Kia ora koutou

After teaching at both rural and town schools, I was lucky enough to land at Wharepapa South School, where I taught for three years before being appointed Tumuaki (Principal) in 2021. I’ve been loving it ever since!

I absolutely adore Wharepapa South. The tamariki, the whānau, and our wider community make this place something really special. I feel so grateful to lead a kura where we celebrate strengths, support each other, and embrace the adventures that come our way.

Outside of school, I live in Te Awamutu with my beautiful family, and a small zoo’s worth of pets. I’m a fan of animals, waka ama, gardening, the beach, and pretty much anything outdoors. Many of these passions sneak their way into school life too. Whether that’s through our school dog, Lester, our garden-to-table programme, or the endless EOTC trips we squeeze in. Doing what I love makes “work-life balance” feel more like “work-life fun.”

When I’m not at kura, there’s a good chance you’ll find me out on the water paddling waka ama. It’s the perfect mix of fitness, fresh air, and teamwork. Just like in education, paddling a waka only works if everyone’s in time and pulling together. Leadership is a lot like steering a waka. Sometimes you’re setting the pace, sometimes you’re keeping the balance, but you’re always part of the team moving forward.

I’m passionate about helping children, and our team realise their potential, and Wharepapa South School provides the perfect environment for this to happen. We’ve got exciting times ahead, and I’m proud to be leading our kura as we continue to grow happy, resilient, and successful learners.

“There are no limits to what you can accomplish, except the limits you place on your own thinking.”
— Brian Tracey

Kia ora e te whānau

My name is Toni Densem and I am delighted to be the kaiako in Room 1, teaching Years 0–4.

I have been teaching since 2004 across a range of schools and year levels. I am extremely passionate about Structured Literacy, inquiry learning that weaves across all curriculum areas, and supporting students to reach their full potential.

My husband and I live in Te Awamutu with our teenage sons, and much of our time is spent supporting them in their sporting pursuits. Outside of school, I love being out in nature, chasing a good sunset, and my growing obsession with dahlias is leading me down a very colourful path in the garden.

I feel extremely privileged to work alongside such dedicated educators and whānau at WSS.

Ngā mihi nui

Kia ora koutou 

My name is Amy Moorhead, and I am the kaiako (teacher) in Room 2, working with students across Years 5–8. I am passionate about developing confident learners with well-structured, integrated learning opportunities. I connect classroom learning to real-world situations. I love hands-on, inclusive learning, which shapes my approach in the classroom and helps students become passionate learners who enjoy being at school. Whenever possible, I enjoy linking our learning to EOTC trips, making learning meaningful and memorable for students. I am currently the lead teacher for our Enviro Schools initiatives and am excited about the outdoor learning programs we are undertaking at our small kura this year.

I was raised in Te Awamutu and now live in Kihikihi with my partner and our three dogs. Before teaching, I worked on a dairy goat farm, which sparked my strong interest in animal welfare and sustainability sciences such as biology and ecology. I volunteer as a leader for a Junior Performing Arts group in Te Awamutu after school on Thursdays, where I often learn new drama and music skills to bring into the classroom. On weekends, I enjoy attending dog shows and proudly serve as a committee member of the Auckland Dachshund Club.

Since joining Wharepapa South School three years ago, students, parents, and the community have quickly become like whānau. I feel very fortunate to teach at this fabulous school and to work alongside the wonderful team of experienced educators at our kura.

Ngā mihi

Kia ora Koutou,

Kia Ora, 

I graduated from the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Laws with Honours receiving an A+ for my dissertation.

Prior to this, I worked in-house as a Senior Legal Advisor and Assistant Team Leader. I have also previously worked in an employment relations advisory role, as a General Practitioner, as a Summer Clerk and Law Graduate, and prior to this, I managed a subsidiary company for an Auckland firm.

Following the arrival of my daughter, and upon reflection, I realised the primary focus of all my Honours work was tamariki. This coupled with a lifetime love of children, and being the eldest in my whānau, I chose to make the move into Education with a view to retraining as a Primary School Teacher.

My journey began with careful consideration of my personal values and a kura that aligned with these. A school, that I felt, is exceptional. That's how I found Wharepapa South School.

I am proud of our kura and immensely humbled to be a part ot it.

Mauri Ora!

Bri is a much-valued part of our Wharepapa South School team. She works hard to make sure our tamariki have a clean, safe, and welcoming environment to learn and play in. From the classrooms to the admin block, to the flower garden, her efforts help keep our kura looking great every day.

Mrs Yates has long been involved with Wharepapa South School.  She provides our students with an amazing opportunity to learn how to play the piano with 1:1 lessons at school each week. 

Being an avid reader, she is also our enthusiastic librarian and does a fantastic job of keeping our books organised and easy to browse for that adventure on another planet, or research project about rocks.

We have a fantastic group of parents and community members who help out with some much needed fundraising for our kura (school).  The funds raised allow us to provide our tamariki (children) with the support and resources they need including teacher aid support, sports equipment, new books, reducing costs for trips and much more. If you would like to help out and become a Friend of Wharepapa, please reach out to the office and we will connect you with the superstars who work behind the scenes to make it all happen :)