This year I will be retiring from teaching and leaving my role as the principal at St John’s. 

I have been teaching now for 38 years and am so very blessed to have had a wonderful career working with young people and wonderful staff.

I studied Science at the University of NSW and still have a great passion for the sciences. They never ceased to surprise me and Biology, Ecology, Geology, Chemistry and Physics have helped me deeply understand the natural and physical world and experience the awe of God’s creation at such a practical level.

I began teaching in Kogarah in Sydney and moved to the Shoalhaven in 1992. I can’t believe how lucky we were to have been able to raise our family in this beautiful place.

I started at St John’s in 1997 as a Science teacher and have since moved through a number of leadership roles including Science Coordinator, Curriculum Coordinator, Assistant Principal and then as Principal 8 years ago.

In each of these roles I have learnt so much and truly valued the people who have mentored and worked beside me. I love working with a team of people and that is what we do so well at St John’s. 

I have so many memories from fun in Science classes and the fulfillment of watching students learn and seeing the facilities such as the labs improve so much with building programs.

I loved getting involved in sport and used to go each year to triathlon, basketball and netball. But netball was my specialty and I had the privilege of coaching a  team that won the State Open Netball Championship .None of the girls played at state level. In typical St John’s fashion it was a champion team rather than a team of champions.

Over the years I have been involved in many building projects however one of these stands out well above the rest. 

Our task was to build a mud brick chapel and my task was simple. Work with a team of about 20 students to squish mud between our toes until it is soft and pliable and then scoop handfuls of it up and put them in the molds for bricks. We had a fantastic day playing in the mud and at the end of the process we pressed our hands into those bricks, such a nice thought that our handprints will always be there.

This same chapel features highly in my memories. It is the location of special prayers and liturgies but also the place where we gathered when we lost a member of our school community.

During these sad times we were gifted with the support of each other and a community that shared a strong faith. To me this is what a true Catholic school can offer and I am so proud that St John’s is that school community.

As a Catholic school it has been a joy to work in a faith based community and one in which everyone was supported to learn about and live their faith and spirituality. Our values have underpinned all that we do and to see our young people engaging in a lived experience of not only engaging in prayer and liturgies but putting their beliefs into actions such as social justice.

So what have I loved here at St John’s?

I have loved:

• School events such as Foundation days, school musicals and productions, showcase nights
• School Camps 
• The community nature of the school 
• Liaising and working with parents and carers who so willingly give their time and support
• School reflection days, retreats and staff spirituality days
• Sports trips with the students
• Excursions and field studies
• Learning about Aboriginal culture and the learning I have had from Aunty Chris.
• Our immersion trips to the Northern Territory and Timor. 

I love seeing students learn. I love to see students graduate, hearing the stories about past students, especially if they are happy in their career. 

And I still love Teaching!! Over these 26 years I have had the privilege of working with the most amazing people. I love to teach and to work each day with young people and to help them  realise their hopes and dreams. It is the absolute best job in the world. 

Despite the fact that I was often challenged, having to often make very difficult decisions, I never once didn’t want to go to work.

I have worked with so many people who share my passion for education. They always want the best for our young people and work together for that goal. I have loved the authenticity and honesty of this work place. 

St John’s provided for my children the best high school experience that we could have wished for and it has been my passion to extend that to young people of the Shoalhaven. 

St John’s is a great school. It is a school where young people can learn to a high level in a peaceful and caring Catholic community.

And so from here: there are some very special people whom I have in my life that I so wish I had more time for. And now I will have that time.

I have been so very blessed to have worked in this school community with so many amazing people and am very excited about my next step.

I will miss the people at St John’s so very much.