New and returning staff

Amy Vuleta is teaching English this year. Amy completed her Masters of Teaching at the University of Melbourne last year, and before that studied and worked as a teacher and doing research at the University of Queensland in the English department. Amy’s specialty area is English and she passionate about reading and writing, so CSC feels like the perfect school for her.

Amy says Cobram reminds her of her own hometown in Far North Queensland, but with more grain crops than banana and sugar cane farms! She’s also grateful for the warm welcome she’s had from the Cobram Secondary College community.

Evangeline Podlich will be teaching Science and Mathematics at Cobram this year. She taught at Finley High School last term but am from Sydney originally. Outside of school, she enjoys yoga, rock climbing, and hiking. She really loves being outside and is very excited to be accompanying the Year 10 students on the Advance Camp in a few weeks. Her hope for this year is to become a part of the Cobram community and get to know more her lovely students.

Lynda Howard comes to Cobram Secondary College from McGuire College in Shepparton. Lynda has a wealth of experience across a range of technology subjects - Foods, Plastics, Wood to name a few. Before becoming a teacher, Lynda worked as a chef in a variety of workplaces.

In her spare time, Lynda likes reading, watching movies, crafts, and sports. Lynda is looking forward to teaching at Cobram Secondary College.

Kim Forge is really happy to be back at CSC. Kim had the previous two years off of teaching while she focussed on my other life passions; Curling, leadership, and female sports administration. Kim has been fortunate to have traveled the world in recent years, gaining many valuable experiences that she will share with her students, in the hope that it will motivate them to achieve the goals that they set for themselves. While she will still be involved with my external pursuits to some degree, she will be teaching the VCE Foods program at CSC and is employed part-time.

Michelle is returning to Cobram Secondary College after 12 months in Portland. Michelle is a Senior Physics/Maths teacher who has a special interest in student pathways, hence her involvement in VCAL. Michelle has many years in the Cobram community as her family are dairy farmers.

Michelle and her family show dairy cattle at various shows throughout Australia and are heavily involved in the Cobram show society. Michelle’s eldest daughter is studying nursing and works GV Base hospital as an EN nurse. Her younger daughter works alongside her husband on the farm.

Both girls have been involved in sport and I support them with this.

Gandel Holocaust Studies Program for Australian Educators

Whilst most of our College community were relaxing and enjoying a well-earned break, I spent three weeks studying Holocaust history at the World Holocaust Centre, Yad Vashem, in Israel. Last year, I was awarded a full scholarship to participate in the Gandel Holocaust Studies Program for Australian Educators. I was required to complete a written application, which resulted in being shortlisted down to 70 applicants who were interviewed across Australia. In September, I was exceptionally excited to receive the phone call to advise that I was one of 35 successful recipients. It was a delightful and unexpected surprise that reminded me of the importance to always apply for programs, even if you don’t think you will be successful!

The focus of the learning in Israel was developing a greater understanding of the Jewish faith and range of communities that existed prior to the Holocaust. This heightened the understanding of the depth of loss to our world with the death of six million Jewish people during this short time period. Amongst the studies of the depravity of mankind, I was also uplifted through the learning of the acts of humanity by people in society who were prepared to be upstanders, assisting many Jewish people to safety, at great personal risk. I was inspired by their bravery and willingness to stand up for right, in spite of tremendous social pressure. I think this is a wonderful lesson for us to continue to learn, to be brave and always follow our own moral compass.

Despite the horrors, many people found the strength to resist the atrocities facing the Jewish community. This took the form of bearing arms in uprisings, such as in the Warsaw Ghetto, but resistance went deeper. For some it was the commitment to record the range of experiences during the Holocaust, the continuation of faith, fight to maintain identity or capturing the experience in through a range of the Arts.

However, the greatest inspiration came from meeting a range of child survivors who generously shared their personal stories. It further taught me about the power of resilience, of refusing to be defined by trauma and fighting back through seeking happiness and life after the Holocaust.

I am excited to bring my learnings to the classroom and share it with our community. I am so thankful for the generous support provided by the Gandel Philanthropic Group which allowed me to attend this incredible educational and cultural experience. I feel fortunate to have visited amazing sites such as Masada, the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem, the Dead Sea & the Golan Heights to name just a few locations.

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