Acting Principal's Report

Dear Westall SC families and friends. 

Welcome to our first newsletter of 2022!

My name is Marcelle van Maanen and I am filling in as Principal at WSC for Tristan Lanarus for the first 6 months of this year. I am privileged to be able to undertake this role within your learning community as I am very passionate about making educational opportunities for children of all ages, relevant and meaningful.

I have enjoyed the first few weeks here at WSC during which time I have been busy getting to know the staff and meeting many of our students.  So, a little bit about my background. 

When I left school, it was in the good old days when you could go to university and study for free. As one of eight children of migrant parents, I, along with my 5 brothers and 2 sisters were all encouraged to go to university and study to get ahead. I completed a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Linguistics and Sociology in Monash University and then proceeded to work in jobs that didn’t require that qualification at all. I had many jobs. I worked as an instructor for ‘Life Be in It’ for many years, I worked for car sales companies, HR recruitment companies, I did Public Relations for Coca Cola and owner/operated 2 retail menswear stores with my husband long before I had any thoughts of becoming at teacher. But in 2001 I decided to return to university to get my teaching degree. 

After completing my DipEd at Monash Faculty of Education I began my teaching career in 2003 as the Year 7 Co-ordinator and English/Humanities teacher at Hawthorn Secondary College. I moved the next year to be closer to home and took a position as Year 8-11 maths teacher at Mordialloc College. 

Maths is generally not my thing! At least that’s what I thought as a teenager when none of it made sense to me. I was pleased and somewhat slightly taken aback to find that as an adult I really liked solving mathematical problems and that I was even quite good at it. 

But what struck me most in that year of teaching was how much my students were still afraid of learning maths. So many of the students I taught math would start by saying that they were ‘no good at it.’ They not only had very negative math mindsets, but also had a poor opinion of themselves as learners.

This experience inspired me to want to show kids that they can all be great learners and successful at school. I always want to understand how children learn best, I want to support them to build their learner confidence and ultimately, I want to work with teachers to develop learning programs that would make students active partners in their learning. 

As a result, in the years between then and now, I have been a Director of Studies, Leading Teacher of Pedagogy and Learning, a Senior Project Officer for the Education Department in the Innovation and Next Practice Division, a secondary school Assistant Principal for 5 years and a Primary Principal for 8 years.  This is the experience and the expertise I bring with me to WSC where you have excellent learning programs being developed and implemented and wonderful staff dedicated to your child’s success. 

Success at school is made even more special if parents partner us and support the school's initiatives. One way of doing this is by joining the School Council. Nominations for school council will open on Wednesday, February 23 and close on Wednesday March 9. Detailed information about school council membership and the process will be sent to home to families via compass tomorrow. If you would like any further information or you have some questions about supporting the school by being on school council, please don’t hesitate to email me care of: westall.sc@education.vic.gov.au 

Warm regards, 

Ms Marcelle van Maanen

Acting Principal