Rito Team
Samantha Bottcher
Rito Team Teacher, Team Leader
Hub 1
About Me
I am currently a Year 3 & 4 teacher and Team leader of the Rito Syndicate. I grew up in South Africa and I love living near the ocean! I love camping and am a huge craft and mosaic enthusiast and live by the motto that you can NEVER have too many supplies! In our class, we believe in the value of mistakes and celebrate each as a unique individual, with our own talents and strengths. We all have the potential and I love being part of a 13 year journey and seeing how each of my learners develops and grows.
Zoe de Wit
Rito Team Teacher
Hub 1
About Me
Kia Ora! I teach in the Rito (Year 3 & 4) team. I love teaching and consider my classroom to be one of my very happy places. I have always had a passion for writing, and have developed a keen interest in Maths as an adult. My motto is that it is never too late to learn something new! I believe that we are all on our own personal learning journey and as long as we have a growth mindset we can all learn everyday. Outside of school I can be found taking long walks with my husband Nick and Lottie the dog, making bread, playing the ukulele, renovating our home, and reading.
Jillian McLean
Rito Team Teacher
Hub 1
About Me
Kia Ora! I'm Jillian and I’m excited to be back in Rito Hub. I grew up in the US but have called New Zealand my home for the past 15 years. I’ve been teaching for over 13 years and love guiding students along their learning journey. I enjoy being part of a collaborative learning environment and hope that I can empower students to achieve their best and develop their talents.
Lenni Miller
Rito Team Teacher
Hub 2
About Me
Hi there, my name is Lenni Miller, I was born in the UK but Aotearoa is my home. I am proud to say that I teach at Chelsea School. I started my journey here in th e Kakano Syndicate and currently teach year 3 and 4 students in the Rito Syndicate. Prior to working at Chelsea School, I worked in paediatric rehab and respite before starting my teaching career as a special needs teacher. When I'm not teaching, I am either busy with my family or my close knit groups of friends. I am passionate about the Arts and love to be creative, either painting or creating mixed media artworks. I love being around the water all year round, it's my happy place.
Phoebe Sinclair
Rito Team Teacher
Hub 2
About Me
Hi, I am Phoebe Sinclair. I grew up an hour north of Auckland and still split my time between my lovely place in Birkenhead and the beautiful beaches up north. I studied Event Management at University and worked for three years in the industry, which was a great experience and a lot of fun. Needing a change, I made the jump to teaching. I was lucky enough to have ten weeks of my study at Chelsea and got to know and love the school and everyone here. I am so excited to start my teaching career at Chelsea and learn and grow alongside the ākonga.
Eden Ward
Rito Team Teacher
Hub 2
About Me
Kia ora, I'm Eden and I'm proud to be a part of the Chelsea team, teaching year 5 and 6! I'm originally from Taranaki, moving up to complete schooling in Birkenhead. Growing up in Taranaki means I have a love for all things outdoors including beaches, walks and just generally getting out of the house. I previously studied Commerce, but found that my heart was not in it and set my sight on teaching. I absolutely love working with year 5 and 6 and watching their perception and understanding of the world grow. My favourite part of teaching is engaging in meaningful discussions about all that we are learning, especially when reading. I believe students learn best through collaborating with one another, making meaning through discussion and working together to solve problems.
Tena koutou katoa. Welcome to the Rito Team.
We are a highly enthusiastic and passionate team of teachers that believe in every student. We strive to make your children feel welcomed and safe as we challenge and engage them in their learning. We strive to empower students to become lifelong learners who are self-motivated and responsible citizens and who strive for excellence yet are respectful, honest and empathetic members of the community. Ka kite ano
Rito 2023 – Years 3 and 4
Hub 1: Samantha Bottcher (Team Leader) sam@chelsea.school.nz
Hub 1: Zoe de Wit zoe@chelsea.school.nz
Hub 1: Jillian McLean jillian@chelsea.school.nz
Hub 2: Lenni Miller lenni@chelsea.school.nz
Hub 2: Phoebe Sinclair phoebe@chelsea.school.nz
Hub 2: Eden Ward eden@chelsea.school.nz