Hi, I’m Sarah Layton. I’m married to Paul and we have 3 children, Eloise - Year 5, Xavier - Year 3 and 3 year old Matilde. I was born and raised in Auckland, and we have lived in West Auckland for the last 12 years.
I have had the honour of being a parent representative on the Western Heights Primary School Board of Trustees since March 2015.
I have appreciated the opportunity to apply my relevant skills and experience to my position on the Board of Trustees, and to contribute towards achieving the best outcomes for children and our school.
As parents, we are our children’s first teachers, and so in my opinion, the best way to contribute to the continuing education of our children and the next generation, is for us to be part of that learning process, and to try to understand the challenges and opportunities it faces.
During my professional life, I studied towards a Bachelor Education and Diploma of Teaching (Primary) at the University of Auckland and Auckland College of Education. I have also worked as a Consultant and Personal Assistant.
Over the last 12 months, I have attended a number of NZSTA Professional Development Workshops, and in June 2016, I will be attending another for Ensuring the Health and Wellbeing of Children, particularly those Vulnerable Children.
Western Heights is an outstanding school! We have seen our school grow to be a school of first choice in the area, and this continued growth is exciting! Our students, our staff, our Board of Trustees, and our community are rightfully immensely proud of our school, its people, and its achievements.
It would be a privilege to serve again as a parent representative. I know I have something special to offer, and if elected I will continue to do my very best to contribute to the wellbeing of our children and our school, and in the development of the physical and educational environment for school, our students and their families.
Thank you.
Hi, I’m Raymond (Ray) Renner, a current B.O.T. Member.
I have been involved with Western Heights School for many years as a parent, grandparent, staff member’s husband, and member of the Board of Trustees. I have served as Treasurer of the Board for over 25 years and I have also served two terms as Deputy Chairperson.
I keep saying I am going to retire as a School trustee but each time the elections come around the allure of being able to positively influence the education of the children of the Western Heights area draws me to again put my hat into the ring.
In my role of BOT Treasurer, my philosophy has been simple; it is to help the management of the school to identify where the funds available are best employed to further the educational needs of the pupils of the School and to ensure that the funds are spent in accordance with legislation and board policy (the budget). Other than that I believe in letting the professional educators and administrators of the school get on with the job that they are the best qualified to do.
I believe I can continue to contribute strongly to the school’s governance. I have a masters degree in management and I believe I can use that knowledge and also bring to bear my many years of experience both in business management and as a board of trustees member to help Western Heights school continue to one of the best schools in West Auckland.
Kia ora, my name is Nicola Yelash, and I am seeking your support as I would like to be one of your parent representatives on the Board of Trustees for Western Heights School.
I am married with 3 children. Prior to starting a family, my education included a BCom in International Business and a BA in Italian Language, Literature and Film, followed by a corporate career in London.
My relationship with Western Heights School extends back to 2010, when my eldest son, Luka, started school at Western Heights. Since then, my two younger sons have also begun their education at Western Heights, with Niko currently in Year 4 and Timo in Year 1.
Since 2014, I have also worked at WHS as a Teacher Aide, with a particular interest in supporting children with special educational needs. I feel that my hands-on experience within the school and my dedication to enhancing every child's school experience, combined with my academic and parenting background, would bring a valuable practical element to the Board.
I continue to be particularly impressed by the strength of the Western Heights School community, and by the many options, educational and otherwise, offered by WHS, and I would like to ensure that WHS continues to be a school of choice for families in the area.
Your Board needs to represent you, and include you in its decision-making. It is important to me that a primary school offers a supportive multi-cultural environment, sending critically-thinking, empathetic, well-rounded and well-educated children on to the next stage of their education. A school should offer an environment where every child and member of staff is welcomed and feels valued, and where each individual's talents and needs are recognised and supported.
These are the values I would support as your parent representative on the Board, and I believe my background and experience have given me the skills to make a valuable contribution as a member of the Board of Trustees.
Hi, my name is Melissa Norman and I would like to be one of the parent representatives on the Board of Trustees for Western Heights Primary.
I am married with two children, Matthew my eldest is currently in year 5 and my daughter Samantha is in year 2 and they both attend Western Height Primary.
My husband and I immigrated to New Zealand in 2002 from South Africa in search for a better quality of life and settled in Henderson in 2004. I work for the Waitemata District Health Board in a Quality Assurance role.
Western Heights Primary has a great community spirit and that is evident in the love the children have for their school, and the families that I meet.
My children are my world and their education and experiences at school is what I am passionate about. I am constantly trying to find ways to encourage student participation and to be part of their experiences by assisting on school trips, coaching a year 1 netball team and helping out at school with tiding up returned reading books and class libraries.
I believe that Primary School years for our children are the most crucial in developing their skills, growing their knowledge and encouraging great potential, and Western Heights Primary is the perfect place for them to do this.
As a member of the Board of Trustees I would strive to provide the best possible environment for the Principal, Teachers and Students to fulfil their potential and deliver quality education.
My name is Mark Sullivan and my connection to Western Heights is my wife Mel, who has taught part time at the school for the past ten years. My youngest son Ezra is currently in Year 5 and my eldest son Kieran previously attended Western Heights and is now at Liston College. For the past 20 years I have worked in the Engineering Industry and Mel and I part-own a steadily growing Structural Engineering Company in Henderson. For the past three years I have been a member of the Western Heights Board of Trustees and have advised Ash and the Board on construction and building projects around the school on a number of occasions. Being married to a teacher means I have an improved understanding of education and I have found the past three years on the Board to be a valuable learning experience. As a parent of a child attending Western Heights, I have a vested interest in ensuring that our school remains a valued place of learning. If voted, I will continue to offer my services to the Property Portfolio at our school, as well as doing my best to ensure that Western Heights continues to operate in a productive manner. Thank you.
Hello, my name is Malcolm Purdon.
I would like to give you a brief summary of myself, and my reasons for putting my name forward for the Board of Trustees.
I am married to Julie, we have 4 children, all of whom have or are still attending Western Heights Primary.
I have been involved with the school in various rolls since 2001 when my eldest daughter first attended Western Heights. A further two daughters have come and gone through Western Heights, and currently my youngest, William, attends in Year 5.
The development of the school has been very important to us as a family, and as such, both Julie and I have made every effort to be involved in many aspects of the school. Examples include, parent help including arts and crafts, school trips, garden upgrades, maintenance projects, sausage sizzles, and DJ for school discos.
Julie has run the school tuck shop since its inception in 2012. We are both passionate about being able to contribute to the school in a daily way, and are continually aiming to develop this service.
I am also involved in keeping the school environment safe by doing handyman type jobs around the school.
I believe that a roll for me on the Board of Trustees would be beneficial to the school due to a combination of my hands on knowledge and experience, and my future driven vision, based on preparing our children for their futures.
I thank you for your consideration on this matter, and eagerly await your decision.
Kind regards.
Hi, I am Jerome Buckleigh, the proud dad of two wonderful young boys enrolled at Western Heights Primary School. My eldest son Noah (9) is a year four student and my youngest Judah (5) starts at the end of May.
I am seeking a place as a parent representative on the WHS Board of Trustees and believe I have the intellectual capacity and business competencies to make a significant contribution to the overall strategic direction of the school.
In brief I am a high achieving, reliable and talented team player who recently earned a Master of Arts degree at The University of Auckland. In 2013 I completed a Master of Professional Studies degree also at The University of Auckland. I am currently in discussions with the University about Doctoral studies (PhD). Political studies is my field of expertise.
My professional history includes working in the media and recording industries; as a researcher and writer for Television New Zealand and as promotions and marketing manager for an independent and major record labels. I am also the founder, editor and writer of a geopolitical news website that is currently in its fourth year of publishing.
I believe that school boards play a critically important role in New Zealand schools. My professional experience and educational training will support the enabling and facilitation of a robust and well scrutinised decision making process.
I look forward to engaging with the WHS community.
