Kia Ora, my name is Vanja Franich and I am super excited to be the classroom teacher of Rm 21 for the remainder of this year! I was born and raised by the beach in Tāmaki Makaurau, although I have only returned this year (2022) after spending the last 5 years in the capital – Te Whanganui-a-Tara pursuing my studies at Victoria University. I have recently graduated with a Postgraduate Diploma of Education. Prior to my postgraduate studies, I graduated with a Bachelor of Science, Majoring in Environmental & Development Studies. My undergraduate degree fits perfectly within the IB program as we explore the social sciences and tackle real-world scenarios.

In my own time, I love enjoying the company of my friends and family, getting out into nature, cooking, creating things, travelling and listening to music.

I cultivate a classroom environment where students embrace their identity, are confident, creative, and excited about their learning and becoming future contributing citizens. I encourage curiosity and risk-taking and I want my students to welcome mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow. Strong authentic and caring relationships with my ākonga and their whanau sit at the heart of my practice. I see myself as a lifelong learner, as I am always looking for opportunities and experiences to expand my knowledge – I encourage this mindset in my classroom. I hope to foster a classroom environment that promotes both academic and personal growth!