Principal's Report

We made it! Term 4 officially comes to a close today. It has been a fantastic year at Courtney Gardens with many events, amazing student learning achievements, exciting and engaging programs and continued development of friendships and community connection. 

I would like to thank all members of our school community for their continual support of our school and our improvement initiatives. I would like to say a particular thank you to our wonderful staff team who have provided unwavering support to our students this year. I am incredibly humbled to be working alongside such a talented, optimistic and dedicated group of individuals. Thanks for the work you do every day and the positive impact you make.  

Congratulations to our graduating year 6 students. What a lovely ceremony it was on Tuesday evening. A real credit to you all and to your teachers who planned and ran the whole event. We wish all of you the very best at secondary school. Please come back and visit us in future years to let your primary teachers know how you are going. 

Well done to Miss Wilson and her team of helpers on a wonderful end of year concert last week. The student and staff performances were terrific and it was a fun night. Thanks to all parents who donated items for our raffle. We raised $2,800 to put towards school grounds improvements and upgrades. 

STAFFING PROFILE 2025

School Leadership Team

Alison Lough: Principal

Liam Flanagan: Assistant Principal, Wellbeing and Inclusion

Belinda Harrington: Assistant Principal, Year 3-6

Amy Jewell: Assistant Principal, Year P-2

Matt Knott: Assistant Principal, School Operations and Community Engagement

Kate Kelly: Leading Teacher, Disability Inclusion 

Bec Broecker: Leading Teacher, Mental Health and Wellbeing

Jessie Bredin: Learning Specialist, Prep

Jacqui Padusinski: Learning Specialists, Year 1-2

Ann-Marie Pearce: Learning Specialist, Year 3-4

Alyce Gladwell: Learning Specialist, Year 5-6

Administration Team

Racheal Oster - Business Manager

Leanne Moss - Office Manager

Chrissy Talbot - Enrolments 

Jenny Smaile - Attendance

Fatima Syeda - First Aid  

Gordon Talbot - Maintenance 

Scott Morgan - Technician

Teaching Teams 

Prep: Karryn Caruana, Denise Zealley, Alyssa Shaw, Nikeisha Vermulst, Jo Sutcliffe, Simona Ninnes-Tidyman

One: Ange Simons, Anna Pawsey, Analeise Cole, Brooke Dove, Sam Berrill, Caitlin Mitchell

Two: Kate Richards, Casey Wilson, Monique Breen/Georgie Brereton, Lara Amro, Monique Watson 

Three: Lauren Allison, Amber Douglas, Brianna DeRycke, Deb McLellan, Michelle Pallott

Four: Kristel Walker, Kathy Derek, Elliott Stone, Ryan Mosely/Sam Piastrino, Shania Delaney

Five: Jenny Davies, Donna Lord, Chris Allison, Jenny Rundle, Carly McCabe

Six: Pauline Spencer, Laura Muller, Rachael Tsakoumangos, Shauna Watkinson, Luke Apps

Specialist Teachers:

Performing Arts: Michelle Baker 

Art: Monica Curnow

Music A: Jordan Rundle

Music B: Jed Elkasovic

Auslan A: Caroline Courtis 

Auslan B: Kirstyn Neal

Phys Ed A: Emma Wright

Phys Ed B: Ash Fenech

Student Support Team:

EAL Teacher Coordinator: Michelle Gee 

Multicultural Education Aides: Mariam Jan, Shanaz Haidiri, Nighat Nadeem

Tutor - Literacy: Lorna Woodcock 

Tutor - Numeracy: Monique Kellett

Tutor - Numeracy: Kuhu Sharma

Wellbeing and Inclusion Support Team:

Rylee Hamilton - Disability Inclusion 

Nicole Butcher - Speech Therapy

Sarah Gerlach - Student Counsellor 

Nicole Hermans - Wellbeing

Georgia Ryalls - Wellbeing

Education Support/Integration Team:

Sam Scandolera

Hannah Lumley

Indhu Devarajulureddy

Fizza Sadiqi

Maggie McEwan

Jacinta Ellis

Layla Hawli

Jing Sun

Sonja Bowles

Kanchana Sanjeewani

Jaimee Mormille

Kate Van Der Heyden

Cody Breen

Abby Wilcox

Ashlee Soukup

Shannon Lowe

FAREWELL

We wish the following staff who are leaving us for new adventures in 2025 all the very best. Thank you for all you have given to the students and community at CGPS. 

• Chris Palmer - congratulations on your retirement
• Kaitlyn Ashman
• Brent Robinson
• Sheree Mitchell
• Nicole Chidlow
• Alyce Della Bosca
• Larrisa Martin
• Connor Casey
• Joel Newstead
• Chelsie Mohr

MORE BABY NEWS

I would like to congratulate Mr Luke Apps and his wife Emma on recently becoming parents, with the safe arrival of baby Quinn.  

Wishing all of you a Merry Christmas and a happy, safe new year. 

See you on Thursday 30th January when students will return. The school office will reopen on Tuesday 28th Jan.  

Take care everyone, 

Alison Lough

Principal