Congratulations 

Mr Bainbridge

Congratulations to Mr Bainbridge and his wife Vicki who have both chosen to retire from work commencing in 2024. 

Mr Bainbridge has worked at St Laurence O'Toole Primary School for the past 10 years and been the most brilliant support for our teaching staff.  His outstanding commitment to excellence in helping the students in his classes has seen him respected by students and teachers alike.

We have asked Mr Bainbridge to give us some of his thoughts over the past 10 years:

I started in the old portables with Mr Hughes, Mrs Ryan, Mrs O'Loughlin and Ms Sultry in Grades 5/6 in 2014.  It was a good way to start with four very experienced teachers.  The hard part of the job was when Mr Hughes would use students nicknames instead of their real name!

After this I went into rooms A, B and C with Mr McGrory, Miss Fitzpatrick and a number of first year teachers who taught in Grades 5/6.  I had to repeat 5 /6 for quite a few years with Mr McGrory!!  In the early years we used to recommend using a dictionary to find things out, now we just say “Google it!”

I thought this would be where I would stay but Covid required me to help out and eventually move to Grade 1/2 with Ms Hughes, Mrs Charles, Mrs Ginnane and Mrs Ryan. 

I have been lucky to have my final year working in the 3/4 area with a team including Mrs Piasente, Ms Hughes, Ms Roberts, Mrs Hamilton and Yolande.  They have been extremely supportive of, not only their students, but also each other in ensuring that the workplace has been a joy to be in.  It will be this group of students, some of whom I have been in class with for the past three and a half years, that I will miss most.

I have enjoyed playing my part in the magnificent support team at St Laurence’s and their commitment to helping students when they need it.  The opportunity to work with a variety of staff and students has allowed me to get to know and work with approximately 600 students.  Hopefully some of them remember me and are happy to say “Hi” when they see me out and about.

In addition to supporting students in the classroom, I have also been involved with a number of extra things throughout my 10 years at school; winter sports, school soccer, bike ed, the fete, maintenance along with whatever else needed to be done.

I would like to thank everybody over the 10 years, you will be missed and to make a few kids happy - it’s high 5’s all round!