From the Principal Class Team

Dear Parents and Guardians

As soon as we start Term 4, it seems we also begin a series of farewells: firstly to our students as they progressively leave, most just for the summer break, others to take up their post school pathways, or to move onto other schools. And finally come the farewells to staff who are leaving us. This year is somewhat of an exception for us, with six of our staff retiring at the end of the year. It is impossible to overstate the impact on our students, the school and the community of the work of Kathy Haris, Sandra Faoro, Ian Crocker, Stephanie Leontiades, Loue Traianou and Thu Tran. In years of service alone, the have collectively contributed to over 200 years to government school education, and more than 190 years between them to St Albans Secondary College. Yet, what is much less easily quantifiable is the influence each of these people have had on so many lives, on shaping the directions, programs and culture of our school, and on creating the college community we are so proud of.

Sandra Faoro commenced her teaching career at Debney Park Secondary College in the start of 1999, before joining the staff of St Albans Secondary College later that same year as a teacher of Food technology and Textiles. Sandra has, at various times, led her Department, and has seen many changes in the Technology Learning Area, not the least of which has been the construction of the VET Hospitality Centre. It is a pity she won’t see the replacement next year of our vintage 1950’s kitchens! Sandra has motivated and inspired her students, especially with projects such as the celebration cakes at Year 10, and has contributed to programs beyond her faculty. She has been a backstage regular on makeup for MAC, and has also generously used her expertise as an SES Area Coordinator to support staff and students in first aid training and preparing for bush walks.

Thu Tran has taught Vietnamese and English as an Additional Language with us since joining the staff her in 1992. She has been an active, dedicated member of both Departments, and oversaw the introduction into the curriculum of Vietnamese as a first language. The school and students have benefited enormously from Thu’s language expertise and her connection with our Vietnamese community, both have been significant in strengthening the relationship between the local community and the school.

Kathy Haris has been a member of the Education Support Staff team at St Albans Secondary College since 1987 when she joined the school as a Multicultural Education Aid supporting the then large Croatian Community. She provided much needed and greatly appreciated support to parents and families, and to the school. Since then, like so many ES staff, Kathy has seen her role evolve due to changing school and Department priorities, and she now supports the administration team in the office on her one day a week with us. She also works in the ES team at St Albans Meadows Primary School. Kathy’s willingness to assist and support colleagues, students and families has always been a feature of her work.

Stephanie Leontiades also commenced here in 1987, after starting her teaching career in 1975 at Altona High School. Steph has taught English and French, and has always been an enthusiastic campaigner for the LOTE program within the school. But this is just one of her many contributions in addition to her work in the classroom. Stephanie has been a year level coordinator at both the Junior and Middle Sub Schools over many years. Her unfailingly clam, quiet manner belied her ability to manage and win over even the most challenging of students, and she was always held in very high regards by the students and families she worked with and supported. Steph’s generosity and commitment to the school saw her willing to step into temporary vacancies in Sub Schools to help out on many occasions. Likewise, she was often the first person to volunteer to sell MAC tickets at lunchtime each year. More recently, up until these last two years though, Stephanie has been known for her role coordinating the Lunchtime Activities Program, enabling scores of students to enjoy board games, conversation, fun and challenge with like minded peers. Through this important program, she has provided many students with a sense of belonging and place that they may not otherwise have experienced. Stephanie’s membership of selection panels over the years is a testament to the high regard in which she is held by colleagues, and to the considered, thoughtful approach she brought to her work. But this was never more evident than in her work with her classes. Stephanie insisted on excellence from her student’s and provided each of them with the support they needed to achieve this. She treated each of them with respect and dignity, and earned the same from them.

The name Ian Crocker is, in the minds of many students, families and staff, synonymous with St Albans Secondary College, and this typifies the significant presence that Ian has been in the lives of so many members of our school community. It is impossible to run into past students without them asking, ‘Is Mr Crocker still there?’. Mr Crocker completed his teaching rounds at what was St Albans High School, and gained a position as a science teacher at the school in 1977. Throughout his 41 years at the school, Ian has held a wide range of positions, notably in student management as a Year Level Coordinator, and as the first Sub School Leader in the Middle School where he has been influenced in shaping the school’s philosophy and policies in this area and, most recently as Assistant Principal, where he has championed St Albans Secondary College and government school education within and well beyond the school gates. But Ian’s contribution and legacy are much more than this; they reflect his values and belief that education is about developing the whole person, about community, about a passion for learning, and about the people. These things have been evident in his commitment to the sports program, to the Science Faculty, and to the newly formed INTERACT Club of which he is justifiably proud. But perhaps what represents everything that Ian loves about his career is, in many ways, the school camp at Strathbogie. The haven it is today, and the welcome and enjoyment it affords to our students and staff is due, in large part, to Ian’s vision, commitment and determination to create something very special for our community to enjoy. Similarly, the reinvigorated House system, now entrenched in our school culture, is Ian’s work, and a testament, again, to his vision and to what he believes much be equally valued in education.

Ian is a football coach, and he has given many great coach speeches about our school, about who we are as part of it, and about its place in the St Albans community. He has shaped the way people see us, but more importantly, how we see ourselves.

Since he was in Year 7, Loue Trianou, has only ever left St Albans Secondary College temporarily – for his university years; and even some of that time was spent as a student teacher her at his old high school. He is the epitome of a true stayer!

Loue joined the staff here in 1975 as a commerce teacher, and has subsequently taught Maths, as well. Since that time, his commitment to the school has been long term, fierce, and evident in the many varied roles he has held over the decades. Whether as Coordinator of the Activities Program or as a Year Level Coordinator, Loue’s dedication, persistence and patience in ensuring the very best opportunities and outcomes for each and every student are truly admirable. Time and again, we have seen Loue invest enormous energy and care into resolving issues for students, communicating with their families, and running extra curricular programs to engage and challenge them. He is a generous, concerned and extremely supportive teacher, leader and colleague. There was, however, one aspect of Loue’s work where his sense of collegiality was threatened: Loue is a very competitive sports person and that combative spirit was a hallmark of his participation in staff House events and the staff tennis tournaments of the 1980’s. He remains a strong champion of the House system, and continues to coach the school tennis team.

With Loue and Ian retiring we really are witnessing the end of an era at St Albans Secondary College: they are the last of the staff who joined the school in the 1970’s. They have seen such significant change in education in our school, and in our staff, and they have shepherded and guided us through this. They, and all our retiring staff, have been really important in mentoring and supporting many of us through our challenging early years as teachers and leaders, and we are so fortunate and grateful for this. On behalf of staff, students and parents, we wish Sandra, Thu, Kathy, Stephanie, Loue and Ian every happiness and all the very best of luck for their retirements. We acknowledge and congratulate them on their outstanding contributions to education, and on the wonderful impact they have each had on the lives of so many young people, and on St Albans Secondary College.

As well as farewelling our retiring staff, this year we are also saying goodbye to Scott Faulkner and Patricia Herr. Scott is taking up a teaching position at Bacchus Marsh Grammar, and Patricia is teaching Spanish at the Victorian School of Languages. Patricia has been instrumental in the growing strength of the languages program at our school, and the impetus behind our increasingly successful LOTE study tours program.