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Our People

Hazel Fernandes
Hazel Fernandes, Centre Manager

Kia Ora and Namaste. My name is Hazel Fernandes.

I am from Mumbai, India. I am the second of three girls. I've been in New Zealand for 14 years. I hold a Post Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education from the University of Auckland. I have been a teacher for over 7 years and in a leadership role for a year. I love music - listening, dancing, and singing.

I love travelling too. I have travelled to Christchurch, Coromandel, Wellington, Cape Reinga, Mt. Rupeahu, The Kauri Forest, and Hamilton. I enjoy a bit of photography. I have begun to gain an interest in baking. My early years of teaching started back home when worked as an Assistant teacher in a Kindergarten back in Mumbai. After my studies at AUT, I specialised my skills in RIE (Resource in Infant Educarers) through the foundation course. My experience with my earlier centre gave me an insight into the Montessori philosophy too.

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Sue
Sue Callaghan, Administrator

Hi, my name is Sue.

I am from England and moved here over 20 years ago with my husband and we have two adult children. My administration journey started as a qualified secretary with a bank and then with a local education authority. When I moved to New Zealand, my children attended Playcentre, and it was through them I learned more about education-based administration.

I remained working part-time with Playcentre for 14 years until both children were at college. I joined Evolve in November 2015 as an administrator for one centre, increasing to two, three and now four centres. I am based here at Pascals St Johns two and a half days a week. On the days I am not here I am visiting the other 3 centres. I look forward to meeting and getting to know all our whānau at Pascals St Johns.

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Tamryn Hall
Tamryn Hall, Centre Cook


Hiya My name is Tamryn and I'm the cook at Pascal's St John's.

I'm passionate about food, trying to sneak in as many veggies as is possible while ensuring the kids enjoy the food. I'm also really passionate about making sure that any child that has special dietary requirements or allergies feels included when it comes to meal times by making something that somewhat looks like the others food but is specifically for them.

Kiwi (Infants/ Babies) Room:

Catherine Cunningham
Catherine Cunningham, Qualified / Registered Kaiako

Kia ora whānau/family

My name is Catherine and I was born in England and moved to New Zealand with my family in 1982. I have two sons who are now grown up. I made the move to early childhood as I am passionate about making a difference in young children's lives.

I feel blessed to be a part of children's growth and development as they achieve milestones, have confidence in their abilities, and develop new skills which I find rewarding and fulfilling. I feel strongly about advocating for children and standing up for their rights as they maybe not necessarily be able to do this for themselves.

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Naiereh Delkosh
Naiereh Delkosh, Unqualified Kaiako

Kia Ora , My name is Naya (Naier) and I'm thrilled to be part of Pascals St Johns team as a teacher in babies' room.

I joined Pascals Family in 2019. My philosophy revolves around fostering curiosity, creativity, and kindness in every child. I look forward to getting to know you all and provide a safe, nurturing space where our Tamariki can thrive!

Riga
Riga Farhat, Unqualified Kaiako

Kia ora my name is Riga Farhat.

I joined the Pascals Family in February 2017. I came to New Zealand in 2007 with my husband. I live with my husband. I have two sons age 15 years old and 13 years old and a daughter age 2 years old who attends Pascals St pascals St. John's. My sons attend Glendowie College. I completed a certificate of Inclusive Education (Teacher Aide) at MIT in 2016 and after finishing it, I got the opportunity to work at Pascals St Johns in 2017 since then I have been at this centre which I love.

I enjoy working and teaching children here in Pascals and learning alongside them, watching their journeys and seeing them grow into beautiful little human beings gives me great pleasure. I believe that the foundation of learning and interaction that a child receives at a young age greatly impacts their behaviour and learning in the future. I base my teaching on building strong relationships with whanau and children and respectful practice. I can't wait to be in your child's learning journey at Pascals St Johns.

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Tui (Toddlers) Room:

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Adisty Paulina, Kaiako

My name is Adisty, I moved to New
Zealand in October 2022, having previously resided in Indonesia and Australia

I worked in HR before deciding to pursue further
education in teaching after realising how much I enjoy
teaching through exploring various interests and volunteering
opportunities.

I completed my Graduate Diploma in Teaching
(ECE) in January 2024.

I have personally experienced the
powerful significance of education and I would love to be an extension of that for others.

Outside of work and study, I enjoy cafe hopping, exploring nature, and spending quality time with my loved ones

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Sajani
Sajani Paranavithana, Unqualified Kaiako

Kia Ora, My name is Sajani Paranavithana, and I'm from Sri Lanka.

Currently I'm studying final year of Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education and I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Management Information Systems. I have a several years of experience working with children, and I really enjoyed it. I have a six years old son, and in my spare time,

I enjoy reading and spending time with my family. I have always loved caring for others and nature. I'm passionate about developing strong connections with tamariki to allow them to learn, developing and explore nature. I love supporting families through their journey with children in their early years.
I feel privileged to be able to work in Pascals St Johns, and I'm looking forward to meeting you all!

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Fantail (Preschool) Room:

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Nilmini Gamage, Certificated Kaiako

Kia ora and Ayubowan
My name is Nilmini Gamage and I am from Sri Lanka. I am married and have two sons. I have been in New Zealand
for 26 years .

I hold a Bachelor of
Teaching and Learning in Early
Childhood Education from the
University of Canterbury. I have been working as an ECE teacher for more than 20 years.
I love music, singing, gardening and cooking.
I am passionate about working with children and
supporting them in their growth and development.
I believe in providing children with a warm, safe and inclusive environment to explore and understand their
ever-changing world with a positive self-image.

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Yiming (Chuck) Li, Kaiako

Hi everyone, my name is Chuck.
I came to New Zealand in 2015 and started my new journey in this beautiful country.

After years of dedicated study, I graduated with a Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) from NZTC.
Additionally, I hold a Master of Information Technology from the University of Auckland.


I am passionate about early childhood education and enjoy exploring and growing alongside the children. I
believe every child is unique, and their world is always full of surprises and joy.

My goal is to create a loving and caring learning environment for them through my efforts.


I love discovering new things, embracing challenges, and am very excited to contribute to this team. Let's work together to create a wonderful future for the children!

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Miranda
Sibongile Miranda Dube,

With over 21 years of teaching experience in both early childhood and Primary Education within International Schools abroad, I bring a wealth of expertise. I thrive on creativity and actively engage children in their learning process. My dedication to play-based learning pedagogy not only stimulates but also fosters a profound love for learning. In my teaching philosophy, I strongly believe in every child's potential for success. I aim to provide differentiated instruction that ignites curiosity while ensuring inclusivity for diverse needs. Emphasizing the significance of the early years, I am committed to nurturing children's love for learning and promoting their overall wellbeing. My goal is to create inviting, fun-filled environments that inspire wonder and facilitate optimal learning experiences.