Our Classroom Teachers

Hi Ivanhoe Primary,

Hello! I’m Stef Blake and I’m currently teaching the delightful 2B. Since doing my teaching rounds here 2021, I knew IPS was where I wanted to be. I love how kind, passionate and driven the students are. They have such a positive impact on me and inspire me every day. I landed my first teaching position here halfway through 2022 and feel very privileged to be working with the amazing year 2 team this year.

Before teaching, I worked for 7 years as a swim instructor which I absolutely loved. It was through this job that I developed much of my current teaching philosophy. Having a growth mindset is one of the most valuable learning tools a student can have. Both in the pool and in the classroom, I encourage students to believe in themselves, face challenges, persist through setbacks and celebrate their progress. I endeavour to create an inclusive, supportive, and fun learning environment built on kindness and trust. 

Aside from teaching, I have a deep affinity for music. Outside of the classroom, you can find me at gigs and music festivals, or singing up a storm in my local choir. I have also recently been learning to play the ukelele! I love travelling – especially in Australia. I was lucky enough to spend 2 months camping around Australia on my recent honeymoon. Highlights included snorkelling in the Ningaloo Reef and getting a helicopter over Uluru and Kata Tjuta!

I look forward to getting to know more you as the year progresses!

Stef

Hello! My name is Sarah Murphy and I am currently teaching the delightful 2M. 

I began my teaching journey 11 years ago in country Victoria. In 2013, I joined Ivanhoe Primary School as a Year 3 teacher and since have taught in Foundation and more recently in Year 2.

In 2019 and 2020, I was lucky enough to be able to take leave from IPS and make the move to the Northern Territory to live and teach in two different remote indigenous communities, Lajamanu and Galiwinku. I have a passion for learning about different cultures and love to share my experiences from the NT with the students I teach.  

I am grateful to have been a part of the IPS community for so long and have enjoyed watching the students grow and change throughout their primary schooling. I love the students’ enthusiasm for learning and being able to support them on their learning journey. 

As I teacher, I hope to be able to guide and empower the students to become inquisitive, resilient and independent life-long learners. Creating a learning culture where students feel confident, safe and valued at school is a priority of mine. I enjoy building strong relationships with the students and their families to support them to develop a love for learning and achieve their best. 

Outside of teaching, you will find me outside hiking or camping, playing netball, trying new cafes and jet setting overseas on another adventure. My next adventures include walking the Camino Trail in Portugal and Spain and the Milford Track in New Zealand.  

I look forward to continuing to work with the wonderful students and families at IPS.  

Hello everyone!  I’m Lauren Eley, although most of you will know me as Miss Ward 😊.  

I’m teaching the lovely 2N for the next eight weeks whilst Mrs Nedelkovski is on leave. 

 I started my teaching career in England ten years ago where I taught in various classes in both Manchester and London before making the move over to Australia. 

I have been teaching at Ivanhoe Primary for over five years where I started teaching Italian, before securing a position in grade 2.  In recent years I’ve had the amazing opportunity to work as a relief teacher where I get to visit every classroom in the school and work with so many wonderful students.  It has also been very special and rewarding to visit and to teach my previous students who have progressed in so many different ways all the way up to grade 6. 

Outside of the classroom my passion is travelling.  I’ve been lucky enough to have travelled to some wonderful places and experience a variety of cultures over the last few years including going to Cyprus, Egypt and Mexico last year on my honeymoon and just recently returning from Japan.  The next destination on my list at Christmas will of course be England with a little trip over to Iceland to hopefully see aurora borealis. (The northern lights) 

I look forward to seeing you all around school very soon. 😄

Hello IPS! 

My name is Sue Kelly and I am in my 22nd year of teaching. I have been teaching here at Ivanhoe Primary School since 2018. This year, I am teaching a year 1/2 class and I am very lucky and I get to work with both the year 1 and year 2 teaching teams. I have a wonderful class of children and we have lots of fun together. 

Prior to teaching I spent ten and a half years in the Navy and then decided to go to University to do my teaching degree. Outside of teaching I love to cook and going out for brunch on the weekends.  

I feel very fortunate to part of the Ivanhoe Primary School community.