Principal

Mr Chris Grimmer

Final Days of 2020

We’ve reached the end of the 2020 school year. It has felt like three years rolled into one, with two periods of remote learning and tough COVID restrictions to navigate! More than ever, I would like to take this opportunity to thank students, staff and parents for your support and understanding throughout an extremely challenging year. 

Many of our traditional end-of-year events have still gone ahead, but have certainly looked very ‘different’ to what we are used to at this time of year. Our Year 10 Graduation was live streamed and our students celebrated with a ‘Fabulous Garden Party’ at school. Our Year 6 students were able to have two guests come to their Graduation Ceremony but held their dinner at school with catering provided, and our ‘Awards Evening’ and ‘Variety Night’ will be recorded this year and available for parents to view. With COVID restrictions and school guidelines changing so frequently, it was incredibly challenging to organise and run events such as this in 2020. Many thanks to our wonderful teaching and support staff for their planning and organisation of these important celebrations. The office staff in particular provide enormous support with the preparation of reports, certificates and catering for these major events.

Whilst our Awards Night will look very different this year, we still rely heavily on the wonderful support of local businesses, service groups and families who generously sponsor many of the awards.  Their support is greatly appreciated by the school and highly valued by the recipients of the awards, particularly in a year when fundraising has been extremely challenging and businesses have been adversely affected by COVID-19.  

Orientation Day

I would to thank all staff who contributed to the various orientation programs across the college over recent weeks. Not only have we hosted 114 Year 7s on Tuesday but our new Preps for 2020 have spent a number of sessions with us now to familiarise themselves with the school setting and expectations. Primary classes will go through their ‘step up’ session on Monday morning in readiness for next year and our year 10 students have attended orientation days at Mildura Senior College. All of these sessions have been extremely successful due to the planning and commitment of all staff across the college. A great team effort from everyone involved!!

2020 Staffing Changes

At the end of 2020 and start of 2021 we will have several valued staff members retiring. 

• Mrs Chris Bettison is currently on leave, after moving back to SA, and will continue her leave until March 2021. She will then be retiring.
• Wayne Astbury, one of our current student support staff members, will be taking Long Service Leave at the beginning of 2021 and will then retire at the conclusion of his leave.
• Mr Howard Hankinson will be retiring at the end of 2020.
• Mrs Barb Leavold will be retiring at the end of 2020.

On behalf of the staff, students and parents at Merbein P-10 I wish them all the best for the future and thank them for their contribution to the college. I would like to acknowledge the impact they have had on so many of our students, staff and families over their time at Merbein P-10 College.

Due to COVID restrictions we will be holding a formal farewell for Mr Graeme Cupper early in 2021. Our Merbein P-10 community will be provided with updated information as soon as arrangements have been confirmed.

Mrs Janine Richardson has taken up a position at Chaffey SC and Miss Chelsea Sauer has successfully gained a full time teaching position at Irymple Primary for 2021. Both Janine and Chelsea have fulfilled a number of different roles across the College, supporting many of our students, so we wish them all the best in their new roles. Selina Paterson will also be taking leave from her student support position at the college in 2021 and we wish her well for the year, along with Mrs Rebekah McClure who will be on Family Leave for part of 2021.

I am delighted to welcome the following new staff members to Merbein P-10 in 2021. I know they will all enjoy working in their respective teams and will bring new skills and knowledge to our school. 

• Kerrie O’Bryan -  Health & PE
• Vinnie Rodi – Health & PE
• Nina Hardie – Literacy/Numeracy intervention 7-10
• Josh Valentich - Science
• Hannah Schofield – Primary
• Maddie Comrie – Primary (Family Leave replacement for  Mrs Jordie McPhee)

2021 PRIMARY STAFFING

Green Building

Orange Building

Mrs Wendy Finn – Learning Centre Leader & Grade 2/3 Literacy Support

Mrs Kerry Grimmer – Learning Centre Leader & Grade 5/6 Literacy Support and Extension

Mrs Rebecca Holy – PE Specialist                          TBA – Language Specialist                                       Mrs Jodie Atkinson – Art/Music Specialist         Mr Josh Hudson – Music Specialist                       Cheryll Hodge, Cheree Hoyle, Bev Field, Natalie Donohue, Jarrod Searle, Kim Razis, Mel Perry, Paul Dyke - Student Support from P-10