Farewell to Mr Ebbage

Last week, we bid a fond but very sad farewell to Assistant Principal and long term staff member Rod Ebbage, who has taken up a promotion at another school. 

Rod joined Oak Park High in 1988 as a Maths teacher, even before the merger to Box Forest Secondary College. He moved for a short time to Roxburgh College from 2003-2008, before returning here as Assistant Principal of School Improvement. 

Rod has been a stalwart of the College, widely respected by staff, students and families, and everyone at Glenroy will miss him.

I have appreciated Rod's calm manner, his wide expertise, his care for students and families, and his deep understanding of our community. Rod did so many day-to-day things that we all took for granted. He had such a canny ability to predict the information I would need before I even knew it, and I will miss his counsel dearly. 

I must also admit to feeling slightly cheated that I will never see him perform at the end of year staff function!

Rod has taken up a promotional role at Roxburgh College and we wish him all the best in the next exciting chapter of his career.

Cheers

Andrew

A message from Rod

To the Glenroy College community,

When you have been part of a community for almost 31 years, it is difficult to say goodbye. Sometimes it’s much easier to write about how you feel. Having worked at Glenroy College/Box Forest Secondary College/Oak Park High School for more than half of my life, I have been lucky enough to receive a promotion position at another school, but I leave with mixed emotions. Having been Assistant Principal for just under 15 years, I would like to give special thanks to the substantive Principals I have worked with – Paul Dingle, Anne-Maree Crivelli and Andrew Arney. They have all had the students and the college at the forefront of all their decisions and have had visions for the direction of the college. 

I would like to wish Andrew all the best for the rest of his time at Glenroy. He has been a fantastic appointment for the college and comes with vast experience and great ideas. I would also like to thank the other Assistant Principals I have worked with over the past few years – Lidia Tizian, Deanne Clarke and Jen Ames. Jen has been a great acquisition this year and Lidia has been a rock for Glenroy and Box Forest for many years. I am also grateful to all the staff I have worked with. Glenroy is an amazing place for staff supporting each other with any assistance they require as repeatedly mentioned by staff who leave the college.

I have worked with thousands of students over the years and many staff and current parents have been students whilst I was at the school. Maybe it was time to get out before I started to meet grandchildren of students I taught! These connections with the community will stay with me long after I have gone. It is so pleasing to see previous students come back and share their success stories. 

 I would like to wish current students all the best with their studies and urge them to give their best efforts at every stage. In particular, I would like to encourage the current year 12s to ensure they get the best out of themselves this year and keep opportunities open for 2024 and beyond.

Thanks to all the families I have worked with over the years. Please continue to encourage your students with their schooling, set up routines and boundaries at home and stay informed about schoolwork and school events. As Paul Dingle always said, don’t ask them if they have homework; ask them what homework they have.

Many of you may not know I grew up in Glenroy myself and it makes me think “You can take the boy out of Glenroy, but you can’t take Glenroy out of the boy”. As a result, the school will always be in my heart. I’ll miss you all.

All the best.

Rod