Children of the Earth
YEAR 1 – 6 / 5 – 10 YEARS
In the primary years, our school architecture inspires students to connect with the environment, chase adventure and pursue their passions. It’s time for fun, laughter, exploration and inquiry, while building relationships, expressing creativity and getting dirty!
Primary students will strive to master core competencies in maths and literacy in a highly supportive learning environment. Student-guided, hands-on projects promote entrepreneurial thinking, environmental education, practical skills and the arts, while fostering students to become effective collaborators and communicators, empowered decision makers and willing risk takers.
Staff
Whaea Gemma
Head of Primary
Born in England, Gemma moved to Hong Kong when she was little. It was here that she finished her education and teacher training, met her superstar husband and had two beautiful boys. Whaea Gemma came to us in 2019 when she made the leap to Taranaki, to live the Green School dream. She loves teaching early literacy, social and emotional well being, and has spent many years in learner support.
As a passionate environmentalist, Whaea Gemma is very excited to have co-created our nature curriculum, where younger primary students have the opportunity to get down and dirty on our beautiful campus and connect with themselves, each other and our wonderful Mother Earth – Papatuanuku.
Matua Nick
Primary teacher
Matua Nick is a Taranaki-born educator with 21 years experience – 16 of those in international schools. Having spent 14 years in Egypt, he was a founding co-principal of the first British international school in the Sinai. As well as establishing the school as an NGO, he also set up the governance structure and oversaw an ambitious design and build. Whilst in Egypt, he experienced first hand why progress on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals is so crucial for our planet.
At Green School New Zealand, he brings a strong pedagogical background in experiential and action-based learning to the primary school. His goal is to provide learners with access to a progressive, innovative programme with a core focus on strong foundational proficiency learning.
Whaea Kat
Primary teacher
Whaea Kat is one of our founding teachers at GSNZ. Her knowledge, warmth and passion for teaching and learning is something that holds incredible value within our community.
Intermediate
The intermediate programme gives students a choice, while maintaining a firm grounding in foundational subjects.
High School
Our high school programme emphasises empowering students to make their own choices in a mutually-respectful way with their teachers. We believe in honouring each student to be their best self.
Specialisation
While the Green School curriculum encompasses all the foundational subjects, our flagship programmes are prominent for students of all ages and year levels.