Life before Girton
Qualifications:
- Diploma of Teaching- Australian Catholic University
- Bachelor of Education – Deakin University ( Burwood)
Schools:
- St Bernadette’s North Sunshine
- St Mary’s Williamstown
- St John the Baptist, Ferntree Gully
- St Mary’s Lancefield
- Holy Rosary Heathcote
- St Francis of the Fields Strathfieldsaye
- Girton Grammar Bendigo
What I love about teaching:
I have had the fortunate opportunity to teach in many varied schools both in Melbourne and country Victoria. Each one is unique in its composition. Each with its particular vision and mission statement. But there is something special about Girton Grammar. It is difficult to pinpoint. Is it the history/ days gone by? Is it the administration? Is it the teachers? Is it the parents? Or perhaps it is the amazing students who make up our school. I believe it is the latter!
What do you like best about your year level?
Owing to the number of years I have been teaching I have taught in all primary years. In recent years I have crossed High Street to be a member of the Senior School Staff. I worked with the Arrowsmith students for several years. This was a program that changed my teaching. My teaching was transformed. We as educators have the opportunity to change the brains of our students. Years ago I would have said that without a shadow of a doubt my favourite year level was Year One but now I love being with the older students (even though I need to wear high heels to try and make eye contact with them)!!!! I spend the majority of my time with students in the Hub. I have the pleasure of teaching VCAL Literacy with a group of great students who soak up every ounce of my passion for Literacy. I also work with students in Year Eight in the ALP program. What a privilege to share their love for learning!
My favourite classroom activity: The activities we work through are too numerous to mention. We tackle the more formal subjects of Literacy and Numeracy interspersed with ‘hands-on’ work in the garden, amazing community projects and life skills work. Come over and visit!
What difference can good teaching make?
Anyone can teach. You just follow the manual and graduate with a piece of paper. But it’s a good teacher who teaches well.
It’s a good teacher that parents and children remember. It’s a good teacher who goes that extra bit. It’s a teacher who cares that little bit more. It’s a good teacher who listens that little bit more. It’s a good teacher who shows empathy. It’s a good teacher who is that bit more patient. I hope that I am that good teacher.
Other Hats:
My co-curricular activity is squash.
We play each Tuesday night in a ‘squash buckling’ mode.
Always looking for new members to this fun-filled co-curricular. Come and join us!!!
My hobbies:
- I have numerous hobbies/ interests in my life.
- I have two daughters who love retail therapy with me.
- The three of us also share our passion for teaching.
- I have two black Labradors, Paddy and Frankie who both love their play at the baseball park.
- Each Saturday I play golf at ROYAL Axedale Golf Club.
- I love to garden and I have an interest in interior design (Foreman Keith is my hero. I’m a bit of a BLOCK fan!)
