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Caryll Steps Down from Arohanui
Caryll Resink says she’s always enjoyed a challenge, so it was a privilege to be involved in setting up Arohanui Kindergarten, which caters for teen parents and their tamariki. Caryll has stepped down from her position as head teacher at the kindergarten, which sits on the Waiopehu College site in Levin.
She is full of admiration for the young women who manage to get on the school van with young babies by seven each morning, “I totally admired their determination.”
Caryll said she learned a lot from the way the young parents navigate the different roles in their lives, moving from the strength-based parenting lens at kindergarten to the more traditional pupil teacher relationship at College.
As a grandparent herself, as well as a teacher, Caryll says she was able to support the young mothers and sometimes mediate in family relationships by starting with the child and working from there in “the time honoured way” respecting everyone’s contribution. “If you build that relationship of trust, you can take it from there, and empower and support the family.”
Caryll took the job at Arohanui after working at Taitoko Kindergarten, which was also ground-breaking as it developed into a community hub with a parent support role, involving coffee mornings, playgroup, guest speakers, health services and other community agency involvement.
Originally from Taranaki, Caryll trained as a teacher in Wellington as a mature student. Her earlier jobs before having children, included working in a bank and a stint as an air hostess (as they were called), as well as travel which included several years in Africa, where two of her children were born.
Caryll came to early childhood education after getting involved in kindergarten with her own children. Since she trained, Caryll has worked in many kindergartens, including Waitangarua, Paparangi, Churton Park, Pukerua Bay, Ngahina, Raumati Beach and more recently Fanau Pasifika, Taitoko and Arohanui.
And although she’s stepped down from the head teacher role, she’s staying involved in early childhood education in ways that give her more time to spend with her grandchildren. “It remains my passion always – I’ll stay involved as long as I can.” Some of her colleagues may see her back in action in a relieving role soon.
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