Farewells

Farewell and Good Luck

The list below contains the names of our valued members of staff who will be moving onto other professions and schools. Some have chosen to move closer to home, which is totally understandable. Others are pursuing opportunities outside the bubble of education. Some are having babies!!!! Yayyyy!

We wish them all well and thank them for their time at our school. They have all made valuable contributions in their own way to the legacy of SMPS. 

Find some messages below from these staff who have chosen to write a little thank you note to our community.

Dear Families, 

It is with sadness that I say goodbye to SMPS in 2026 as I step into an exciting opportunity at another school for the year (Acting Assistant Principal at Bentleigh West Primary School).

I happened to stumble across this school by chance when I moved to Australia just over 7 years ago. SMPS has very quickly become a place I care deeply for, and is the main reason I have stayed living overseas. 

It has been wonderful collaborating with our students and families. Working with SMPS parents has taught me so much – I have such fond memories of parents sharing information in our meetings that have turned into little lightbulb moments for us. As I write this, I am thinking of so many parents and students that I have been fortunate to work alongside over the years. Our parents are trusting, patient and inspiring and I look forward to returning in 2027 to see how much your children have grown. 

I have also been so lucky to work with a team of such hardworking and caring staff. In every school tour, I feel incredibly proud to talk about and observe our team of positive, open-minded and skilful staff. 

I wish our community all the best for 2026 and look forward to seeing you all in the future. 

Joanna May

Dear SMPS Families, 



Goodbye is never easy, especially to a place that I’ve called home for so many years. 

In 2026, I will be officially farewelling SMPS, as I continue my Performing Arts position at Good Shepherd Lutheran Primary School.

Starting my journey at SMPS as a support staff taught me more than I could have imagined, especially through the incredible students I had the privilege to support. Those early experiences sparked my interest in wellbeing and led to the creation of the Elevate program. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to teach across many areas, but my true passion has always been Performing Arts. During my time here, I’ve had the joy of choreographing two whole-school productions and leading dance clubs across multiple year levels, memories I will treasure always.

I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who has made my teaching journey at SMPS so special. This community has truly touched my heart. The students, families and staff mean more to me than words can capture. Walking into the greatest school in the universe each day and being greeted by smiling faces has been one of the greatest blessings of my career. I have grown not only as an educator, but as a person. This is because of the support, talent and generosity of the SMPS community. This school will always hold a special place in my heart.

Thank you for helping shape who I am today. I hope our paths cross again soon.

With love, 

Daniella Hastas

My husband Josh and I are expecting our first baby in early January. 

We are feeling very grateful and excited for this next chapter. 

I will be taking 2026 off to spend precious time at home with our little one and plan to return to SMPS in 2027.

Thank you to our beautiful SMPS community for the kind words, encouragement, and support, and to my class, 3B for making this year so special. I look forward to seeing you all in 2027! 😊

Shannon Coventry

Dear SMPS families,

 

Early next year, my partner Matt and I will be welcoming our first baby into the world. It is a very exciting time and I can’t wait to meet the little boy or girl that has been growing in my tummy for the last few months!

 

I will be taking 2026 off to look after our new baby but plan to be back at SMPS in 2027. Thank you to all the wonderful SMPS families that have been so excited for my next chapter and a big thank you to 4A, 2025 who have been an amazing class to teach this year. See you all in 2027!

Delani Cruse

Dear SMPS Community,

 

It is with a very heavy heart that I say goodbye to South Melbourne Primary School after two wonderful years. I will be returning to Singapore next year to be closer to my family (and the food), but leaving this community - my first teaching home, has been an incredibly difficult decision.

 

SMPS has been my very first teaching home, and what an incredible place to begin. Thank you to the wonderful staff, supportive families, and my brilliant Grade 4s from 2024 and 2025, you have all taught me just as much as I’ve taught you. I will forever be grateful for your kindness, trust, and the daily laughter that made this job the best in the world.

 

SMPS will always hold a special place in my heart, and I truly hope this is not goodbye, but simply “see you next time."

 

With heartfelt thanks,

Camilla Ong

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our wonderful SMPS community. I feel incredibly grateful to have spent most of my teaching career here since moving to Melbourne just two years ago. Your kindness, support, and warmth have made my time at SMPS truly memorable.

 

It has been an honour to teach your children, watch them grow, and be part of such a thriving, nurturing school. The connections made, the celebrations shared, and the everyday classroom moments are memories I will treasure forever.

 

Thank you for welcoming me so wholeheartedly and for making this chapter of my life so special. I will truly cherish all the experiences and memories as I return home to Ireland. SMPS will always hold a very special place in my heart.

Ciara Hutton

I am sad to be leaving South Melbourne Primary School in 2025. I have learnt so much from all the wonderful staff, and I will deeply miss our kind and caring students. Next year I will be moving to a school in Kensington, much closer to where I live, and I’m excited for this new adventure.

I wish all SMPS students, families, and teachers an amazing 2026.

Scott Vance

Other Farewells

At the time of writing, we were unable to finalise the written farewells for the following staff who have made valuable contributions to the SMPS school community. Some of these staff members left during the year in 2025. We wish them well in their future endeavours. We are grateful for their efforts.

• Yasmin Roder
• Kirsten Brown
• Hugo Dias
• Lorna Murray
• Mona Salem
• Jai Hunt