2024 Newsletter ~ Port Melbourne Primary School

Meet our specialist teachers

Art

Miss Emily

I grew up in Bendigo with my 3 brothers (one of them my twin!) and sister. I then moved to Melbourne to study Science and then teaching at Melbourne University. I spent a term teaching in Vancouver, Canada and also a year teaching in Japan. 

 

At Port Melbourne Primary I have been classroom teacher of Year Prep - 3 classes. I took some time off to have my children, Dominic (Year 7) and George (Year 4) and then began teaching Visual Arts to all students at PMPS in 2019, which I absolutely love! 

 

My free time is mostly spent watching my 2 (sport obsessed) boys play football, basketball and cricket and spending time with my Border Collie, Olive. Olive often takes part in watching the boys play sport as well as enjoying jogging, swimming in the bay and snuggling on the couch. 

  • What I'm reading right now: The Happiest Refugee by Anh Do
  • Favourite sport: Football (go Demons!)
  • My favourite subject (when I was at school): ART of course 
  • How long I've taught at PMPS: A long time!

French

Monsieur Paul

Bonjour. This is my 6th year working at PMPS as a French Teacher and my 4th year of teaching in the classroom on Fridays. I have always had a passion for languages, having learned French at a young age, and I am excited to be sharing this with my students. 

 

I was born in Canada, but moved to Australia in 2013. In 2022, I was thrilled to become an Australian citizen. When I am not teaching, I love to travel and read. I also collect board games and have a collection of over 50!

  • What I'm reading right now: Saga by Brian K. Vaughan
  • Favourite sport: Ice Hockey
  • My favourite subject (when I was at school): French and Maths
  • How long I've taught at PMPS: 5.5 Years.

Madame Emily

Salut! I've been teaching French at PMPS for almost 9 years now. How time flies! I love that I have taught most of the students here since they were in Prep. I really enjoy team-teaching with Monsieur Paul and running events, such as the French Poetry Competition and our Bastille Day celebrations. 

 

I have been living in Melbourne since 2015 but am originally from the UK. I am super excited to visit my family back home in Term 3 and look forward to sharing my travel stories with you when I return in Term 4! 

  • What I'm reading right now: Stickman by Julia Donaldson - with my sons Cary (4) and Austin (3)
  • Favourite sport: Tennis - I love the Australian Open!
  • My favourite subject (when I was at school): Writing
  • How long I've taught at PMPS Almost 9 years.

Masterclass

Miss Jo

I have really enjoyed my first year outside the general classroom and working as a specialist across the Prep to Grade 5 classes. Developing targeted lessons for each year group and seeing the growth as a result has been rewarding. Most of all I love getting to know all the students, especially the siblings of the students I have taught in previous years.

  • What I'm reading right now: The Number Sense by Stanislas Dehaene
  • Favourite sport: AFL to watch, netball to play
  • My favourite subject (when I was at school): Inquiry (not called that back then) and Maths
  • How long I've taught at PMPS: I started teaching here in 2021.

Miss Lindsay

I have been at PMPS for a very long time after starting here as a student teacher in 2007. This is my first year as a Specialist teacher and I am really enjoying teaching and learning with Miss Jo, it's great to work with students across all year levels and get to know so many new faces. I don't have much downtime as my weekends are filled watching my three kids play sport, but I love spending time at our caravan in Torquay over summer. 

  • What I'm reading right now: Explicit Direct Instruction by John Hollingsworth
  • Favourite sport: Netball
  • My favourite subject (when I was at school): Art
  • How long I've taught at PMPS: Since 2007 (minus a few years of Family Leave).

Music/Performing Arts

Miss Maria

Born in England, my family arrived in Melbourne just before my fifth birthday. We were ten- pound tourists back in the day! My childhood was spent in Glen Waverley, and I moved to take my first teaching position in Central Gippsland. I taught there for twelve years, during which I also performed with and directed the local theatre company. That's where I learned how to do theatre! 

 

I'm proud to be the longest serving teacher at PMPS! For more than 20 years, I've been driving around the bay to work here, and then home to Cheltenham again. I love Beach Road, and always drive home from the airport that way, even though it would be more efficient to use other roads. I never tire of the Bay and its many moods! 

 

And I thoroughly enjoy visiting family in the USA and UK when time and funds allow. My 'spare' time is spent walking my two dogs (small, white and fluffy), catching up with family and friends, reading, watching live theatre and ballroom dancing. I no longer compete, but still thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to let loose! And since returning from the USA recently, I have joined a gym. I love the feeling at the end of the workout, if not the workout itself!

  • What I'm reading right now: Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton
  • Favourite sport: Ballroom Dancing
  • My favourite subject (when I was at school): History and Performing Arts
  • How long I've taught at PMPS: 21 years in August this year!