18 Dec 2020
Dear HSPA families
I am writing to thank you for the crucial role you played in the school’s success in meeting the challenges presented this year. Your help in keeping your children engaged, particularly in the period of online learning, and understanding of the frequent adjustments needed to be made to our curricula and extracurricular programs is deeply appreciated.
Your encouragement and acknowledgement of our hard working teachers and ancillary staff really lifted spirits.
We wish you all the best for a restful holiday season and hope you have the opportunity to recharge.
We have some staff changes for the new year.
Michelle Maher, HT PD/H/PE, has accepted a position for 2021 at Callaghan, Waratah, as Deputy Principal. Michelle has made an enormous contribution across the school over twenty years at HSPA, within and beyond her faculty. She has built a hugely successful student leadership program, and many of you will know the qualities of our student leaders.
Michelle will be missed enormously by students and staff, and we wish her all the best at Callaghan.
Michelle will be replaced by Clemma Mansfield as Head Teacher PD/H/PE, who is an experienced Head Teacher from Singleton High School. Michelle’s Leadership coordination position will be filled by Lara Wilkinson, from our English faculty. Lara is very excited about working with our leadership team.
Ravenna Gregory, HT Dram/Visual Arts, has had her expertise recognised by the Arts Unit, and has accepted a position with them for 2021. Ravenna has been a wonderful Head Teacher and has added significant quality and finesse to the work of our drama students. Ravenna’s replacement is still being organised and we will publicise this at the start of the new school year.
Melanie Walker, our librarian, has accepted a position at a brand new school where she has a chance to build a library literally from the ground up. Melanie has been an extremely effective librarian and has done wonders for student engagement with the library through initiatives such as Book Week and ‘Write a Book in a Day’. She will be sadly missed. Robyn Lynch will replace Melanie at the start of the year until the position is filled.
Bob Prisk, from the English faculty, is retiring. Bob has been at HSPA for 21 years and will be greatly missed by staff and students. Bob is known for his kindness, his calmness and his subject expertise. These qualities are reflected in his classroom. We thank Bob on behalf of the thousands of students he has taught during his time at HSPA and wish him all the best for a happy retirement.
Our Music Faculty is farewelling two teachers; Glenys Rae and Megan Bennett. Glenys has accepted a position based in Alice Springs and is working with indigenous communities on a choral program. Glenys will be wonderful in this position, where she will make a real difference. We know how much she will be missed here though. All the best to Glenys in this adventure. Megan’s husband has accepted a position in England, and so Megan will be living there from February. We thank her for her wonderful contribution this year and wish her all the best with the move.
Glenys is being replaced by Chris Danvers, and Megan is being replaced by Emily Smallwood.
Bri Hodgson, a much loved PE teacher, has been offered a permanent position at Melville High, and has accepted the position. Her replacement is currently being organised. She too will be missed by our students and staff and we wish her all the best.
Wishing you all the best again for a safe and happy holiday season.
Warm regards
Jo Gray