Deputy Principal

This year is the twenty-fourth year I have worked at Mount Alvernia College — in a variety of Middle Leadership and Senior Leadership roles. Why stay so long in one place and still be compelled and energised by the mission and its vision? Well, it is the same for me as for many other staff here.  We love the community that is Mt A and what it stands for and we feel a sense of great privilege to be part of the heritage. Mt A is a place where each young person and each staff member is respected, cared for and nurtured to become the very best versions of themselves. Our beautiful gardens as we enter the college each day are a reminder of the powerful garden metaphor shared with students on their first day at the college. 

A seed, well planted, watered and cared for, will flourish into a healthy plant that will bear flowers and fruit.  

Our hope and our vision for all of our students and staff is that they are enabled to flourish in this thriving educational community. With our 2023 guiding value of respect being the foundation of all relationships at Mt A, we are able to honour the dignity of each individual. In honouring each individual, our staff strive to challenge and support each student to be the best they can be, supporting each individual to develop their own unique passions and strengths – to be audacious, to be aspiring, to be authentic, to be their best selves.

Our highly qualified teachers and support staff are experts in their fields and challenge students to live well and learn well, to be agents of change for themselves and for others, and to be people of hope, courage, ​industry, persistence and curiosity. The importance of teachers to students and society cannot be overstated; teaching is the profession on which all other professions depend. Our society needs great teachers to nurture great learners—people who are empowered to be curious, to imagine, to tackle the enormous problems we face today and those we can’t yet foresee. The work can be hard, but the reward is great. Being able to grow as a professional while also shaping the lives of students reflects how education transforms the life not only of the student, but the teacher. 

On behalf of all the staff, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome our new Year 7s and their families to the Mt A community and to welcome back our continuing students and families. Students are to be commended on their commitment to their studies and the outstanding academic results of 2022 and I hope the year ahead is one that will bring continued growth and achievement.  May you have the courage, strength, dedication and passion to achieve your goals in 2023. 

We warmly welcome our new staff for 2023.  Seventeen capable and agile staff eager to educate our students. We can’t wait to watch you grow and evolve your unique skills and practices and are grateful to have you a part of our community.

We Welcome: 

Nicole Anderson - Head of Faculty – VET

Emma Boswood - Admin Assistant – Sport 

Maria Conway -Teacher – Drama/English

Frances Day – Teacher – Legal Studies/Business/Humanities

Charmaine Ferguson - Head of Sport

Claire Hatchman - Leader of Student Engagement and Activities

Jayden Hills - Teacher – Mathematics

Katrin King - Head of Faculty – Mathematics

Michelle Licina - Head of House – Greccio

Jane Machin - Teacher – English/Literature/RE

Tyler Martin – IT Support Team 

Katharine McMain - Sports Coordinator and Administrator

Erin Moffat - Head of House – Perugia

Julia Palaszczuk - Teacher – English/Literature

Sean Robinson - Teacher – Maths/Science

Alisa Ward - Administration Officer – Student Services 

Monica Willoughby - Head of Arts

Peace and all Good,

Kerry Jell