Melissa McLellan - Assistant Principal

Most of you will know me, but for those I haven’t met yet. I have been living in Twizel for 13 years. We moved here with a 2 year old and a 5 month old. I have been teaching for 22 years. I started my teaching career in Christchurch and North Canterbury and then moved down here to the Mackenzie.  I have taught at Aoraki Mount Cook School part time when my kids were younger, 7 years at Lake Tekapo school and 1 at Omarama School before coming to Twizel Area School where I have been for the last two years.  I am married to Steve and have two sons Jack and Charlie who attend TAS.  I am really looking forward to the challenge of this new role.  Feel free to pop in and introduce yourself to me and say hello,  I am very approachable.

Charlotte Saunders - Deputy Principal

Tēnā koe e te whānau,

I’m really excited to be joining the staff as Deputy Principal at Twizel Area School from January, and to become part of the community in such an amazing part of the country.

My name is Charlotte Saunders, and I am coming from Christchurch, where I have been at Catholic Cathedral College for the last four years. Currently, I am Director of Student Engagement and Head of Performing Arts. I have been teaching for a while now, previously teaching at Lincoln, Burnside and Kaiapoi High Schools. I teach Drama, English and Music, and have had lots of experience in both pastoral and curriculum leadership. 

I have a 17 year old son, Corey. He won’t be joining me on the move South, as he has just finished secondary school and will be studying Music at Ara/Te Pūkenga next year. Though, he will be making lots of visits to Twizel. School life keeps me pretty busy, but outside of that I am an avid baker, love theatre and film, spend a lot of time walking in the Port Hills, and I love to read - when I get the chance. I have a very friendly Spoodle, Hunter, who loves being down here too.

My whānau have spent 18 years holidaying in Twizel, so I was so pleased to see the position come up.  I absolutely love this part of the country, and always feel a sense of ‘coming home’ when I am here, and always tried to get here on long weekends and during school holidays. I am looking forward to working in such a community-focused kura. When I was here for my interview, I really picked up on the sense of pride students have in their spaces, and the work they complete. I am looking forward to connecting with the community and working together to see our young people achieve success and their own personal excellence. 

I will be moving to Twizel in January, and am genuinely looking forward to meeting you all, especially in such an exciting time for the school, as we prepare for the new build. 

Mā te wā, noho ora mai,
Charlotte Saunders