Principal's

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STATE PRINCIPALS CONFERENCE

I attended my very last Education State Principals Conference on  30 - 31 May.  The conference was an excellent opportunity for Principals to reconnect with each other at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Under the banner of 'Stronger Together, Every Student, Every School’, I was able to hear from a range of speakers and participate in innovative workshops. 

GOODBYE AND THANK YOU

As this is my last newsletter, I want to thank everyone associated with the South Melbourne Park Primary School community for their continued support and trust in my leadership over the past 4 years. It has been an amazing journey and a highlight of my teaching career of 42 years. As I reflect and turn back time to May 2018 when I was first appointed to set up this brand-new inner-city school, I was excited and honored to be selected as the Founding Principal of South Melbourne Park. Starting a school from the ground up has been a very rewarding experience and a highlight of my career.

I will never forget the faces of the 78 prep students coming to school on their very first day.  One could feel the buzz, excitement and for some the apprehension as students walked through the school gate holding hands with mum or dad.  Not only were our Preps starting school and this alone was a huge milestone, but they were also entering into a brand-new state of the art learning facility, and ‘making history’.   Team Multi-age also ventured into unchartered waters, with 44 students ranging from Year 1 to 6, including brothers and sisters all in one class with two teachers. 

Our challenge as a new school was to create a place where children love to be, as well as teach foundational skills of reading, writing, spelling, grammar, and mathematics, this has meant that the curriculum delivered needs to be engaging, purposeful, developmentally appropriate, and innovative.  Our students are taught the Habits of Mind when problem solving, a growth mind set when tasks are difficult and most importantly to be curious by asking tons of questions. Over the years it has been a real joy to walk into classrooms during Passion Friday sessions seeing students busily engaged in passion projects. 

As a new school we have ‘handpicked’ our teachers and I am sure you will agree that they are all outstanding educators with ‘kids at the heart’. We have ‘played as a team’ supporting and assisting one another.  I am extremely proud and ever so grateful to the wonderful team around me, for supporting me in my vision to drive a culture that nurtures the new generation of curious minds.  I take this opportunity to thank my Assistant Principal Matthew Vines, the amazing, dedicated teachers who only want what is best for their students and finally our School Support Staff who help us deliver an outstanding, inclusive education for all students.  I thank School Council and Families and Friends for their continual support.  My number one priority has always been ‘kids at the heart’, this has guided all decisions that we as a school make.  I will miss you all, especially the students who make every day coming to work a joy.

I leave the school in ‘good hands,’ knowing that the school has appointed an excellent Principal, who will carry on the work.  I am a local resident of the area, so if you see me out and about, please stop and say hello.  

Rosemary Cosentino

Founding Principal

INTRODUCING NICOLE ARNOLD

It gives me great pleasure to introduce your new Principal Nicole Arnold.  

To the students, staff and families at South Melbourne Park Primary School,

My name is Nicole Arnold, and I will be starting as Principal, in Term 3. I can’t wait to become part of your vibrant community! I am so impressed with what you’ve all managed to accomplish over the last three and a half years. I know first-hand, how incredibly challenging it has been for school communities and I can only imagine how difficult it must have been to develop a new school, through a pandemic!

Over my career, I’ve worked at 4 diverse schools and have held many teaching, specialist and leadership roles. I have cherished my time at each school, developing lasting relationships and learning, both with and from, students, families, and peers.  My most recent role has been as Assistant Principal at Yarraville West Primary School. In my Student Wellbeing role, I support around 300 students and their families in the Junior school. I’m also proud to be an instructional leader who coaches classroom teachers to embed research-based best practice in Literacy. I am passionate about building teacher professional knowledge and supporting teachers to improve their practice, which in turn, improves outcomes for students. 

I have two wonderful daughters, who have taken very diverse learning pathways and are chasing their own unique dreams. When I first began learning about South Melbourne Park, I was immediately drawn to the vision to inspire a new generation of curious minds. When you’re passionate about something, your motivation to be curious and open to learning helps to build confidence and self-belief, as your understanding and skills grow. The prospective careers of our children are changing and developing at a rapid rate. I want the students at South Melbourne Park to build on exceptional foundational skills; to be critical and creative thinkers, who are resilient and collaborative risk-takers, so that they become the problem-solvers and creatives of tomorrow. 

I feel incredibly privileged and excited to become your new Principal and am so looking forward to meeting you all, as we start this new chapter together.

With kids at the heart,

Nicole