Teaching & Learning in the Senior School

Presence

I am really proud of the teachers we have at St Gregory’s, and as I write on the day we have designated to honour the Marist characteristic of Presence, I am prompted to realise that it is this quality that I think most defines our relationships with our students. It is this quality that I see as the foundation of our sense of Family Spirit. Being present to others, just like in a family, is about showing up; physically, emotionally and spiritually. Every day I move about the College grounds, I see our teachers being present to our young men. In their classrooms, our teachers show up when they:

Have high expectations for student behaviour
Provide feedback to a student about their work
Notice when a student needs redirection
Move actively around the classroom and engage with individuals about their progress
Have a quiet chat with a student who needs a bit of extra attention
Set expectations for work quality and completion
Listen
Celebrate success

These aren’t big-ticket items in the mind of a young man looking to be entertained or amazed, but I think recent events have made us all realise just how important they are for the intellectual and emotional development of our learners. We have always valued the attribute of Presence at St Gregory’s College, and it is wonderful to see it alive and well in our classrooms every day.

Teacher Profile

This fortnight, I would like to introduce members of our community to Ms Hayley Mahoney. Hayley joined St Greg’s this term as the Agriculture Coordinator. We would have loved to have Hayley start with us from the beginning of 2020, but her dedication and commitment to her students at Chevalier College saw her staying on there for Term One in order to support them through the Show Season. Our students are fortunate to have someone with this type of integrity and passion for her role to join our community.

What are your qualifications?

I studied at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga. I have a Bachelor of Applied Science (Equine) and a Diploma of Education. I am also qualified to teach Primary Industries.

What have been some of your defining career moments?

My first teaching year was at Gunnedah High. Everything I learnt at uni went out the window and my Year 8 Science class taught me how to teach! I ran the equestrian team for the school.

This was only ever going to be a one-year teaching position, so I later took a permanent position at Picton High School. I was there for eight years. While I was there, I ran the equestrian team and I learnt all about showing livestock; alpacas, sheep, poultry and cattle. My love of livestock showing began at Picton High. I developed some great and long-lasting (to this day) community connections. While at Picton, I was nominated and became a finalist for South West Sydney region’s Vocational Education and Training “Commitment to Excellence in VET Delivery” and “VET Trainer/Teacher of the Year” awards.

From Picton, I moved to Chevalier College in the Southern Highlands. At Chev, my love for steer competitions grew and the kids and I achieved some great results at Sydney Royal, Uni Steer and South Coast Steer competitions. The last result we got was 99/100 ‘on the hook’. (An interjection here from Mrs Millar – I believe that cattle ‘on the hook’ refers to cattle prepared for beef bourguignon.)

Outside of work, I coach a netball team in the Wollondilly.

Why did you become a teacher?

I wanted to help, motivate and guide young people. I am passionate and enthusiastic about Agriculture and I wanted to inspire young people to join the industry.

What are your beliefs about the role of the teacher?

Teachers should inspire, motivate, encourage, listen and guide. When students succeed, we should celebrate with them and when they fail, we should be there to encourage them to try again.

What has been your favourite teaching success?

I don’t think I have even just a few favourites; I have hundreds! Every day there are teaching successes. They are the ones that I hold close to my heart and often go unnoticed by many. It’s wonderful to see a student who can finally handle an animal they have been afraid of, or who gets up and competes in a junior judging comp despite their fear of public speaking and anxiety, or who completes the course despite many challenges. I love seeing a student become part of the classroom family despite being very much on the “outer” at the start of the year. And I love getting a Christmas card at the end of the year from a hard-working class, with every student spelling their own name correctly!

The more public successes I have had include helping students qualify for Primary Industries work skills, having students win the Norman Lethbridge Award for commitment to agriculture, and seeing students get traineeships out of their work placement. Another student I have taught broke the drought media coverage with a poem he showed me for his English task, which helped him win the Local Young Citizen of the Year Award and the Youth Order of Australia.

What advice would you want all young people to heed?

Be kind; in a world where you can be anything, be kind. It doesn’t cost a thing!

We wish Hayley all the best as she settles in with the St Greg’s family.

Mrs Louise Millar

Director of Teaching and Learning