From the Principal

Welcome to 2023! I trust you all have enjoyed some rest and relaxation with your families over the Christmas break. The College has been a hive of activity during the break with continued capital revitalisation on campus. This refresh has included the refurbishment of student locker rooms, Crocs Café and a variety of Boarding House upgrades. The main foyer entrance has also undergone a transformation and I encourage you when school returns to take a look and experience ‘The Green Couch’. We look forward to sharing more about and from ‘The Green Couch’ in the coming weeks. 

There has also been an upgrade and relocation to several staff offices and amenities as we geographically centralise the College’s administration and the relocation of the IT Department to the Lower LRC has also been finalised.  This relocation has been accompanied by the ongoing capital investment in our virtual infrastructure.  Other capital improvements will continue this term with the relocation and refurbishment of the Main Reception, refurbishment of the Drama Room, and finalisation of the CCOCA museum. We also look forward to work commencing during 2023 on the Learn to Swim Pool.  Thank you to our Facilities and Maintenance Team and our Operations Manager (Trudi Woodhead) for ensuring our grounds and facilities are well maintained and fit for purpose.  

We also welcome Chartwells, who are specialists in providing catering services education, to oversee the running of the Crocs Café and Boarding House Kitchen.  

As we commence the year and as the College continues to grow, we welcome several new staff:

Primary School

Mrs Lauren Coote – Primary Teacher

Ms Michelle Hollander – Primary Teacher

Miss Alexandra McLean – Primary Teacher

Mr Timothy O’Rourke – Primary Teacher

Mr David Peckham – Primary Teacher

Mr Justin Reedy – Primary Teacher

Mrs Alison Smith – Prep Teacher (replaces Susan Finney for Term 1)

Mrs Kara Madders – Early Childhood Teacher Aide

Mrs Kerri Panaretos – Early Childhood Teacher Aide

Ms Sharyn Simpson – Primary Sports Coordinator

Secondary School

Mrs Stefanie Brown – English and Learning Support Teacher

Ms Anjelica Lin – Chinese Teacher (replaces Ruby Chen for Term 1) 

Mr Jacques Stemmet – Head of Department STEM

Mr Adrian Walker – Artistic Director, Creative and Performing Arts

Miss Saskia Testa – Music and EALD Teacher

Mrs Michelle Smith – Information Literacy and Technology Integrator

Corporate Staff

Mrs Fiona Poschelk – College Nurse 

Mr Alex Ding – ICT Support Officer

Boarding House

Miss Zahli Bahnisch – Residential Boarding 

Miss Grace Fels - Residential Boarding 

Miss Amy Lewin - Residential Boarding

Miss Emma Stephens - Residential Boarding

I am also pleased to share some changes to current staff roles which commence at the start of 2023: 

Primary School

Miss Kathleen Harris – Primary Information Literacy and Technology Integrator

Ms Clare Cattanach – Sports Administration Officer (PP-12)

Secondary School

Mr Justin Desmarchelier – Head of Secondary

Mrs Francisca Wilson – Director of Experiential Learning

Ms Joanne Knight – Head of Years 7,8 & 9

Mrs Karen Gordon – Ashburn House Leader (in addition to her current role as Director of Co-curricular Music)

Ms Clair Monnickendam – 2IC English and Humanities

Mr Scott Grice – Coordinator – Mathematics

Mr Brett Steeples – Coordinator - Science (in addition to current Head of Academic Performance and Pathways role)

Miss Clare Cattanach – Sports Administration Officer (PP-12)

Ms Jacinta Perkins – Pastoral Administration Officer

I would also like to welcome back Ms Madeleine Jones from leave, and wish Mrs Susan Finney all the very best as she commences Long Service Leave for Term 1. Over the holiday period Katie Probin and Alex Webb finished their employment at the College and I wish them all the very best for the next stage of their career.  

I look forward over the coming weeks to more formally introducing these staff at the start of year functions, them having the opportunity to share their biographies through a range of media and unpacking how the new roles support the College’s Strategic Intent.  

Next week you will receive an invitation from the P & F Association for the Parent Welcome Evening on Friday 17 February. This event is an excellent opportunity to meet other parents if you are new to the College and an opportunity to catch up with parents you have not seen since last year. I hope to see you there.

I am excited, grateful and filled with optimism as we commence a truly historic year in the life of Clayfield College. 2023 is the year to shoot for the stars, for having high hopes and for continuing to show the world the best of Clayfield.  So, as we head into 2023, I look forward to working with each of you to light up your wildest dreams!

Dr. Andrew Cousins

Principal