Healesville High Connections

5 Questions - Staff

This year we are very fortunate to welcome several new staff.

 

A warm welcome from the Healesville High community is extended to Andrew Di Benedetto (VET Automotive), Mark Leary (VET Automotive), Meagan Neil (Year 10 Leader, Science and Humanities), Zoe Koutkos (Media and Humanities), Chrystal Hodgson (English and Humanities), Nicole Schoch (Director of Curriculum, VCAL and Math), Erica Randall (Mental Health Practitioner), Kaylia Tierney (Tutor program), Marg Battle (VCAL and Tutor program), Samantha Holman (Tutor program).

 

Our new staff answered some questions so we can get to know them.

 

  1. If you weren’t working in a school, what would be your ideal job?
  2. What activities does a perfect Saturday contain?
  3. Camping or a five star hotel?
  4. What is your favourite holiday destination?
  5. What’s been the best thing about working at HHS so far?

Andrew Di Benedetto

  1. Working on a fishing charter boat in the Whitsunday islands
  2. Working in a couple of projects around the house then finishing the day spending time with family and friends around the fire pit sharing good food and wine
  3. Depends on the time of the year I’d say a combination of both “Glamping"
  4. About 10 years ago we discovered a small town in the Gippsland Lakes called Metung, definitely my favourite destination
  5. The warm welcome from the staff I have spoken to, and the willingness to adopt new ideas for the auto TTC.

Sam Holman

  1. Tutoring students with dyslexia
  2. A bike ride through the forest with my family
  3. Camping!
  4. The beach
  5. Seeing students I have taught in primary school

 

Meagan Neil

  1. Something creative, most likely photography
  2. Sleep in, brunch and some time outdoors, a hike in the mountains or a walk on the beach
  3. Five star hotel
  4. Thailand
  5. How welcoming, supportive and friendly everyone has been.

 

Kaylia Tierney

 

1. I would love for someone to pay me to study at university so that I could continually grow and learn new things in all areas of academia.  2. A perfect Saturday is spent eating and hanging out with friends and family. 3. 5-star hotel 

4. Anywhere in Europe, especially in summer!  

5. Everyone is so nice and friendly, making me feel very welcome! I cannot wait to see what lies ahead for me here'

 

Maddy Meyland

  1. I have always wanted to work in a school office, so that’s a tricky question. Working at a dog daycare centre could be fun.
  2. Walk my dog, cook up a big breakfast and visit a local winery with some friends for the afternoon.
  3. Camping, although if someone was giving away a five star hotel getaway I would happily use it.
  4. Relaxing somewhere along the Murray River.
  5. Everyone has been so lovely and patient with me whilst I find my feet. I’m sure everyone understands the big shoes I have to fill.

 

Erica Randall

  1. I'd like a job where I have to play with 100  wriggly puppies. Does this job exist?
  2. Having time for a slow breakfast of blueberry pancakes and good strong coffee followed by some procrastinating and self-talk on  giving  myself permission to do nothing
  3. Five star because I love a comfy bed and fluffy towels
  4. I love to travel but rarely return to a place however my favourite destination would have to be Scotland
  5. Meeting staff and students and being in the awesome wellbeing space . I'mexcited for the year ahead.

 

Zoe Koutkos

  1. My ideal job would be an historian in Europe looking at World War Two and Nazism.
  2. A perfect Saturday for me involves spending the day with my little Jack Russell. Leo is my best friend, and we are completely inseparable so we would spend our day waking up and having a cuddle before a big walk through the bush areas where he can run around and sniff his heart out. We would get some take out and spend the night watching a good film.
  3. Five-star hotel for sure. While I do love the countryside i am not a camping type of girl.
  4. My ideal destination would be Germany however since I have not been there yet my current favourite that I have visited is Vietnam .
  5. The staff support has been fantastic. There is so much open communication and no shame in asking any question even if it seems silly. I can walk into the day knowing that if something happens I have people I can turn to.

 

Chrystal Hodgson

  1. I have always wanted to be a teacher but if I wasn't doing that I would be an academic studying film and television
  2. My perfect Saturday would involve going on some kind of an adventure, like a mini road trip to the beach or a hike in the mountains.
  3. Both are really nice but I'd have to go with camping.
  4. My favourite holiday destination is Noojee, Victoria.
  5. Best thing so far has been getting to know all the staff and students.

 

Nicole Schoch

  1. I always wanted to be a driving instructor. I also wouldn’t mind being a personal assistant to someone famous.
  2. Healesville Football Netball Club finally getting to play netball and winning the game.
  3. Either.
  4. Macs Cove, Lake Eildon
  5. Everyone being welcoming. Students saying hi and helping me when I’m lost.

 

Marg Battle

  1. Taking tours of ancient sites.
  2. Great coffee and time to catch up with reading the newspaper.
  3. Possibly halfway - glamping
  4. Walking the Machu Picchu trek
  5. A genuine sense of care and support