5 mins with the Specialist Team

Mrs Arnold

How long have you worked at Parkdale PS? 15 years. However, I worked and lived in Singapore for 2 years in between.
What was your favourite subject at school? Physical Education, Visual Art
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Sushi
What is your ideal way to unwind and relax? Sitting with a cup of tea reading a good book or down at the beach with my family.
What’s your favourite holiday destination? Maldives, Japan, Italy, Croatia

Mrs Michelle Mackenzie (Mackenzie Sensei)

How long have your worked at Parkdale Primary School? 3 years.
Do you play a musical instrument? If so, which one? I can play the recorder, clarinet, bassoon and guitar, although these days I only play recorder when I’m teaching the Grade 3s!
What is your ideal way to unwind and relax? Reading my book on the hammock in my garden on a sunny day.
What’s your favourite holiday destination? Japan – of course! Closer to home I love Marysville and Bright.
When you were little what did you aspire to be? A professional dancer.

Mrs Emma Wicks

What is your ideal way to unwind and relax? Being at the beach.
What book/tv series/podcasts are you into at the moment? The imperfects podcast, it’s a bit of everything, funny, sad and informative.
What is your favourite sport to watch or play? Basketball
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Pizza, there are so many types!
What’s your favourite holiday destination? Anywhere hot and tropical with water!

Mr Jarrod Sing

How long have you worked at Parkdale PS? 9 years
What was your favourite subject at school? Recess
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Tacos, Thai Food or Pizza
If you were a superhero, what powers would you have? Teleportation
What’s your favourite holiday destination? Anywhere with a beach or snow

WHO AM I?

I have worked at PPS for 22 years
I’ve got the best job in the WORLD
I watch people smiling ALL DAY
When I was at school, I wanted to be a pro skateboarder
My favourite sport now is Mountain Biking
Thailand is my favourite holiday destination
Denzel Washington would have to play me in a movie of my life

Mrs Michelle Richard

How long have you worked at Parkdale? 2026 is my 5th year at Parkdale Primary School.

What is your role at the school? This year I am teaching Performing Arts and Visual Arts.

What’s your most fond childhood memory? I loved being on stage as a kid. Dance concerts, school plays and musicals.

What’s your favourite holiday destination? My favourite holiday was our family trip to Taiwan & Japan. I would love to see more of Europe one day.

If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? I love Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese food. Not sure which meal exactly though.

Miss Holland

How long have you worked at P.P.S? 9 years

What skill would you like to master? I would love to be fluent in AUSLAN

If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Mexican, particularly hard-shell tacos!

What’s your favourite holiday destination? Japan

Mami Sherwood

How long have you worked at Parkdale Primary School? I’ve been part of the Parkdale Primary School community for 12 wonderful years, and it truly feels like my second home.

What is your role at the school? I’m the Japanese teacher, and I’m lucky enough to teach every student across the school.

What is the most rewarding part of your job? I love seeing all the students each week and sharing the beauty of Japanese language and culture with them. It’s especially rewarding when I see them get excited about the idea of visiting Japan one day.

If you were a superhero, what powers would you have? I’d choose the power of flight so I could zip back to Japan whenever I wanted to visit my family and friends.

Do you collect anything? Some of you already know this about me… I’m a little obsessed with Toy Story! I collect the original toys from all the movies — they always make me smile.