Staff

Kiri Gill has been in the teaching profession since 1984. Over that time, she has taught across New Zealand and has an in depth understanding of education. However, she is the first to say that even after all these years she is still learning. Kiri says, “I’m in the business of educating for the future and I feel privileged to be able to do that”.

St Matthew’s has a regaled history, a strong Anglican character, and strongly held traditions – and all of these things attracted Kiri to the school. She also appreciated that the school is aware of the necessity for embracing a changing world in which the girls of St Matthew’s will become leaders.

“Change does not mean compromising tradition and values”, Kiri says “a strong moral code and integrity are for a lifetime, and in a world where change is rapid you need these values to ensure that change and growth is viable, sustainable, and with people at its centre”.

The core business of any school is teaching and learning and Kiri sees the value of ensuring staff are developed professionally. “We are mindful that educating is quite different from the classroom experience we had even 15 years ago. Technology is part and parcel of the learning experience of youth; both in and out of the classroom, and we are endeavouring to embrace this learning so as to equip our girls for a world which could be quite different from today. In embracing technology, particularly the cyber world, comes challenge. There are challenges ahead as yet unknown, in all facets of the business of secondary education. The best way to face these is by ensuring we are working with our stakeholders: students, staff, parents, and the wider community, by being part of the same dialogues in order to have shared understandings.

The school has a very proud level of academic attainment due in no small part to committed practitioners and motivated students. “One of the reasons parents send their daughters to St Matthew’s school is because we have an excellent record of academic achievement. We work hard to ensure we are meeting the needs of our girls at all levels of the academic spectrum”.

The school experience in St Matthew’s is also about the all-rounded opportunities for the students. A school life is also sporting, cultural, social and spiritual. “We want to ensure that the girls have a holistic experience. Being part of a team and getting physical is an important part of life, and we endeavour to cater to that through sport. We have so much cultural talent in our midst and through the avenues of our drama and musical arenas, both onsite and at Senior College, we see that talent flourish. Our spirituality and Anglican character enhance what it is to be a good, decent and contributing member of society. We place a strong emphasis on service and giving back to the local and global community”.

St Matthew’s has wonderful community support. Kiri says “We are a family. Our families place faith in us to teach their daughters through both the Boarding and Day experience. We are raising our girls together with our community to be the caregivers of our planet. We take that responsibility seriously at St Matthew’s Collegiate.”

Sandie has been in the teaching profession since 1987. Her teaching career started on the Wirral in England teaching students from Year 7 – 13.   Since then Sandie has taught in schools in the Netherlands, Spain and New Zealand. Prior to joining St Matthew’s Collegiate in 2015, she was Head of the Technology Faculty for 7 years in a large girls’ school in Hamilton. She has a Bachelor of Education and a Post Graduate Diploma in Educational Leadership and Management.

While Sandie has overarching responsibility for Curriculum Development, other responsibilities include NCEA, Staff Professional Development, the SMOSLs, BYOD and Education Outside the Classroom. She has oversight of girls in Years 10-12 and is involved with the St Matthew’s Old Girls Association. Sandie currently teaches Digital Technology.

Sandie and her husband have grown up children living in NZ, the UK and Germany and four gorgeous little grandsons. Her love of the outdoors has manifested itself in her taking the girls on tramping and camping weekends for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award that she runs and she coaches the badminton teams.

Alison wears many hats at St Matthew’s. Firstly, she is in charge of the Dean network and Guidance at the school, and also responsible for management of the school calendar and major school events. Alison is also Year 11 Dean and Head of Social Studies. One of her roles is to assist the girls in their transition to Rathkeale/St Matthew’s Senior College from Year 11 to 12.

Alison has two daughters Catherine and Hannah, who both attended St Matthew’s and are now onto the next step in their lives.