This year we welcome the following new staff onto our team:

Music

Belle Hungerford

Hi, I am the new music teacher this year at MBSC, Belle Hungerford (Miss Belle).

I recently moved to the area from Melbourne for both the position and the great mountain lifestyle.

My musical experience is vast and varied. I am a singer songwriter and have played as a touring musician for many years. I started playing piano at 4 years old. In the years since I've added guitar, voice and a few other instruments to my repertoire.

This year I have really enjoyed facilitating a fun and thriving music culture at the school and getting to know the great students here. On Monday's at lunch I hold a music jam session for students and on Thursday's I co-host the Pride Club 🏳️‍🌈 at lunchtime.

English / Humanities

Dan Carroll

Hi, I’m Dan and I am new to Mount Beauty Secondary as an English and Humanities teacher and also the Year 8 Coordinator. I also have a strong passion for outdoor education, and look forward to getting into the outdoors with our students.

I grew up in Geelong by the surf, but have come to love being in the mountains. After discovering rock climbing, then mountaineering, I eventually tried skiing and was instantly hooked.

Now I love to spend my time hiking and skiing on Bogong and Feathertop, but I also pop into the ski resorts to keep improving my skills. I’ve had a variety of jobs throughout my life (which form the basis of stories told in class!), and I’ve really enjoyed my time here this year with the welcoming people, enthusiastic students and amazing scenery.

MYLNS / Literacy

Belinda Cunningham

Belinda Cunningham (nee Crebbin) grew up in Mount Beauty and attended Mount Beauty Secondary College. We are very fortunate to have Belinda take over the MYLNS/Literacy role from Shelley and it is lovely to welcome her and her family back to the Valley.

Job Skills & Pathways Coordinator

Linda Bassett

I joined the Careers and Pathways team at Mount Beauty Secondary College as the Jobs, Skills and Pathways (JSP) coordinator from Term 2, 2022. My role is to support students with opportunities to integrate practical on[1]the-job experience and learnings in industry via Structured Workplace Learning (SWL) placements or School-Based apprenticeships and traineeships with local (or semi-local) employers. Leaving school is an important milestone for students and making decisions about future options can be daunting for anyone. Alongside quality career education and advice, direct experience in the workplace helps students make informed choices about their next steps and future direction in their courses and careers. If you are (or know of) an employer who would be interested in hosting a student, I’d love to hear from you!

My own professional journey has spanned several careers and even more countries. I started out as an accountant and my last role before this one was in cybersecurity – something that didn’t even exist when my working life began. I like to think of it as an example of how the choices you make as you transition from school are just the first of many steps that take you forward to new and different opportunities throughout your working life.

On the personal front – I moved from Sydney to Mount Beauty in 2020 for a tree-change/COVID escape, and now live locally, am a keen amateur gardener, and can often be seen wrangling my godson, Henry, at the playground, or walking our dog, Sam. I'm a die-hard footy fan – going to Swans games is probably what I miss most about Sydney (‘coz it's definitely not the traffic!). Henry has been a Swans member from birth, but can he hold out against the local Tiger Army? (Possibly not after that Grand Final… ouch!)

Maths / Science

We welcome back Heath Matheson into our Junior Maths/Science Classrooms. It is wonderful to have him back!

Chemistry

We also warmly welcome back (we will never REALLY let him leave...!) experienced teacher Bill Little who is teaching Chemistry. Bill started here at MBSC in 1983 and has many great stories to tell and is a valuable addition to our Staff Team.

Farewell to...

This year we have also farewelled some of our valuable Staff who are going on to do all sorts of different and wonderful things.

Shaun Thorpe

Shaun has been at MBSC for 8 years from a Graduate Teacher to running the CFA Youth Crew, Curriculum Team Leader, VCE Business Management, VCAL PDS, previous VCAL Coordinator, and an important part of our Humanities faculty. He has now on leave for 2 years and has moved across the pondage to AGL where we are wondering how long it will take for him to ignore the school bells!

Shaun provided us with some great staff pics of his time here. (I want to know where the tiger went??...ed). See you out on the slopes/trails Shaun!

Rachel Cosgriff

Rachel has taken a year off to gain new experiences teaching at Wodonga Catholic College.

Rachel has been employed at Mount Beauty Secondary College for 7 years. She teaches across multiple facilities; including Indonesian, Science and English, working diligently and effectively to successfully improve writing data. She is passionate about helping students reach their individual potential and find a deep purpose in life.

We wish Rachel all the best in her year away.

Shelley Gilbert

Shelley and Jarrah established the Strengths Based Support Team at Mount Beauty Secondary College, which collaborates with all staff to adapt schooling to students strengths and supporting students to meet their goals. Their work was recognised at the state level as exemplary and they were asked to present at several conferences.

Shelley's new role is with the School Improvement Workforce, working with school leaders across the region to improve literacy outcomes in their schools.

Esther Leccardi

Esther taught VCE Vis Com and PE/Sport and ran the xc training program. Esther and her young family have moved to Switzerland and we wish them all the very best (and hope to see many ski pics!)

Kirsty Field

Congratulations to our wonderful Business Manager Kirsty who had a beautiful baby boy this year and is enjoying her maternity leave.

Thank you to Kelly Roffey who is filling in for Kirsty whilst she is on leave.

Beth Williamson

Beth was a valuable member of our Science and Maths Faculties here at MBSC and an experienced classroom teacher. We wish her all the best in her new role in Bright.

Lisa Smith

Lisa Smith has been the Student Safety and Wellbeing Coordinator for 2 years now but has also found the calling of private practice too tempting, as it is an aspect of her work that she has never done before. Lisa managed to step into a very busy role with ease and brought a calmness and steadiness to the school that was sorely needed over the last 2 challenging years.

Hayden Koetsveld

Hayden Koetsveld ably stepped into the position of IT support last term and made a valuable contribution to networking laptops and starting to evaluate the current technology and systems at school. To his credit and showing his skill levels, Hayden has been poached by a large company to manage their IT systems and as such, Hayden finished working with us at the end of last term.

We wish both Lisa and Hayden all the very best in the new stages of their careers.

Recipe of the week

"Cooking for Two" with Hannah Little