New Staff
Melissa Cajili (Returning from leave)
Role at St Mary's
Teaching Year One on Tuesdays.
How many years have you been in education?
10 years of teaching but started back in 2009.
What’s your favourite subject to teach?
I love teaching reading. I grew up with a love of books and enjoy sharing this with the students.
What’s your favourite food?
Anything Vietnamese. Bún thịt nướng which is vermicelli noodle salad is definitely up the top of the list.
What’s your favourite book?
I loved the Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton as a child and now love to read it with my children. A great adventure for young and old.
What’s your favourite movie?
Too many to choose from. I love a good musical movie or a romantic comedy.
Who’s your favourite band/singer?
At the moment Teddy Swims. What a voice!
Do you support a sports team?
Collingwood and Richmond. I have to have two teams otherwise I’d be disowned by either my parents or my children.
What do you enjoy doing outside of school?
Spending time with my family and friends and Pilates.
f you could go anywhere in the world on holiday, where would it be?
Cambodia is on my list of places to visit.
Tell us a joke!
Why did the broom decide to go to bed?It was very sweepy!
Gabi Vass
Role at St Mary's
Grade 5 Classroom Teacher
How many years have you been in education?
This will be my fourth year teaching
What’s your favourite subject to teach?
Literacy
What’s your favourite food?
Pasta
What’s your favourite book?
Harry Potter
What’s your favourite movie?
The Notebook
Who’s your favourite band/singer?
Justin Bieber
Do you support a sports team?
Unfortunately, Carlton
What do you enjoy doing outside of school?
Seeing my family, friends and reading
If you could go anywhere in the world on holiday, where would it be?
Switzerland
Tell us a joke!
Why did the student eat his homework?
Because the teacher said it was a piece of cake!
Rachel Ashfield
Role at St Mary's
I am the Prep teacher.
How many years have you been in education?
8 years - I taught Preps for five years in Ireland before moving to Australia. This is now my third year working in Melbourne!
What’s your favourite subject to teach?
I love teaching literacy, it's so heartwarming to see kids soak up so much knowledge and fall in love with reading.
What’s your favourite food?
My favourite food would be Thai food and my favourite treat is an almond croissant!
What’s your favourite book?
My favourite book is The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne, an Irish author, it was a very emotional read! My favourite picture book is The Day the Crayons Quit.
What’s your favourite movie?
I have watched a few Disney movies lately and my two favourites were Moana and Up!
Who’s your favourite band/singer?
I love folk and country music, so there's a lot of Zach Bryan and Noah Kahan on my playlist at the minute.
Do you support a sports team?
I don't have a footy team yet but I'm open to suggestions! I enjoy watching Gaelic football and I support Monaghan, which is where I'm from.
What do you enjoy doing outside of school?
I love reading, going to the gym and going for a stroll around the markets at the weekend.
If you could go anywhere in the world on holiday, where would it be?
I would love to go to Hawaii!
Tell us a joke!
What do you call an elephant that doesn't matter? An Irr-elephant