Julia Delany

Year 5/6 / Team Leader

juliad@thegardens.school.nz

JULIA DELANY - TEAM LEADER, (MAUNGAREI – Y5/Y6)
I grew up as the eldest of four in beautiful Rotorua. From age six, I attended Aorangi Primary, which I walked to & from daily. As soon as I started school at Sunset Intermediate my parents bought a mountain bike & helmet for me so I could ride to & from school. I continued to ride when I attended Rotorua Girls’ High School where I would ride 12.1km every day in all weather conditions.
It was at high school that I developed my passion for plants when I took Year 10 Horticulture. I obtained First in Class every year through high school (smarty-pants!) & eventually decided I would pursue my interest at university level.
I attended Massey University in Palmerston North & studied towards a Bachelor of Applied Science. I graduated in 2002, & had decided that I didn’t want to manage an orchard or be a consultant & thought that I should give teaching a go, so I enrolled in a Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Primary). In 2003, I moved to Auckland where I thought I’d have a good chance of finding a teaching position & I had a place to stay with my sister. I spent some time as a reliever in South Auckland & held three positions at various schools in the area
before arriving at The Gardens. I have been teaching at TGS since 2005 & have taught Years 1-6. I continue to use my horticultural & science knowledge involving myself in various programmes with students, Wai Care & Friends of Totara Park.
I am currently the Team Leader of the Maungarei (Year 5/6) Team & am enjoying my new role. I loved Camp Bentzon on Kawau Island in 2008 & can’t wait to share this experience with the Year 5/6 students & teachers later this year.