2025 Year 1

1A: Nadeeka Pussalle (Team Leader)

Hi SMPS families, my name is Miss Nadeeka and I will be teaching Year 1 in 2025. This will be my 12th year in teaching and my 7th year at SMPS. I love coming to work each day and being surrounded by the lovely SMPS community.

I was born in a small rural town in Sri Lanka and moved to Australia when I was three years old. I love hiking, reading and gardening. Whenever I get the chance, I grab my tent and head out exploring. Warming my hands near a campfire and watching the stars come out in the evening are two of my favorite things. 

I am looking forward to another wonderful year at SMPS and getting to know you and your family. Have a safe holiday and see you in 2025! 

1B: Róisín Rea

Hello SMPS students and families! My name is Miss Róisín and I will be teaching Year 1 in 2025. This is my fifth year in teaching and my first year at SMPS! 

I grew up in the southwest of Ireland, where I taught for four years before moving to Melbourne in September 2023. I have spent the past year working as a casual relief teacher, teaching many wonderful children. I am extremely excited to be teaching my own class again this year and being a part of the SMPS community.

I have a dog named Roo who now lives in Ireland with my mom. She sends me daily updates and pictures of Roo and all the exciting adventures they go on together. 

Outside of school, I spend a lot of time rowing. I row for a local club in Melbourne and get to compete all around Victoria. Last year my crew and I were lucky enough to win the State Championships. When I’m not rowing I still enjoy being active; running, walking and cycling. I like to relax by drawing, colouring and listening to my favourite music. 

My favourite thing about Melbourne has to be the beautiful clear blue skies. 

I hope you have a wonderful holiday and I look forward to seeing you all next year. 

1C: Lauren Lowe

Hello SMPS students and parents/carers!

My name is Miss Lauren and I am so thrilled to join the SMPS community this year! I will be teaching Year 1 and this will be my third year of teaching. I can’t wait to get started and I am looking forward to getting to know all of the wonderful students and families.

I have come all the way from London where I was born and raised, so I know a thing or two about growing up in a big city! I enjoy spending time exploring new places, such as visiting museums and local landmarks. I also love cooking and trying out new recipes, but I never say no to a trip to a new restaurant! I arrived in Melbourne only last month, so there is still lots for me to see!

Although I love teaching all subjects, my favourite is Geography. I enjoy learning about the world and landscapes around us, and thinking about how we can make our planet happier.

I’m looking forward to a fabulous first year at SMPS - I hope you all have an amazing break!

1D: Jake Mortimer

Hello SMPS families, my name is Mr Jake, and I am so excited for 2025.

It will be my second year at South Melbourne Primary School, and I’ve loved getting to know our vibrant community of students and families. The best part of my day is being able to greet every student and hopefully brighten their day with a smile or kind word. Growing up, I loved all things Science. This particularly extends to my love of animals, and I can’t wait to introduce some of our planet's amazing creatures to our students.

When I’m not at school, I enjoy catching up on Disney, Dreamworks and Pixar movies. Looking forward to seeing Mufasa over the holidays!

2025 is going to be a year to remember and I can’t wait to share it with such an amazing community.

1E: Sarah Kelly

Hello wonderful SMPS community, 

My name is Miss Sarah, and I will be the 1E teacher in 2025. This will be my 9th year in teaching. I have worked in a variety of schools in England and have been in Grade 6 for the last three years here at SMPS. I couldn’t be more excited to join the amazing Grade 1 team. I can’t wait to get to know all my students and their families as we embark on a fun and exciting year of learning together. 

I grew up in England with my Irish parents, one brother, and two sisters. Family is a big part of my life, and my heart is absolutely stolen by my sister’s little baby boy – I adore being an aunty! As a child, I loved singing, dressing up, and baking cookies with my family, and those passions have stayed with me to this day. 

Outside of school, you’ll often find me singing my favourite tunes, anything musical theatre or Disney, going on walks to the beach or finding new spots to enjoy yummy food. I believe that learning should be filled with joy and creativity, and I can’t wait to bring that energy into 1E this year. 

Here’s to a fantastic 2025 at SMPS!