Family Time with the Hulls

Introducing the Hull family

Mum Sarah (aka Mrs Hull), works at JPII as a Teachers Assistant in Kinder and Ludo. Lockie her youngest child is a Grade 6 student.  Sarah's daughter attended JPII too and is now in High School.  So why did the Hull family come to JPII originally, and what has their experience with the school been over the last 13 years?

Family  Allan, Sarah, Tara, and Lachlan 

Lives in Clarendon Vale 

What is your favourite way to spend time with your family?

We all love the beach and taking our 2 dogs Marley and Blue for walks and swims. We enjoy going go kart racing and become quite competitive with one another.  We also enjoy having down time together as a family at home.

Number of students attending JPII and their grades

Lockie (aka Big Jim) Grade 6. Tara attended JPII and is now currently in Grade 10 at Emmanuel Christian School.

What made JPII your school of choice for your children and family?

We began the very start of our time at JPII back when Tara attended Gumnuts (like Set Up For Success) at the age of 3, so around 13 years ago. We were drawn to the smaller nature of the school and the welcoming community, staff and children. We also liked how close it was to home and from the very first visit how welcoming everyone was.

What has your JPII experience been like for your children and family?

Both our children have grown so much during their time at JPII. The kind, caring nature of the staff plays a big part in this.  Both children feeling like they belonged and was a part of the community. Everyone knows everyone and all the staff want is the best for all the children attending JPII. The community spirit is one of a kind and everyone always has a smile on their face and is quick to pitch in and lend a helping hand when needed. 

What is your children’s favourite thing about coming to school?

Lockie – Getting to learn new things every day and the wide variety of friends I have made through all my 6 years of being at school, and of course starting the day every day with morning fitness.

Tara – The favourite things I remember is having Miss Woolley, Mrs B and Mrs Rickards as my teachers.

What is it like working at the same school your child goes to?

It makes school drop off and getting to work easy lol! Although I am usually working at the other end of the school to Lockie it’s nice to be able to see him during recess and lunch having fun with his peers. Lockie also enjoys getting to know the children I work with, kindergarten students find it quite funny when Lockie comes to say hello and I explain he is my baby and I am his mum.

I have worked across many grades during my time at JPII from Kinder to grade 4. 

Four the last couple of years I have mainly been working in kinder and Ludo with the younger children. I just love being a part of the children’s and families first steps into schooling and care. It can be very scary as a parent watching your babies set off to school, so being there to reassure families that we are going to take good care of their children, support them to feel comfortable to grow, belong and begin their learning journey.  

I truly am so lucky to love my job I get to work with some amazing colleagues, children and families. Where else can you act like a big kid all day every day, go for boat rides to find treasure, play soccer and basketball,  sing and dance like no one is watching and surrounded by smiley faces where ever you look. No two days are ever the same in my job and there is nowhere else I would rather be.

For new parents of kinder students what is your best tip you would give  to assist them in helping their child settle into kinder in the first few weeks/months?

All the staff are so caring and supportive to each and every child that walks through the front gates. We all want to make sure each student feels safe and a sense of belonging within the JPII School and community which will then give them the best opportunities to grow. Kinder students will always say we played today we didn’t learn anything, but as adults we need to remember that children learn so much in that first kinder year and a lot of it is through play and exploring. The skills they learn through play with their peers help to set them up for the years to come with their learning and growing. Drop kinder students off with confidence, knowing that they are going to be loved supported and cared for like our very own children. 

Would you recommend JPII to other families and why?

I would most definitely recommend anyone and everyone to JPII and tell them it is such a warm nurturing school with an amazing community that will support not only the children but families as well.

Any other thoughts or comments?

Anything is possible if you truly believe!