Departing Staff

Departing Staff/Farewells - Personal Messages

Miss Cayleigh Abel 

Hello wonderful SMPS community,

I have had the most amazing 2 years at South Melbourne and have been very privileged to work with the best children and most supportive families. I can’t think of a better place to have started my teaching career. 

I am sad to announce that I am leaving SMPS at the end of the year as I am relocating to Alice Springs (Mparntwe) in the Northern Territory. Alice Springs is halfway between Darwin and Adelaide, it is in the centre of Australia where it is dry and hot - I might start to miss the Melbourne rain! I will be working at a local school called Bradshaw Primary School where 40% of students identify as Indigenous. I am so excited by this opportunity as I am passionate about integrating First Nations perspectives into schools and classrooms. I will be working alongside wonderful indigenous educators, and I am extremely excited to grow and develop as a teacher. 

I have a lot of appreciation for the parents that I have worked with over the past 2 years, you have shown flexibility and kindness through a crazy 2 years of schooling, and I felt very supported. As a graduate teacher, I have also felt incredibly supported by our amazing school leadership and staff. The culture at this school is truly outstanding. I will miss the friendliness, care and generosity that is shown by all staff members daily. 

Thank you SMPS families for showing me what a real school community should look and feel like. I will miss you all a lot and I hope to visit soon!

Miss Cayleigh

Mr Cam Smith

Farewell SMPS community! 

It has been a blast! It has been a pleasure to serve you since the school opened in 2018.

The SMPS community is simply the best! 

I have been offered an incredible opportunity to take on the role of Head of Junior School at Apollo Bay P-12 College. So I’ll be packing my bags and my cat Popcorn will be packing his fluffy toys as we head down the coast. 

I will always have wonderful memories of SMPS and will always remember the school fondly. Thank you to all who have supported my journey at SMPS – it is greatly appreciated. I wish everyone all the best in 2022 and beyond. 

Cam Smith

Miss Kate Holden

Hi families of SMPS,

After eight years away, the Land of the Long White Cloud (Aotearoa/New Zealand) is calling my partner and I back home to be closer to family and embrace a slower pace of life. Whilst I am still navigating my career path, South Melbourne Primary School has influenced me to continue seeking roles that support young people with additional needs and furthering my knowledge and skill set to not only help students be independent and thrive but look at how the surrounding environment can be more inclusive and adaptive to individual needs. 

Throughout my time at SMPS, I have greatly admired the strength of our community and the values that are upheld. Working here has instilled in me that we are lifelong learners and although I am sad to be leaving, I look forward to the challenge of consolidating my learning in a new setting. 

My highlights have been running the dance groups, choreographing for the production and of course working alongside the amazing staff and students. I will miss the school immensely and will definitely be keeping in touch so I don’t miss out on celebrating the many achievements of our students and community.  Thank you all for making my time here incredibly special. 

Miss Kate

Miss Carmen Dennis

To the wonderful families of SMPS,

It’s been such a delightful couple of years at South Melbourne Primary and I’ve been utterly spoilt to have taught at a school with the most wonderful students and supportive families.

Over these past couple of years, I have developed a deep appreciation in the way SMPS embraces and celebrates the many cultures and nationalities at our school, it has felt like home. I have enjoyed every moment learning alongside your children but also humbled in the way SMPS families have always demonstrated kindness, care and support to our staff, particularly these past two years. 

However, the time has sadly come to say good bye to the wonderful SMPS community and pursue some new opportunities closer to home. Next year I will be joining the lovely staff and Grade One team at Footscray West Primary School. This school will be a lot closer to home and a suburb close to my heart, as Footscray is where I grew up as a girl. 

I want to take this time in thanking the SMPS community for all their care and kindness that I received from the moment I begun at SMPS. I also wouldn’t be able to leave this school with such fond memories without the daily support and guidance of our amazing leadership team and the positive school culture that surrounded me.  

I will miss each one of you but also thankful for my short time at the school. I wish you all the very best and hope you have a well-deserved holiday.

This isn’t goodbye but more of a ‘see you later’ as I hope to one day to see all the wonderful things your children and SMPS will do in the future. 

Miss Carmen

Miss Kate Alcock

As many already know, I am making the move back up to sunny Queensland. Having moved to Melbourne 2 years ago, it has been a very interesting time for me (as it has been for all of us). While challenging, these last 2 years have been made all the better by the community at South Melbourne Primary School. This school really has been the highlight of my 2020 and 2021. 

Mr Noel often says that we have the best kids in the universe. I would go as far to say that we have the best families in the universe and the best staff in the universe, too. I feel so fortunate to have been a part of the SMPS community for the last 2 years, and it was a privilege to teach the Grade 3/4 children. Thank you so much for making me feel so welcome, valued, and special. All the best for 2022! 

Miss Kate

Mr Ross MacDonald

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at SMPS and it has been a pleasure to be a part of such a kind and caring community. I am heading to Chelsea Heights Primary School which is much closer to home. I wanted to say thank you to all of the wonderful supportive parents and colleagues that have been a part of my time at South Melbourne. I have been so fortunate to have taught 34B this year, they have grown up so much and are all amazing students. I have enjoyed coming into work every day and will miss everyone so dearly! 

Mr Ross

Miss Maddie Gort

What a great place SMPS is to start a career. I have a calling for Auslan which is the language of the deaf community in Australia. This calling has me taking an opportunity at Docklands PS which has Auslan as their Language Other Than English. I want to thank the students, staff and community for their welcoming hearts. I wish you all the best and hope to get to see you again in the future.

Miss Maddie

Miss Bec Newman

Hello SMPS community, 

I have had such a fantastic time being part of the SMPS family this year. The staff, students and families have been so friendly, and I can’t think of a better school community to be a part of! 

I have especially enjoyed teaching the wonderful Grade Ones in Term 4. The students have worked so hard in a challenging year, and should be so proud of their achievements!

I will be leaving the school next year to work in other local schools, however you may still see me around the school next year helping out as a CRT.  

I hope to see you all soon! 

Miss Bec 

Ms Emma Keliher

Thank you to everyone at South Melbourne Primary School for making me feel so welcome from the moment I started here. It has been a joy to come to school every day to work with passionate, professional educators and such polite, friendly and keen students. 

I consider myself very fortunate to have been able to play a part in the development of students’ literacy skills at SMPS. It has been wonderful to see students not only become better readers and writers, but also more confident learners! Also, a big thank you to the wonderful parents and carers who supported the students during remote learning to attend their intervention sessions! I will miss you all next year, but I won’t be far away – I am starting a new journey as an English, Humanities and Drama teacher at Port Melbourne Secondary College. I might see you there! 

Miss Emma