Welcome new staff : Part 2

Joining our community 

Meet more of the new staff who are joining our community this year. We are delighted to be able to introduce you to new colleagues, who bring a diverse range of experiences with them. 

Cate Hambling

I grew up with a strong love of reading and writing as a result of having an English teacher for a mother. Consequently, I can very easily ‘nerd out’ when talking about novels. I have a Bachelor of Business, and have also studied a sub-major in English, and a Post Graduate Diploma of Education. I have been teaching English for 10 years, including VCE each year. In 2019 I volunteered in Guyana on a Teaching Fellowship working with local teachers to improve their practice. I am looking forward to new experiences at Northcote High School. I love animals and have a kitten named Chicken – she was the star of many of my classes during remote learning. I also tend to have dinosaurs dotted around my classrooms. It’s a long story, you’ll have to ask!

Simeon Latomanski

Hi, my name is Simeon. I’m excited to have been appointed as the guitar instructor at Northcote High School. I started playing the guitar when I was ten years old and never stopped. I grew up on a diet of Red Hot Chili Peppers and Jimi Hendrix but these days I find nourishment in John Coltrane and Django Reinhardt. I specialise in contemporary music and improvisation, but I love to play every style and I listen to anything I can get my ears on. 

I regularly perform in original and cover bands and have toured around Australia and overseas. The best part of playing music is having the opportunity to see parts of the country I would otherwise never get to see. Coleraine, Tumut, Humpty Doo? Yep, I didn’t know where they were either. Some of my performance highlights include the Melbourne Zoo Twilights, Palms at Crown, Moto GP and performing with Indigenous musicians in Arnhem Land.

I’m really looking forward to helping students at Northcote become curious, creative individuals and to help them find their musical voice. I have some exciting performance and ensemble ideas and can’t wait to get started.

Brendan McDonald

I have taught Commerce subjects for over twenty-five years at a range of metropolitan and rural schools. My experience includes six years as the Learning Area Leader of Commerce at Parade College in Bundoora. I enjoy teaching as it offers a unique opportunity to make a positive difference to the life of others. 

In 2020, I completed a Master of Education (Leading Learning) as well as a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. This commitment to study reflects my belief in the importance of lifelong learning and the need to continually develop pedagogical approaches. 

I have a strong sense of social justice and volunteered at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre during the first half of 2020. I believe in equity of opportunity and the benefits offered by being genuinely inclusive of others and respecting diversity. 

I enjoy live music, in particular Melbourne’s independent music scene, reading novels and watching the Richmond Football Club form a dynasty. Much of my spare time is spent at Phillip Island where my wife and I are renovating a house. 

I am looking forward to the opportunity to work at Northcote High School and to discover how the school helps students to discover their passions. 

Kodie Nielsen

I am a graduate Secondary Teacher specializing in the method areas of Mathematics and Information Technology. While I only recently graduated from my teaching studies, I previously completed a Bachelor of Science in Tasmania. Growing up in Tasmania, I made the move to Melbourne in 2016 with my now fiancé. Since our move we have found ourselves residing in the north-eastern suburbs and have become enamoured with the community. 

While studying I completed various placements including an overseas scholarship program where I taught in Malaysia for a month, and an amazing placement at NHS which drove me to apply for the graduate position.

In addition to studying my teaching and science degrees, I have spent over a decade working in hospitality. I have always enjoyed this work, be it in a bar, café, or restaurant. Engaging with and getting to know my local community has always been a passion of mine.

I am both excited and nervous to take this next step in my life, but I cannot think of a better place than NHS. I know I have a lot to learn but am sure that there will be plenty of support and knowledgeable teachers to learn from. I am most looking forward to engaging with extracurricular activities and exposing myself to aspects of school life pre-service teachers rarely get to see/experience.

Louisa Renard

Hi, I’m Lou. I am returning to work after a year of family leave. Prior to that I worked as the Careers and Pathways Administrator at East Doncaster Secondary College and really enjoyed working in the school Careers space. 

I am also a Media and Drama teacher. I completed my Master of Teaching at the University of Melbourne in 2016. Prior to that I worked in the Film industry for several years - particularly working on Bollywood films in Australia and the United States. I also worked at the Department of Education for 2 years, where I had the pleasure of working with Northcote High School staff within the International Student Program.

I am looking forward to returning to the world of work (especially after spending lockdown in a small house with two preschoolers!), and to working at Northcote High School after hearing great things about it for so many years.