Associate Principal, Operations Report

Staffing

At the end of this year, we will farewell several members of staff, each of whom has contributed significantly to the welfare of our students and to the fortunes of The College.  Several of these have been previously advised:

Mrs Jen Hutton leaves after nineteen years’ service as Director of Community Relations and Marketing.  In this role, she has been a strong contributor to the School Executive.  Jen has been responsible for publications and, this week, sent her final “Collandrian” to the printers!  She has overseen the revamping of the prospectus and our advertising.  In addition, Jen was responsible for a number of very successful fund-raising campaigns related to building projects.

Mrs Jane Bromley, our Head of Mathematics for the past twelve years and teacher of VCE Further Mathematics and Mathematical Methods, also departs at the end of the year.  Jane has been a Learmonth mentor, a basketball manager and the person responsible for the use of data in terms of plotting student progress.  She has also been a member of the College Executive, offering wise advise on many occasions.

Mr Alex Smith, our Director of Boarding, will move to city life next year.  Alex and Amy have just welcomed their third child to their family and he has completed nearly three years at Myrniong, this role also being an Executive position.  Alex has been an enthusiastic proponent of boarding, has taught Physical Education and he has coached (and played) basketball.

Mr Phil Sanders will leave after ten and a half years.  Phil has been primarily a teacher of Physical Education, but he has also taught Mathematics, Well-Being and Outdoor Education.  Last year, he most successfully taught the Year 12 PE class and, in previous years, he was Deputy Head of Middle Years.  He has been a committed and highly-regarded Berry House mentor and an effective and dedicated coach (and for a time Head of) Cricket.  

Mr Ian Clare is another who will not be with us next year.  Ian has taught Accounting, Business Studies and some Information Technology in his nine years here.  He has been a mentor in Berry House, looked after basketball teams and has ensured that sound and light for School assemblies has been set up properly, in this role working closely with students.

In addition, Mrs Joy Craig, who has worked in our Careers Department in recent years after a distinguished career as an English teacher and valued colleague, will retire from that role at the end of this year.

We are now able to confirm new staff for 2019:

Mr Andrew Monk joins us as Director of Boarding.  Andrew has most recently been at Monivae as Director of Students and he has been involved in boarding houses and schools across three states.  With his background, his commitment to Positive Education, and his strong desire to “get back into boarding,” Andrew and his family should quickly settle into life at Myrniong and he will be involved in teaching several Physical Education classes at Chaucer Street.

Mrs Kate Couchman has been appointed to a part-time position as a teacher of English.  Kate has taught locally and filled in very successfully as a relief teacher at the Senior School earlier this year.  In addition, we are delighted that her interests, qualifications and experience with Brophy Family Services will allow her to take on the role of School Counsellor in 2019.

Mr Ramesh Naidoo has accepted a position as a teacher of Mathematics.  Ramesh has extensive teaching experience at International Schools in Singapore and he has recently been teaching at King’s College in Warrnambool.  He has coached soccer teams in the past so we may see him at Pedrina Park in 2019!

Mr Richard Thatcher has accepted a part-time appointment for 2019 to teach our Year 12 Accounting students.  Richard is an experienced teacher in the local district.

Ms Patricia See, an Old Collegian, will join the Junior school staff on a part-time basis and work with Mrs Penni Callinan to teach Year 2 students.  Patricia will also contribute to the boarding community as a resident staff member in the new section of the girls’ house.

Mr James Leversha has commenced as the Kantor MPAC Operations Manager. James comes to us from the Department of Education and Training where he was an IT Technician and he also has vast experience in event management, sound and lighting.

Other appointments for 2019 have been made:

Mrs Deb Davis becomes Head of Mathematics and we look forward to her continuing contribution to the Mathematics Department and to Mathematics classes.

Mr Nick Palmer becomes Head of Speirs House and will reside, with his family, at Myrniong.  He continues as teacher of Year 6.

Mrs Alana Brown and Mrs Ashlyn Hiscock, who have worked with Mrs Hutton this year, fully take over the Public Relations roles as Director of Marketing and Director of Communications respectively.  Alana and Ashlyn will each be at school for three days a week.

Mrs Louise Patterson will be responsible for all Junior School Physical Education and for the Junior School Sports programme.

Neil MacLean