PRIMARY SCHOOL KAIAKO 10
NURTURING OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS
TEACHING TAMARIKI
writer SARA CARBERY // photographer SARAH MARSHALL Talk to JESSIE PATCH about her job as kaiako (teacher) at He Puna Ruku Mātauranga o Whangaruru in Northland and her enthusiasm is obvious! Recently turned 23, Jessie is living her dream, teaching at the full immersion primary kura she attended as a child. “I enjoy watching my tamariki grow and feel success in everything they achieve. I love seeing their bright and bubbly faces each morning and all the fun things we do as a school.” As luck would have it, a position at her old kura became available towards the end of Jessie’s final year at the University of Auckland, where she studied for a Bachelor of Education (Teaching) Huarahi Māori specialisation. She started in the role at the beginning of 2020 and is now a second-year beginning teacher in a full immersion classroom teaching years 0–3. “I enjoy teaching te reo Māori and seeing how proud the kids are of our culture.”
As well as planning and providing feedback to whānau on the children’s learning, Jessie says her job involves “lots of lightbulb moments”.
BEING WITH younger TAMARIKI, I aM PREPARING THEM AND SETTING UP THE FOUNDATIONS FOR THEIR FUTURE. JESSIE PATCH
“Being with younger tamariki, I am preparing them and setting up the foundations for their future.” Jessie attended Bay of Islands College to Year 12, taking te reo Māori all the way through, and was home-schooled for Year 13. After taking part in the Gateway programme in Year 12 and exploring different workplaces, Jessie was drawn to teaching. “I have always loved being around tamariki and growing up in a small community I saw first-hand the need for good education. “As we live rurally, there is a lack of opportunity for lots of our people,” she says, “and I thought it would be awesome to be able to help grow and nurture our future generations, especially whānau within my own community.” If you’re thinking of becoming a teacher, Jessie recommends studying te reo Māori. “I didn’t realise the value of my reo until I reached high school and opportunities started to come my
