New Staff 'Spotlight'
💫 Meet Kate Best
Family... I am married with two boys who are 21 and 18 years old and we have a dog named Lexi. Spending time with my family is one of my favourite things to do.
What is one of your hidden talents... I love painting. I enjoy mostly painting different types of flowers.
If you won the lottery and decided to give up teaching, what would you do instead... I would still want to be involved at St Mary's but it would also be nice to travel. I would love to visit Italy.
What inspires you... The difference people can make in other people's lives whether it be teachers, nurses, or being a great friend/family.
Are there any embarrassing teaching moments you would like to share... Being new to the school environment I am sure there will be some to come.
What sort of morning routine do you have to get jazzed up for class... I enjoy my Iced Coffee throwing the ball to our dog Lexi.
What current trends are baffling to you... Crocs...both my boys have them and love them. They think I should get some but I just can't :)
If you could pass on any wisdom to your students, what would you share... To try your best and that everything will be ok.
Is there a quote or saying you live your life by... My wish is for everyone to be happy and healthy.
What song do you know all the lyrics to... Almost all of the 80's songs I grew up listening to and still love listening to, they are on high rotation on my spotify.
What would students and parents be surprised to find about you... I collect spoons. I inherited my Nana's interesting collection of spoons from different places she visited. I continued this with my children and are always on the lookout for spoons when holidaying.
What football team do you barrack for... Brisbane Lions
💫 Meet Renae Mackay
Family... My son Harper, who is almost 14 and my daughter Natsumi, who is 22 and currently living in Canada.
What is one of your hidden talents... I am a singer in a band and write lyrics.
If you won the lottery and decided to give up teaching, what would you do instead... I would disappear into the big wide world travelling and making art!
What inspires you... Kindness and grace. Things that I aspire to everyday.
Are there any embarrassing teaching moments you would like to share... I fainted in the middle of a Theory of Knowledge lecture of 200+ students, whilst asking students, 'What is Beauty?' It wasn't very beautiful!
What sort of morning routine do you have to get jazzed up for class... Coffee, coffee and coffee!
What current trends are baffling to you... Low rise jeans coming back.... why???
If you could pass on any wisdom to your students, what would you share... Life is to be lived and celebrated. Explore the world at every opportunity you get, and don't forget to give along the way.
Our college theme for this year is 'Through service we receive' how do you work to bring that to life in everyday classes... By creating classes and curriculum that are inclusive and accessible to everyone, regardless of ability, everyone has the opportunity to achieve success. Giving an opportunity for each student to feel great about their learning is rewarding beyond compare.
Is there a quote or saying you live your life by... The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the greatest intention - Kahlil Gibran
What song do you know all the lyrics to... Almost all Neil Young songs
What would students and parents be surprised to find about you... I have been lucky enough to teach and take students overseas many times throughout my career
What football team do you barrack for... Go Tiges!
💫 Meet... Oliver Fairweather
Family... I have a family of 6, this being Myself (20), Mum, Dad, my little sister, my older brother (31) (who works for Port Adelaide football club) and my older sister (30)
Hidden Talents... I can play the piano quite well (been playing since I was like 6 or 7), and that I taught myself to both pronounce, and spell the longest word in the english language off by heart, "Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis"
If I won the lottery... I would probably do something painfully sensible such as putting it in a growth/Trust fund... Until I get bored... then i'm living life like Richie Rich on a nice island with my friends and family
What inspires you... Seeing how knowledgeable people who have made a career in tech are about their respective fields inspires me to keep growing my own tech knowledge until I am BOTH a Jack of all trades, AND a master of them all!
Are there any embarrassing teaching moments you would like to share... While I am not a teacher, I was recently referred to by a student to another staff member as "some bearded guy", which made me feel both delighted that I have reached adulthood, and like an old man simultaneously! I'm only 20! I'm basically just a student on the other side of the desk!
To jazz myself up for the school day... I play my favorite music fairly loud on the drive to school, it almost makes me forget about the crazy day of a million tech problems I'm about to get myself into!
A trend that baffles me... Try that whole Fortnite thing! I'm only 20 and already I've used the phrase "Back in MY day, we played Minecraft"
Wisdom I'd pass onto other students... would probably be that no matter how stressful VCE is while you're in it, its over really, really quickly, and when you finish school, Regardless of your ATAR score, the world doesn't close in all around you, but rather, a whole new world opens up to you, where YOU can be the person that YOU want to be, the only requirement being a dream, and some time to put all the pieces of the puzzle into place.
One thing I live by... is actually a belief the ancient egyptians had, they believed that when you die, your heart is weighed on a set of scales against a Herons feather, and you would be asked two questions, "Did you find happiness?" and "Did bring happiness to others?". The Egyptians believed that if you answered both questions with a truthful "Yes" and your heart is light and pure, you're heart weighs lighter than the feather, thus proving you have lived a good, kind, happy life, and you would be granted entry to the Egyptians' idea of an afterlife.
What song do you know all the lyrics to... every Rex Orange County song by heart.
What would students and parents be surprised to find about you... I am a Huge, HUGE nerd (if my previous answers hadn't given that away already) and have been a gamer/ fascinated by technology for just about as long as I can remember.
What football team do you barrack for... I have always been a Bombers supporter, however with my brother's close involvement with Port Adelaide football club, I've been Drawing closer and closer to Port Power as time goes on...
