Mana Kaiako!! Happy teachers’ day!!
We’re celebrating Teachers’ Day here in Aotearoa by kicking off a new series profiling our members, starting with teachers first.
‘A Day in the Life’ will highlight the incredible mahi done by our NZEI Te Riu Roa members. It will show the reality of our educators who care for the tamariki of Aotearoa, and celebrate all the parts that make us a diverse and inspiring bunch!
If you would like to see a colleague or yourself in this series, please get in touch with us at ako@nzei.org.nz.
Q1: Tell us about yourself?
A: Talofa, Malo ni, Fakaalofa lahi atu my name is Tiana Ranfurly. I come from the Pacific nations of Niue, (Alofi/Liku), Samoa (Faleapuna/Falefa) and Tokelau (Atafu/Fakaofo). I live and work in Cannons Creek, Porirua and I am a Kindergarten Teacher at Toru Fetu Kindergarten in the Akoga Fakamasani. Woohoo!
Q2: Biggest teacher/mentor growing up?
A: My biggest teacher/mentor growing up has always been my Mum (who is also a teacher at Toru Fetu Kindy).
She encouraged me to follow my aspirations and not give up on them 🙂
Q3: What does your day look like?
A: I wake up at 6:15am to start my day at 7:30, then I set up the outside environment, play, eat, tell a joke, sing a song, kick the ball, splash the water in the water trough, draw, play games, have puzzle races and repeat all until my day finishes at 4:00… phew, hometime.
Q4: People think my job is… but it’s actually…
A: People think my job is a babysitter but it’s actually building relationships with tamaliki and their kaiga. Making learning fun, and finding creative ways to engage with tamaliki while implementing our Pasefika language into our everyday conversations. There is always a learning opportunity in everything we see and do as faiakogas.
Q5: Favourite part of the day?
A: The favourite part of my day is DEVOTION TIME – we get to start our day with God, sing, recite our bible verse, pray and share about our day.
