work with such a supportive team. They are dedicated, professional teachers with the student’s best interests at heart.

I am also lucky enough to have had my daughter attend. I offer a safe learning environment where the children are encouraged to have a go through different experiences. I believe if a child has confidence they will succeed. All children deserve the best and that is what they get at Vogeltown School.

Dayna Lewis – Room 11

Kia ora, My name is Dayna Lewis and this is my first year teaching at Vogeltown School. I am very excited to be in Room 16 with Year 4 and 5 tamariki in the Paetoki team.

Over the years I have spent some time working in marketing and events and have enjoyed living abroad. Having lived in Taranaki for the majority of my life it is great to be back home and I am looking forward to starting my teaching career here at Vogeltown School. I am a big lover of the outdoors where you will find me making the most of our fantastic region over the weekend!

I am excited to work alongside tamariki and their whanau to ensure everyone experiences confidence and success in a positive learning environment. Really looking forward to what the year will bring.

Nathan Ransfield – Room 12 – Associate Principal & Paetoki Team Leader (DP)

Kia ora whanau, I’m Nathan Ransfield. I have been a primary school  teacher for the past 17 years. I have been teaching at Vogeltown for 8 of those years and have loved every minute here. I am the leader of the Paetoki Syndicate and have an amazing team that I get to work with every day!

Dani Melody – Room 13

Kia ora whanau, I am Dani Melody. I am in Rm 10 with Yr 3 and 4 kids this year. I am originally

from Hawkes Bay but moved to New Plymouth, where I started my teaching career at an Intermediate. I then had my two beautiful kids and worked as a relief teacher across all age levels, at Vogeltown School.

I love being a mum and all the adventures life has to offer. I like exercising and getting outdoors to enjoy the beautiful Taranaki landscape.

Vogeltown has such a warm and welcoming feel to it. I feel lucky to be working here and I am really looking forward to the year ahead!

Cam Hedley – Room 14

Kia ora whanau,

I am Cam Hedley and am very excited to begin my teaching career at Vogeltown school, working in Room 14 with year 3 and 4 ākonga. I have recently completed my Graduate Diploma of teaching, studying extramurally so I could continue to enjoy the beautiful Taranaki region and spend time with my whanau. On the weekends you can catch me either enjoying the outdoors, going for a surf, or curling up with a good book. I am looking forward to providing a classroom environment where tamariki feel a sense of belonging and take pride in their learning. I believe this begins with building positive relationships within the classroom and instilling confidence in ākonga so they can enjoy their educational journey. I love the welcoming, vibrant feel Vogeltown has, and being an ex-vogeltowner myself, it felt just like whanau all over again. I feel grateful to have the opportunity to teach Vogeltown tamariki and am excited for the year ahead!

Mike George – Room 15 – Deputy Principal & Huatoki Team Leader

Kia Ora Vogeltown whanau.

I am married to Kathryn and we have three wonderful daughters, Sarah 24, Laura 21 and Sophie 19. I love everything about Vogeltown School and have been a teacher here for the past 15 years. I have taught in the Junior, Middle and Senior areas of VS. Before completing my teaching degree I was a Bank Manager with TSB Bank.

I am the Paetoki team leader and Deputy Principal, responsible for taking some of the pressure off Mr Ogle and helping out where needed.  Pop in and say gidday!

Brent Bishop – Room 16

Kia ora, My name is Brent Bishop and I have recently completed my Bachelor of Teaching at The University of Waikato and am very excited to join the Vogeltown School community next year. My partner and I are both from New Plymouth and we love raising our young daughter in this amazing place, Taranaki.

I am very passionate about the outdoors and all sports. Cricket and rugby have been two sports in which I have spent a lot of my time playing and coaching in.

I strive to promote self-belief and teamwork and think these skills are hugely important in ensuring children are engaged and encouraged to become lifelong learners.

I am looking forward to a fantastic first year at Vogeltown!

Jeremy Ogle – Principal

Kia Ora whanau, I am proud and honoured to be the Principal here at Vogeltown School. I spent 11 years as Deputy Principal at Highlands Intermediate and it is great to be back in a Primary school which is where I started my teaching career.

I grew up in Hawera where both my parents were teachers and they both continue to educate people with their wonderful Tawhiti Museum which aims to ‘bring history back to life’ through modelling, dioramas and ‘kid friendly’ stories of yesteryear. My wife is a teacher too, so I guess teaching is definitely in the blood!

I love our school vision of ‘care for the land, care for the people and go forward’ and model this each day through interactions with kids, staff and community. My door is always open if you want a chat, or come out and have a kick around with the kids at lunchtime on the field!

Vogeltown has a history of being a great school with great kids and awesome teachers. This will continue while I am here and we will continue to do things the ‘Vogeltown way’.

Ka Kite ano.

Laura Seed – Associate Principal & Across School Teacher COL lead

I am a Taranaki girl, having lived here all of my life. My family is very sporty and you will often

see myself, my husband and our 3 children out and about at various sporting arenas. My teaching career began at Vogeltown School 10 years ago and I have been lucky enough to teach students in the senior and middle school.

Vogeltown has such a warm and friendly vibe and I love to reflect this in my classroom, aiming to always have the walls full with my student’s bright and colourful learning.