Specialists at CPS

Craigieburn Primary School is excited to introduce our new Specialist Team, who will continue to provide engaging, high-quality learning experiences that support student growth, creativity, and success across our specialist programs.

Mr James Warren | STEM

Hi, I’m Mr Warren! I am so excited to be continuing teaching STEM this year at Craigieburn Primary School. STEM is all about curiosity, creativity, and having the courage to try new things, something we will be exploring together all year through hands-on projects, challenges and problem-solving adventures.

I am looking forward to seeing all of our students continuing to discover new skills, ask big questions, and feel proud of what they can create.

Outside of school, I enjoy camping and learning about the history of the places I visit, especially the hidden stories behind landmarks and landscapes. I also have a very cheeky Red Heeler named Charli, who loves exploring the outdoors and joining me on new adventures. I cannot wait to see what we’ll learn and build together for the remainder of the year!

Mr Leigh McDonald | Visual Arts

Hello! My name is Mr Leigh and I am so excited to be joining Craigieburn PS as the new Visual Arts teacher.

I have worked as a Primary teacher for 5 years across a range of schools, and thoroughly enjoy sharing my passion for creativity and art with students of all ages. Before becoming a Primary School teacher I studied Illustration and Visual Arts at university majoring in Painting & Drawing and Digital Media.

I also worked as an Illustrator, exhibiting in galleries, shows and Pop Culture conventions.I adore working with a variety of different mediums and materials, with some of my favourites being Watercolour, and Acrylic Paint, Pastels, Coloured Pencils and Charcoal.

When I’m not in the classroom or Art room, I love to collect plants, spend time with my family and friends, and laugh at Dad jokes and puns. 

A fun fact about me is that I am the youngest of five siblings, I have an identical twin brother who also works as a teacher, animator and illustrator, and my older brother is an author.

Mr Massimo Palombo | Performing Arts

Hello everyone. My name is Massimo Palombo and I am very excited to be joining the Craigieburn Primary School community as the new Performing Arts teacher. 

With over 23 years of teaching experience, I remain passionate about creating engaging and inclusive learning environments where students can build confidence, creativity, collaboration, and self-expression through the Performing Arts. My teaching approach combines creativity with structure, allowing students to feel supported as they explore drama, movement, performance, music, and creative expression.

During Term 2, students will be introduced to the art of acting and performing while developing their expressive and performance skills through a range of engaging and creative activities. Students will learn about puppetry, mime, acting, and collaboration through a variety of performance activities. They will also work together to write, rehearse, and perform short plays, helping to develop their creativity, communication, teamwork, and confidence. 

I look forward to working with students, staff, and families and sharing an exciting year of learning and creativity together. 

Mrs Bella Lo-Giudice | Health and Physical Education

Hi, I’m Mrs Lo-Giudice (also known as Ms Aprem), and I am the P.E. teacher for this term. Having been part of the school community for the past three years, it has been wonderful to already know many of the students and continue building positive relationships with them through Physical Education. It has also been a pleasure teaching P.E. across the whole school and working with students from every year level. I love games like Fruit Salad and Observation Tag, and I enjoy going for walks and watching Harry Potter movies — go Team Hufflepuff! My favourite food is gnocchi, and my favourite snack is dark chocolate. 

Throughout the term, students have enthusiastically participated in a wide range of activities designed to develop teamwork, coordination, fitness, resilience, and confidence. It has been wonderful to see students challenge themselves, support their peers, and demonstrate positive sportsmanship during lessons and school sporting events. Each year level has focused on a variety of skills and games, helping students build both their physical abilities and their understanding of healthy, active lifestyles.

I am very proud of the effort, enthusiasm, and positive attitude students have shown throughout the term, and I look forward to seeing them continue to grow and enjoy participating in Physical Education.

Mrs Marian Kennedy | Performing Arts & Visual Arts

Hi! I’m Mrs Kennedy and I teach some classes for Visual Arts and Performing Arts. I can read music and learned the piano for most of my childhood.

I enjoy going to the football to watch the Mighty Magpies win games at the MCG.  I love swimming and tennis and I also enjoy walking my Border Collie Puppy even though she is very cheeky.