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ST MARY'S CATHOLIC SCHOOL
PAPAKURA
St Mary's Catholic School, Papakura enjoys a proud history and heritage where multiple generations have thrived and succeeded in our Catholic setting. Together with a stable and experienced staff who provide up to date professional knowledge and care for each child, an engaged and active parent community and a supportive Board of Trustees, our students excel across all curriculum areas.
Our Teaching Staff
Mrs Jay Moodly - Junior Team
Mrs Moodly is from South Africa. She came from Durban; it is South Africa's third largest city with many top attractions and beautiful long beaches. It's also a haven for surfers. She taught for over 15 years in South Africa.
Mrs Moodly loves living in New Zealand with her family. Her husband is Mr Moodly. They have two adult sons and their daughter-in-law. Their youngest son is married and they have an adorable baby boy. It is a blessing to be a grandparent.
Mrs Moodly has been teaching for over 20 years in Auckland. She enjoys teaching at St Mary's Catholic School. "We are like a big family. We nurture the values of respect, care and responsibility through our faith and teaching, with strong partnerships with the children and the community".
Her interests are reading, theatre, baking, cooking and yoga.
Krishnie Govender - Junior Team - New Entrants
Mrs Krishnie Govender came across the waters from South Africa to New Zealand in 1997. She began her NZ teaching career at St Mary's School in August 1997 after teaching in South Africa in three schools in and around Durban for 19 years. She enjoys being the New Entrant teacher since 2007 and finds it very rewarding. She is currently holding the Team Leader's role for Team Bethlehem until July 2021.
Mrs Govender finds that the core values of Respect, Care and Responsibility helps her live and enjoy life as Jesus would want us to. She has been married to Dennis Govender since 1983 and they have two adult daughters. When not at work, Krishnie enjoys cooking South African foods and savouries. She loves road trips around New Zealand as well.
Mrs Simone Butler - Junior Team
Mrs Butler has three children. Her eldest son went through St Mary's and finished in 2018. Her youngest son is currently a student at St Mary's and her daughter is looking forward to starting at St Mary's this year. Mrs Butler's family have been heavily involved in the St Mary's community through the PTFA, BoT and helping out at the annual gala for a number of years. Simone is now excited to bring her 16 years of experience in early years education to the tamariki in Team Bethlehem. She especially enjoys inspiring discovery through hands-on learning experiences and also teaching Art and Science. In her spare time, she loves riding her bike, reading, cooking and spending time with friends and whanau.
Mrs Mary Bird - Junior Team
Mrs Bird has been at St Mary's since 2004. She started as a New Entrant teacher and has taught various year levels at primary school. She enjoys teaching and enabling children to be the best they can be. Mrs Bird has a passion for learning and teaching RE, ICT and Te Reo.
Mary has one son who is married, has his own business, and lives and works in Sydney. In her spare time, she likes to do gardening, listen to music and work on crafts and decorations.
MrsCandice Jeffrey- Senior Team - Year 4/5
Mrs Jelinda Adams - Senior Team - Year 6/7
Mrs Adams is thrilled that she "has been teaching for more than 20 years". She grew up in Durban, South Africa and graduated with a Bachelor of Education Degree from the University of Kwa Zulu Natal in 1995 and an Honours Degree in Education Law and Policy from the University of Pretoria in 2010.
She began her teaching career in Johannesburg, South Africa where she taught underprivileged children for more than 15 years before moving to New Zealand. This year she is teaching Year 5/6 and loving it! Currently, she lives in Flatbush with her husband Chris and three boys (Ethan, Liam and Caleb).
Jelinda enjoys cooking, reading, watching movies and spending time with her family.
Mr John Frings - Senior School
Mr John Frings has over 30 years of teaching and Principal experience. He first joined St Mary's School as a Year 7 and 8 teacher in 1999. He became Team Leader in 2001 before accepting a Principal position at Waitakaruru School in 2007. Prior to his return to St Mary's School in 2018 he also completed three years as Teaching Principal of Mayland International School, Guangzhou, China.
Mr Frings believes that the establishment of genuine caring relationships within the classroom is a critical positive factor in achieving learning success. He has very much enjoyed reconnecting with the St Mary's school and parish community and acknowledges the tremendous privilege he has in supporting the learning and well being of intermediate aged students.
Originally from Hawkes Bay, he is now a firm Blues and Warrior supporter having lived in South Auckland for over 25 years. Mr Frings, his wife Michelle and sons Joshua and Luke live busy lives but love to spend time surfing, fishing and relaxing at Port Waikato whenever they get the chance.
Mrs Anneke Walker - Emmaus Team - Year 8
Mrs Walker was born in Christchurch, raised in Australia and lived in Canada for many years. Her daughter attended St Mary's for six years, so she has been involved in the school from a parent and teacher perspective. Mrs Walker worked in Event Management and Corporate Travel prior to gaining a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. After graduating and wanting to pursue a career in Social Development, she then completed a Graduate Diploma in Primary Teaching and hasn't looked back since. Teaching and developing children is her most rewarding career to date. She especially enjoys teaching in an Innovative Learning Environment, as the increased engagement of children within this learning philosophy is evident. Outside of school, Mrs Walker enjoys family holidays, spending time with her friends, running and walking her dog.
Mrs Clare Culpan - Regular Relieving Teacher
Mrs Culpan has been teaching at St Mary's for a number of years. All her children have been through St Mary's and she has had a long association with the school. Mrs Culpan enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, reading, travelling and loves Pilates.
Mr Kay Moodly - Regular Relieving Teacher / Maths Support
Mr Moodly has lived and taught in New Zealand for about 22 years. He enjoys teaching Maths, doing crosswords, sudoku and puzzles. He spends time reading history and literature. Mr Moodly's wife, Jay also teaches at St Mary's School and they have two sons, a daughter-in-law, one grandson and a cat.