About BJ’s
Betje
Betje has a Diploma in Early Childhood and is teacher registered. Betje is married to Brett and has two wonderful sons, Danny who is nearly 21 who is in his third year at University and Jamie who is ten years of age.
Betje has been involved in a variety of early childhood centres for the past 20 years and has seen the changes over the years and believes that Homebased childcare is becoming a growing need for our families/whanau.
Ilonka
My name is Ilonka Schimmel and I am BJ's Homebased Childcare Services administrator. I am married to Hans and I have three sons and a daughter.
I also have one granddaughter who is seven. I have been working for BJ’s Homebased Childcare Services for the past three and a half years.
Katrina
Kia ora my name is Katrina Bowman I live in Maungakaramea on a life style block with my husband George. We have five adult children spread around the world and three fantastic grand children who live here in Whangarei, I love playing a big part in their lives. I have been working in the early childhood field for ten years in two different ECE centres in Whangarei.
Currently I have a diploma of teaching. I find there are new developments happening all the time in ECE I believe it is really important to keep up with new ideas and theories. This is part of the reason for up grading to a Bachelor of Teaching on line with Victoria University and will be completed in October 2011. Study takes up all my free time at the moment but when not studying I enjoying going to the beach, going on bush walks and spending time with family and friends.
Sandy
I love spending time with Warwick, my wonderful husband and Ava, my three and a half year old daughter. We enjoy going camping in the summer and I enjoy riding my young horse, gardening and going out to dinner and movies with friends.
I’ve been working in ECE for fourteen years now and am still every bit as passionate about working with children as I was when I first started. I have spent time working overseas, as well as in New Zealand kindergarten, and have spent the past 7 enjoyable years in a wonderful childcare centre in Auckland. Sandy is on Maternity leave at pressent and Jenny will be working in her position until Sandy returns.
Jo
Kia Ora, my name is Jo Kiro. I have 6 Tamariki of my own and 1 Moko. I have a Diploma in Early Childhood and a Diploma in Social Work. I have completed my teachers registrations and have over 27 years experience in Early Childhood. I am the co-ordinator in our Kaikohe branch.
Caroline
Kia Ora, my name is Caroline Jones. I am a qualified and registered early childhood educator and I gained my diploma from Canterbury University, in 2004. While studying I was in class 1 day a week and I was employed in a centre as an educator. I have had the experience of working in many different centres as an educator, as well as a visiting teacher in the home based sector. Before my training started I spent several years as a home based educator, as well as doing before and after school care arrangements, I find working alongside the wide variety of wonderful in home educators and children very rewarding.
