Staff News

Teacher Appraisal and Recognition 

Our staff are well underway in finalising tasks and assessments for our VCE students and teaching their last units of work for Year 7-10. Term 4 is always bitter-sweet, where we look forward to the summer weather and the Christmas/New Year break, but also sad to know that the time with our current classes is coming to an end, especially for our Year 12 Teachers. 

The focus for Term 4 is the annual Appraisal and Recognition Process. Just like with any job, it is important to be able to spend time to reflect on our practices, achievements and challenges and then look towards 2026 with an open and curious mindset for more growth and learning. We often refer to this quote by Dylan Wiliam:

Just as we expect our students to learn and grow, we also focus on our own growth and development to be better teachers and leaders to get the best outcomes for our students. The Appraisal and Recognition process is design to allow teachers to reflect on: 

• Teaching Practice 
• Catholic Identity 
• Team Based Culture 

• Professional Learning  

   

It is about celebrating the success stories of your children, but also acknowledge and learn from those lessons that didn’t quite land or the tasks that weren’t quite engaging.  It is a valued and important process to be able to then focus on which elements of our practice we need to grow more in for 2026.  

Staffing and Recruitment  

Staffing Updates  

We farewelled our Director of Counselling – Psychologist, Mrs Joanna John at the end of Term 3 as she embarks on a new chapter in her career through private practice. Jo’s presence will be dearly missed, as she played a pivotal role in the student wellbeing space and provided great support for many students and families as well as her colleagues. We thank her for her dedication and passion that she brought to Marist-Sion College and wish her all the best for her future.  

We are in the final process of recruitment for 2026. We are looking forward to welcoming some new staff to Marist-Sion College for 2026. I will update the community further in the December Emmaus.  

Staff Spotlight 

This is an opportunity for our staff and community to get to know each other by way of asking each staff member to answer a few questions about themselves. I would like to share these with our community as I believe the partnership we have with our parents/guardians/carers is a valued and respected one and I am sure you would like to get to know the staff of your child’s school as a way of building these positive relationships and partnerships.  

This month I would like to introduce to you Ms Kimberley Cody – Legal Studies, Business Management and Humanities Teacher.

• Born in Ballarat and raised on a hobby farm in Ross Creek, with the childhood saying, “you know the middle of nowhere? Yeah, I live just to the right of that.”
• A memorable part of childhood was being a backup dancer in a school production for someone who has since become successful in the Australian music industry. Dancing ability then (and now) was questionable at best.
• A favourite food combination is stir-fried rice, chicken, and vegetables — the go-to meal for weekly prep.
• The most rewarding part of a career in education is seeing the lightbulb moment when something finally clicks for a student.
• If stranded on a desert island, the ideal companions would be Bear Grylls and Gordon Ramsay — after all, survival doesn’t have to mean going hungry.
• Self-care means listening to music and sipping iced tea on the deck while watching the sunset.
• Inspiration comes from the community in Mildura — the connections made there continue to empower and encourage growth, even from 650 kilometres away, on this ‘pilgrimage of hope’ in Gippsland.

Professional Culture and Growth 

I’d like to take this opportunity to remind families that if you have a concern or issue to raise regarding your child, please ensure that your first contact is their Tutor. The role of the Tutor is integral to our House System. The Tutor is person that greets your child each morning and tracks their learning and behaviour throughout the year. The Tutor will then make an assessment as to whether the concern or issue needs to be taken further to their Head of House. 

It is important that we follow process so that we have the most suitable person attend to your concern and work to resolve it in a timely manner.  

If you are unsure of who your child’s Tutor is, you can find their name on their SIMON home page or you can access it through PAM.  

Mrs Georgie Beekhof

Deputy Principal – Professional Culture and Growth