New Staff for 2024
Saltwater College would like to introduce some of our new staff members for 2024.
Prep
Michelle Desa
Hi, my name is Michelle Desa (pronounced Desha), and I am thrilled to share my excitement about joining the Saltwater P-9 College team next year. I currently reside in the beautiful city of Geelong and I am proud to bring my Croatian background to the rich tapestry of our school community.
On a personal note, I am happily married and blessed with two incredible children, Aiden, who is 10, and Leila, who is 8. They bring immense joy to my life and I am eager to become a part of a school that values family and community.
Professionally, I come with 16 years of experience in education, with a particular focus on the junior years. My passion lies in nurturing student growth and fostering a love for learning. I am genuinely excited to announce that I will be joining the prep team next year, specifically working with Prep students. This opportunity aligns perfectly with my dedication to early childhood education and I am eager to contribute to the development and success of these young minds.
As I embark on this new chapter, I am looking forward to collaborating with my colleagues, students and parents to create a positive and engaging learning environment. Here's to an exciting journey ahead at Saltwater P-9 College!
Year One:
Mary Mavridis
My name is Mary Mavridis, and I am very excited to commence the next phase of my teaching journey with Saltwater P -9 College in 2024. I bring to the school a wealth of experience as an educator, having been a full-time classroom teacher since 2007. I am passionate about fostering an enriching classroom environment and a lifetime love of learning for all my students. I have taught all years at the Primary level with my most recent being Year Prep to Year Two.
Outside of the classroom, I enjoy socialising and spending time with my family and friends. I also love spending time in the garden.
I am excited to take on this opportunity and contribute my expertise and dedication to Saltwater P-9 College. Together with the students and school community, we will embark on a journey of growth, collaboration, and educational excellence.
Please come and say ‘hello’. I look forward to meeting you all in 2024.
Wishing you all Safe and Happy Holidays!
Year Two:
Tara Rankin
Hello Saltwater Community,
I am Tara Rankin and I am delighted to be joining the Year 2 team in 2024. Over the past few years, I have had the privilege of teaching at Primary Schools in both Wyndham and Geelong. Additionally, I have had the amazing opportunity to teach English in Japan to a diverse range of students, varying from preschool toddlers through to business-class adults.
Teaching the whole child and helping students achieve their personal best is a true passion of mine. I firmly believe in tailoring my teaching approach to suit each student's unique learning style. I am particularly fond of nurturing curious minds and exploring topics that spark the interest of my students.
Outside of the classroom, I am a dedicated mother to my two children. My days are filled with chauffeuring them to their various sporting commitments and social events. Whenever I have some free time, my family and I love going on short getaways in our van. We thoroughly enjoy leisurely strolls along the beach and fishing out on the bay.
I am sincerely looking forward to meeting all of you and embarking on this exciting new journey at Saltwater P-9 College.
Dhana Athukorala
Hey everyone,
My name is Dhana and I will be joining the teaching team of Saltwater College next year.
You might already know me from school as I've been a CRT working in many different classes over this last year.
I'm all about exploring the great outdoors and going on amazing travels. I've got tons of stories to share, but I'm even more excited to hear yours as well!
So I'm ready to buckle up for a year of laughter, learning and loads of fun. Remember every day is a new adventure waiting to happen!I can't wait to meet each and every one of you and kick off this fantastic journey together.
Here's to a year of endless possibilities!
Year Three:
Saranya Vijay
Dear Saltwater Community,
My name is Saranya Subramani (married name Vijay) and I am extremely excited to start my new journey as a classroom teacher at Saltwater P-9 College for the year 2024! I recently completed a Master of Teaching (Primary) at Swinburne University. For the past year, I have worked as a ‘casual relief teacher’ at Saltwater P-9 College, where I have thoroughly enjoyed my time teaching and learning new things.
I believe learning never stops and as a teacher it is my responsibility to motivate and prepare students to become a lifelong learner. I am passionate about assisting students by providing a positive classroom environment and by utilising various teaching and learning strategies to help them learn with ease and fun.
In my spare time, I enjoy playing with my kids and spending time with my family amongst nature.
Looking forward to meet the students, families and wider saltwater community in the new year.
Isperee Singh
Hello Saltwater Community,
My name is Mrs Singh. I am really looking forward to joining the Saltwater College Community. I have taught in schools around the world including South Africa and New Zealand, a well as a number of different states in Australia. In my spare time I enjoy doing Arts and Crafts and look forward to sharing my passion of reading with the students.
Year Four:
Andrea Taliana
Hi my name is Andrea and I am thrilled to be joining the Saltwater College family in 2024 as part of the teaching team in Year 4. For the past 6 years I have been teaching at Alamanda College and I am excited about fostering a love of reading and instilling a curiosity for learning new things with my students. Beyond the classroom, my interests include experiencing the many wonders of nature, reading, hanging out with my Bernese Mountain dog Freyr, and indulging in my love for LEGO. I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone and having fun together as we learn. Here’s to a fantastic school year ahead!
Kristin Vanden Houte- Smit
My name is Kristin Vanden Houte-Smit but am more familiarly known as Mrs. Kris. I have been teaching for fifteen years! Eleven of those years have been here in Australia, and the previous four, in Belgium. I absolutely love teaching and strive to go on an engaging and fun learning journey with every student in my class. I am blessed with a wonderful husband, three amazing children and a supermom! We all live together so our house is usually pretty busy. I adore animals and have a pet cat called Lenny, and a horse called Kirin. In my spare time, I love riding Kirin, reading books and writing stories, and have just published my first book. I look forward to meeting all the families in the Saltwater P-9 Community!
Kylie McCluskey
Hello Saltwater Community,
My name is Kylie McCluskey and I look forward to joining Saltwater P-9 College in 2024. I have been a Primary School teacher since 2007. Before that I spent a year in China teaching English to both Primary and Secondary School students. I have taught most years at a Primary level with my most recent being a Grade 3/4 class.
On weekends I enjoy taking my dog for walks, seeing the Melbourne Demons win games and spending time with family and friends. During the holidays I love travelling and have been fortunate enough to visit many amazing countries.
I view education as a partnership between teachers, students and their families. I am excited to meet you all in 2024.
Salmina Imran
Hello Saltwater Community,
My name is Salmina and I will be joining the Year Four Team next year. I have recently completed my Masters of Teaching degree at Monash University. I love sweets and baking, my favourite thing to do is to bake cakes. I look forward to creating a culture of learning, exploring the wonders of science, deep diving into literacy and conquering the challenges of maths. I can't wait to embark on this adventure of learning.
Year Five:
Justine Rotteveel
Hello everyone,
My name is Justine Rotteveel and I am delighted to be joining the Saltwater P-9 College community in 2024. I have been teaching across all primary year levels for the last sixteen years and have held a variety of classroom teaching, leadership and intervention roles during this time. I am passionate about helping children reach their full potential and I have a strong interest in neurodiversity and neuro-affirming practice.
When I’m not at school you’ll find me spending time with my husband and children, at the beach, cheering on the Western Bulldogs or walking my Labrador Ruby. If I’m honest, you’ll also find me rushing my kids around to all of their sports and social commitments. I’m sure other parents can relate!
2024 is going to be an exciting year and I can’t wait to embark on this new chapter with you all.
Casey Brooks
Hello everyone, my name is Casey Brooks, and I am excited to be joining the Year 5 teaching team at Saltwater P-9 College in 2024. I grew up in a country town in rural North-East Victoria and moved to Melbourne for University. The amazing facilities the city contains convinced me to stay here after I graduated, and I am now a second-year teacher. I bring a passion for diversity and inclusivity with me and have done volunteer work in this area prior to teaching. I am a proud Uncle and a serious tea aficionado with an appreciation for food, gardening, wordplay, and bad puns.
Looking forward to meeting you all!
Year Six:
Farah Rahmat
Dear class of 2024,
My name is Ms Farah and I am going to be your teacher in your final year of Primary school. I am sure this will be an exciting year for you and you will learn many things.
This is also an exciting year for me as it is my first year teaching at Saltwater College. Last year I taught VCE students and before that, I spent many years teaching primary students in Singapore. I was born and raised in Singapore and now I call Australia my second home.
When I am not teaching, I enjoy going to Pilates classes. I love Pilates because it keeps me fit and energised so I try to go to classes at least twice a week. Besides Pilates, my cats, Katya and Luna, keep me on my feet. They're three-year-old Siberian Forest cats who are always begging for food and attention.
I am looking forward to us getting to know each other as we travel the year together.
Secondary:
Meena Berry
Hello Saltwater Community,
I’m Miss Berry, an English and Humanities teacher with 10 years of teaching experience, including my last position at Good News Lutheran College in Tarneit. I’m truly passionate about students and wellbeing, holding high expectations for all learners. My approach involves understanding each student’s unique way of learning, allowing me to tailor lessons to their strengths, needs and interests, fostering a lifelong love for learning. I’m excited to join the positive and supportive environment at Saltwater, and I can’t wait to meet and work with students, staff, and the broader school community.
Phebe Anderson
I am a graduate teacher who will be joining the secondary English and Humanities team in 2024. Along with my love of books, history, and social studies, I am also a huge lover of the arts with a background in theatre. I am so excited to be joining this wonderful school community. Come and say hi!
Sarah Plant
Hello! My name is Sarah Plant and I am joining the Secondary Team at Saltwater P-9 College in 2024! I have a background in teaching Senior Secondary English and look forward to teaching Junior Secondary with my degree in P-12 Education. I am excited to meet the Saltwater School Community and embrace your wonderful school culture!
Nicole Rodwell
Hi everyone, my name is Ms. Nicole Rodwell, and I will be teaching Year 9 English and Humanities in 2024.
I have worked at many schools in the Northern Suburbs and have also had a fulfilling career as a Casual replacement Teacher int he past.
I am excited to be teaching in the West and in such a vibrant school community. I am eagerly looking forward to an amazing school year at Saltwater College and meeting all of you!
Harry Xu
Hello, my name is Mr Xu. I will be a secondary Math and Science teacher at Saltwater P-9 College in 2024. I have great passion towards these two subjects because I believe they allow you to be more logical and gain insight into the nature of the universe. I encourage students to ask as many questions as possible in class, to spark curiosity and creativity as we investigate the world of math and science.
Isabelle Dyson
Hi everyone, I’m Mrs Dyson and I can’t wait to join Saltwater as your new PE and Health Teacher, in 2024. I have just moved to Australia from England where I have been a PE teacher for 8 years. I am very passionate about the role that sport, and physical activity plays in society and believe wholeheartedly in an active lifestyle. I love to watch and play sport, be outdoors, go to the beach, go hiking and to learn new things. I am a passionate Newcastle United FC fan and promise to keep you updated on their progress throughout the year. I’m very excited to meet you all and get started at Saltwater College.
Kristina Kindtner
Hello! My name is Kristina, and I am very excited to be teaching Secondary Physical Education in 2024. I have been working as a Casual Relief Teacher at Saltwater College for the past two years, and this has been such a rewarding experience. Witnessing the growth of your children as learners has been truly wonderful. I have really enjoyed working alongside such an amazing staff here. I have a genuine passion for sport and fitness, and I want to inspire students to lead active, healthy lifestyles while fostering teamwork. I believe that it’s important to create an environment where students not only develop physical fitness, but also learn valuable life skills such as leadership and cooperation.
Adam Anderson
I am thrilled to introduce myself as your Physical Education teacher at Saltwater for the upcoming academic year. My name is Adam Anderson, and I am eager to embark on an exciting journey of physical fitness and well-being with each of you!
Priscilla Feleppa
Hello, my name is Priscilla Feleppa, and I'm excited to be joining Saltwater College in 2024. Originally calling Adelaide, South Australia, home, I dedicated five years to teaching Visual Art and Design. My journey brought me to Melbourne last year with my partner, where I started at Saltwater College as a casual relief teacher before transitioning to a short-term position as a Year 9 Humanities and English teacher in Term 3, 2023. Alongside teaching, my interest in mental health blossomed, prompting me to pursue and complete a master's in counselling. Fostering a safe and positive classroom environment is at the core of my teaching philosophy. It's within this environment that I believe students can fearlessly delve into their strengths and talents, fostering a culture of mutual respect and growth. I look forward to connecting with each of you and playing a part in making this academic year a memorable and enriching experience.
Rex Sutton
Greetings! I'm Mr. Rex Sutton, and I'm thrilled to be your Secondary Music teacher for 2024. Let me share a bit about who I am and what makes our music class special. Join me on this musical journey, where we'll explore, learn, and create music and art. I look forward to meeting each one of you and discovering the magic of music!