Graduation is going to be an extra special time for Shiran Atira of Hastings, with her parents flying out from Israel to see her capped one day and married the next.
As a valedictorian, Shiran will also have the honour of representing fellow graduates from EIT’s School of Education and Social Sciences ideaschool and Te Manga Maori in delivering an address to family and friends attending Friday morning’s traditional ceremony being held at the Hawke’s Bay Opera House in Hastings.
The 29-year-old, from the city of Kfar Saba in the centre of Israel, will graduate with a Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education). The following day, her parents, two uncles and two aunts from Shiran’s homeland will be among 60 guests gathering at Waimarama to celebrate her marriage to Hawke’s Bay builder Ben Hazelwood.
Shiran and Ben met in Israel when he was visiting his sister, who is married to an Israeli. When the couple decided to move to New Zealand, she expected to continue her engineering studies.
However, Ben, originally from Flaxmere, wanted to be close to family and he was offered a building apprenticeship – completed 18 months ago – in Hawke’s Bay.
Now a provisionally registered teacher at the recently opened Piccolini Nursery and Private Kindergarten in Greenmeadows, Shiran is happy about her changed career direction.
“My passion is with children. I love it,” she says of her work.
Starting at the first Piccolini centre in Havelock North five years ago, Shiran helped with making lunches and doing the washing. But watching other students on practicum, she felt she could train as an early childhood educator.
“I like being part of a team. In Israel, after my two years of army service, I was in customer services – another job setting where everyone works together. Piccolini staff bounce ideas off each other. You have to communicate and I believe I’m a very good communicator.”
Throughout her degree studies at EIT, Shiran has been mentored by Piccolini associate teacher Melissa Alderton. She has also had practicums at different early childhood centres, working with all age groups.
“I enjoy the children at every age. At the moment I enjoy teaching the kindergarten age. I’m passionate about teaching the over threes because they provide such a lot of feedback.”
Shiran says Ben is proud of her achievement.
“He knew I could achieve and supported me. And he appreciates that I’ve done it in a second language.”
Like all Israeli children, Shiran learnt English from around the age of 10 but rates her command of the language on coming to New Zealand as 7/10. Now she would give it a 10 – “although others might disagree,” she laughs.
Shiran and Ben are planning to build up a secure financial base here in New Zealand before considering the possibility of a move back to Israel. But they will be visiting in August to stage the traditional wedding celebration for some 350-400 guests.