Gail
Kia ora
I trained as an Early Childhood Teacher at Christchurch Teachers College. This was Christchurch Teachers Colleges first intake of Early Childhood teachers.
Shortly after returning from travelling overseas, in 1989 I Co-founded The Rabbit Patch Preschool Greers Road. I have three adult children, all proud Rabbit Patch alumni. The Preschool was truly a family business with many weekends spent on site with our young family as helpers.
In 1999 Jo and I travelled to Reggio Emilia Italy to take part in an international study tour. It was on this special trip that my love of the Reggio Approach was ignited. Over the past 18 years, it continues to be a passion and I have been fortunate enough to visit the city and its incredible network of preschools again in later years. Inspiration and collegiality have also developed with other Reggio Schools overseas in England and California. I feel privileged that through the establishment of these networks, much of our valued team have been afforded the same opportunity to visit and learn from some incredible educationalists. I aim to continue our overseas connections thereby extending our community further.
Our staff, children and families are all valued members of our Rabbit Patch community. The relationships with our families, created and fostered throughout our Rabbit Patch Preschools is what I find most enjoyable. Creating and watching the Rabbit Patch continue to grow with our children, staff, parents and extended whanau is the most rewarding aspect of my job.
In my spare time, I am often at the beach or up in the hills around Sumner, walking our dog with friends. I love cooking with our family and being out in the garden (if the sun is out)
