Welcome back to 2022! We have an extremely busy start to the year as students have regrouped after two very disrupted years. We hope that we have seen the end of lockdowns!

I have had the pleasure this year of being able to welcome a new team to John Fawkner College. This is often a quite challenging time as new staff settle in and find their way but also a very exciting opportunity to refresh the staffing profile and bring new energy, skills, and experiences into the school. We have been lucky to recruit so much talent into the school and adding to the existing team, I am delighted to say that we have a terrific staff to lead the school year with competence and diligence.

The new staff includes:

Acting Assistant Principal Mr Cemal Hakki

Business Manger Ms Gaetana Marinelli

Leading Teacher Curriculum/Science STEM teacher Ms MichelGrabowski

Learning Specialist Literacy/Humanities teacher Mr Jonathan Barry

Student Agency/English/Humanities teacher Mr Samuel Wasser

VCAL coordinator/Humanities teacher Ms Christina Paizes

Maths/Science teacher Ms Gayle Athanasiadis

Music/Drama teacher Ms Kayla Stokes

Art/Visual Communication teacher Mr Steven Stanecki

Integration Aide Ms Donna Burton

Integration Aide Ms Aria Zhao

The school has been buzzing during these first few weeks, with swimming sports, drama, music and dance classes, drumming, VCAL students settling in to their new courses, VCE students planning the tasks ahead, Year 7 students finding their way, and the middle years students once again regrouping for the start to another year at JFC. We welcome the students whole heartedly, ask that full attendance is a priority this year, and seek your patience and perseverance as you settle into learning again. While we understand that the routine of school has been disrupted during lockdowns, our goal now is to move forward with our education, using what we have learned during these years to strengthen our resolve to succeed and be our best.

Some brief notes to students and families:

Please continue to wear a mask whilst indoors
Students are encouraged to join the new clubs starting up – gardening/chess/gym/ and more
Athletic Sports coming up on Wednesday 30 March
School Council Elections coming up – see website and separate newsfeeds

Looking forward to an exciting year ahead!

Dr Lisa Vinnicombe

Music & Drama