Life Of Our Local Principals And Heads Of Schools-Outside Of Their School Duties.
LIFE OF OUR LOCAL PRINCIPALS AND HEADS OF SCHOOLS-OUTSIDE OF THEIR SCHOOL DUTIES
Jason Man
Deputy Head Senior School – Haileybury Berwick
What do you enjoy most about working with your students?
I am privileged to have the opportunity to assist young people in negotiating the most interesting phase of their life where they are exploring a range of ideas and values to come to a true sense of self. Every day I am energised by young Haileyburians who are highly positive individuals who look forward to what the future holds.
How did you decide to become a teacher?
Like many young people today, I had a career change early in my profession. I always had an interest and enjoyment in Mathematics, so I began at Monash University where I completed a Science degree, majoring in Mathematics.
My first role was as a Research Scientist for an Aeronautical Engineering company. Although I enjoyed my time in this role I found myself drawn to working with people and teaching my colleagues about Mathematics and the techniques I was using. It became obvious that I was passionate about sharing my knowledge and so I decided to combine my passions and become a Mathematics Teacher.
I went on to complete a Diploma of Education at Melbourne University and later a Masters in Educational Management. This is where my teaching career began.
Do you have any kids?
I have two boys, one in year 4 and the other in year 1 at Haileybury Berwick. Both boys enjoy the school community and the opportunities that the Berwick campus offers
Do you have any hobbies outside of school?
I have a number of hobbies, including Basketball, Wakeboarding and enjoying the outdoors. Family is also a big part of my life and as my sons are getting older my wife and I are enjoying supporting them in their interests. I am currently a coach for an Under 8 AFL team which is a great opportunity to learn new skills outside of the classroom.
Is there anything exciting happening at your school over the next few months?
We are approaching an important part of the year for internal assessment and preparing for Examinations. Both students and staff strive for excellence daily and I welcome the community to join us in this journey through our School Tours on Saturday, 19 August and Open Morning on Thursday, 7 September. The campus is also proud to be presenting their 2017 musical, Shrek, in the John Twist Hall from the 23 – 24 August. Tickets are available via the Haileybury website.
LOCATED AT 138 HIGH ST, BERWICK VIC 3806
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL
03 9904 6007 SENIOR SCHOOL BERWICK
OR VISIT WWW.HAILEYBURY.VIC.EDU.AU
Sonny Aiono
Principle Heritage College
What do you enjoy most about working with your students?
Having fun! I especially like finding a variety of handshakes to do with the students and where I can find time – have a game of Basketball!
What inspired you to become a teacher?
Teaching is a family thing – my mum and siblings are all teachers.
Do you have any hobbies outside of school?
Yes, Church is number one! Having fun with my six children and playing sport.
Who is the chef in your household?
Ella-Rose – she is three years old!
Is there anything exciting happening at your school over the next few months?
There are always exciting things happening at Heritage College! Right now we have our year six students exploring Canberra as part of the annual camp; In Week 8 our Year 5 students journey back in time to the 1800’s at Sovereign Hills; Our Year 10’s will enjoy work experience adventures for the last two weeks of term; We have soccer, cross country excursions; Year 12’s take a week of worship and loads more in Term 3.
Do you have any kids, if so how old are they?
I have 6 children and 1 wife. The ages are: 17, 15, 11, 9, 7 and 3 years old. My wife is…..years old!
Do you ever find it difficult coming home to a household of kids, after spending all day with so many at school?
Please explain. Never! I love coming home to see a full household of children. In fact, it is almost deafening to come home to silence. My children are loads of fun – there are always a quadrillion different stories to listen to (yes..sometimes they need to take tickets and have their turn to talk but mostly it’s fine). My children are so wide spread on the age continuum that I can just sit back and chat about the NBA with my older boys, listen intently to the wonderings of my middle children, and get down on the floor to play with Paw Patrol with Ella-Rose! It’s actually quite therapeutic.
LOCATED AT 66 STARLING ROAD,
OFFICER VIC 3809
OFFICER CAMPUS
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 5943 2900 OR
VISIT WWW.HERITAGECOLLEGE.COM.AU
Dr Steven Middleton
Head of Berwick Grammar School
What do you enjoy most about working with your students?
I love coming into contact with former students and hearing about their lives. Many of them are parents now themselves and the beauty of being a teacher is to have some appreciation that you have influenced their lives in a positive way. On a day-to-day level, I love the interaction with students and getting to know them as individuals. I have found that there is nothing more rewarding in education than working closely with students, teachers and school communities to guide, nourish and nurture young people.
How did you decide to become a teacher?
I was inspired by my parents and grandparents at an early age that learning, specifically reading, would provide me with an opportunity to know and understand a world larger than the one I inhabited, in Ballarat. I was really fortunate at school to have some outstanding teachers and coaches who were able to motivate and inspire me, particularly to look beyond the horizon to attend university in Melbourne to pursue my studies. One of the real joys I have found in this career has been when students have come to me and said they want to be a teacher.
Do you have any hobbies outside of school?
My biggest hobby at the moment is probably following my girls around from sporting venue to sporting venue! Our transport schedule can be quite hectic. Although my real sporting love is AFL, I am a member of both the Hawks and GWS Giants. I still read a great deal and really enjoy film when we get the chance to go to the cinema. I love travel and adventure, having been fortunate enough to lead a number of expeditions to various locations. Several years ago, some University friends and I trekked Kokoda to celebrate some significant birthdays. We are currently in the early stages of planning a walk to Everest base camp.
Do you have any kids?
I have two young children, both daughters Skylar and Indiana. They are very active girls, along with their love of learning at school they are showing some real promise in athletic endeavours competing in swimming, gymnastics and netball. I love watching them train and compete, and I certainly appreciate the pressures of modern parenting. Parenting has probably made me realise even more so the influence that mentors can have on the lives of young people.
What do you think are the key elements of a (character) education for boys?
There is growing recognition that a pure intellectual education is not enough to equip young people, particularly boys, with the types of skills and literacies they will need to lead successful lives. My vision is to see the boys of Berwick Grammar School emerge as fine young men with the capacity to both lead others and serve others. I want to see them achieve their very best in an academic sense but I also want to see the development of compassionate, creative and caring men who conduct themselves with integrity.
LOCATED AT 80 TIVENDALE RD OFFICER, VICTORIA AUSTRALIA 3809
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 03 9703 8111 OR VISIT
WWW.STMARGARETS.VIC.EDU.AU/BERWICK-GRAMMAR-SCHOOL
Mrs Mary Fitz-gerald
Principle Mater Christ
What do you enjoy most about working with your students?
Working in secondary education with teenage girls is the most exciting of workplaces. Highs and lows, yet no two days are ever the same, ever without some joy and lots of hope! Girls respond uniquely yet enthusiastically to the many learning opportunities, experiences and challenges that we provide.
I am constantly invigorated by their enthusiasm and inspired by their individual learning achievements. Yet nothing beats the thrill of seeing students, post-school, engaged in productive career paths, contributing to society. Her realization of the gift of her all-girls education provides the strongest of rewards.
How did you decide to become a teacher?
I suspect that I was ‘born a teacher’, perhaps as eldest child, perhaps because I loved playing school, endlessly teaching with chalk on the weatherboards at home! I loved school, enjoyed university and so moved easily into a rewarding lifetime of teaching in schools.
Do you have any hobbies outside of school?
When time permits, I love to read, garden, sew and create things.
My favourite activity is to float in water and enjoy the surrounding natural environment. A rather lazy hobby methinks! Do you have any kids?
I am very fortunate in having five children who are living independently and enjoying their young adult lives.
Is there anything exciting happening at your school over the next few months?
Well, yes. Rehearsals are well underway for this year’s production of Mary Poppins in August. It will be a spectacular event. Girls from Mater Christi, boys from St Joseph’s, either as cast, crew or technical supporters, all working together to produce the show. It will indeed be supercalafragilistic! And also Year 9 students are undertaking the second round of a new DISCOVER program with activities as diverse as rock-climbing, making podcasts and making robots. The students are engaged in real world experiences, building confidence, problem solving, developing resilience and….having fun learning!
LOCATED AT 28 BAYVIEW ROAD
BELGRAVE, VICTORIA 3160
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 03 9754 6611
OR VISIT WWW.MATERCHRISTI.EDU.AU
Konnie Prades
Principle of Lyndhurst Secondary College
What do you enjoy most about working with your students?
I love the face to face contact I have with students and seeing the remarkable work they do in classes. We are lucky to have such wonderful students who are a pleasure to work with and I really enjoy getting to know each of them. I meet with our senior students on a regular basis to check in on their progress and ensure they have every support they may need.
What inspired you to become a teacher?
I believe that every student deserves to be given every opportunity to achieve successes in their life. The thing that I am most passionate about is setting an environment where this can happen at our school. Every child is someone’s son or daughter and has someone who loves them and wants to see them thrive. I am driven to honour that for our students.
Do you have any hobbies outside of school?
My favourite thing to do outside of school is spending time with my family, but I also love coaching my son’s basketball team.
Who is the chef in your household?
I do most of the cooking in our house. Do you have any kids, if so how old are they?
I have one son, Jacob, who is 15.
Is there anything exciting happening at your school over the next few months?strong>
We have lots of exciting things happening at Lyndhurst Secondary College. In the next few weeks, we have our annual Presentation Ball and our Year 12 Formal coming up, which our students are really looking forward to.
We also have some fantastic partnerships at the moment with Lynbrook Shopping Centre and Cranbourne Home to showcase some of our amazing students’ artwork in competitions that can be voted on by the public.
Later in the year, we are looking forward to celebrating R U OK Day and White Ribbon Day and also the completion of our brand new Trade Skills Centre, housing a state of the art automotive workshop.
Do you ever find it difficult coming home to a household of kids, after spending all day with so many at school? Please explain.
My nieces and nephews are often at my house, so I frequently have a household full of kids. It’s great! They all spend time with each other and it isn’t difficult at all.
LOCATED AT LYNDHURST SECONDARY COLLEGE
950 SOUTH GIPPSLAND HWY, CRANBOURNE
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 03 5996 0144 OR VISIT WWW.LYNDHURST.VIC.EDU.AU