WORLD TEACHER'S DAY
Happy World Teacher's Day
Today we are celebrating World Teacher's Day. As school leaders, parents and students, we recognise all their passion and commitment to the students in their care. We would also like to acknowledge the support staff who all work in the background to support the teachers, students and parents.
PFA - Coffee Tab
All our staff would like to thank the PFA for again showing support to the teachers and education staff by creating a tab at our favourite coffee shop - Pugliesi Cafe on Elizabeth Street.
Our Sophia from F/1 - Newlands PS
From toy story to true story, Sophia’s in a class of her own
As we celebrate World Teachers’ Day, Sophia exemplifies the spirit of teaching.
School was love at first sight for Sophia, a teacher at Newlands Primary School, and a rising star in bilingual education. Just ask one of her stuffed toys or her older brothers!
Sophia’s ‘toy story’ school was in session every day after she returned home, for one simple reason.
‘Growing up, I absolutely loved school,’ Sophia said, in her interview with Corporate News to mark World Teachers’ Day (Friday 28 October 2022).
‘I loved my teachers, and my friends and I really excelled in learning. So much so, that I would replicate my day at school once I got home with my two older brothers and a row of stuffed toys,’ she said.
Dazzled as she was by school, Sophia still realised the experience represented something special to her – and that’s why she embarked on the journey to becoming a teacher.
‘Many of my friends did not have the same fond memories or experiences surrounding school that I had,’ she said.
‘It got me thinking about how truly lucky I was to have had such a supportive and engaging journey through school. I wanted to continue my love for learning and pour my passion into teaching. It was a no-brainer.’
The journey begins
Sophia graduated with her Bachelor of Education (Primary) from RMIT in 2017. Her first step into the classroom she recalls fondly as a unique learning experience.
‘I started my career by dipping into the world of casual relief teaching – possibly the quickest behaviour management course I have ever done!’ she said.
From those dynamic beginnings, Sophia soon found herself working full time in the classroom, where she has taught years 3-4, and years 5-6 and is currently teaching Foundation-Year 1.
This is her second year teaching at Newlands, a Spanish bilingual school in Melbourne’s northeast. She is an English Foundation Year 1 teacher and is a team leader of a team of 4 Spanish-speaking teachers and 4 English-speaking Foundation Year 1 teachers.
She said there was no career plan.
‘2 years ago, I fell into this wonderful world of Bilingual Education,’ she said.
Sophia is a one-person campaign for promoting a teaching career. Hearing her speak about what teaching means to her is a stirring and authentic message for everyone in the world of education.
‘The most rewarding part about being a teacher is, easily, the students,’ she said.
‘Throughout the year, you become so much more than just the person who teaches them how to read and add numbers. You build a special rapport with every single student and become a part of their schooling journey.
‘The excitement beaming off their faces when they enter the classroom, the ‘aha’ moments and the social and emotional growth is incomparable to any other workplace.’
A dedication to teaching and learning
Reflecting on her life as a teacher, Sophia says her biggest challenge is time – finding enough of it.
‘There are just not enough hours in the day to get everything done!’ she said.
But she squeezes everything out of the hours she has. And thrives on the challenge to present stimulating and engaging lessons.
‘It is definitely not the 9 to 5 job that some may think. There is a lot of admin and extras that come along with the job,’ Sophia explained.
‘I would say that teaching a lesson to my lovely bunch of students is only half my day. I also write reports, liaise with external agencies, collect and analyse data, research and professionally develop my understanding of best practice each week, and communicate all of the above with families. It’s a tough gig but I wouldn’t have it any other way.’
Fittingly, as we celebrate World Teachers’ Day on Friday 28 October 2022, Sophia sees great days ahead for the education system.
‘From 2001, when I started my schooling, until now, there have been leaps and gains within the education system. I look forward to seeing what is next in the public school world.’
With teachers like Sophia, we know the future is assured!
Find out more
For more information, refer to World Teachers’ Day.