2017

2017 has started well, I am teaching SPE12 (11), SPE11(21) and MAT08A(22) the advanced Year 8 class. The numbers in these classes is very encouraging. I think that removing the option to study SPE11 as a Year 10 student has allowed students in Year 11 to see that double maths in Year 12 is definitely viable.

The House aths were held on the new track. It was a great spectacle but we did have issues with the throwing events and the lack of locations for the jumping events. My two helpers Camryn and Jess did a great job again with the data entry. 

One of the most amazing things happened over the Christmas holidays. Builders made the floor in the HB common room level. For years students who occupied this space had to contend with a floor that sloped toward the cloisters in order for the water that used come in through the unglazed windows to drain. 

Term 3 saw the arrival of French and Japanese exchange students. Many of them in my SPE11 class.

SPE11 + 4 Japanese Exchange students

These are my amazing 'Advanced Maths girls in Year 8'. They are all have wonderful personalities and a ton of talent in this subject. I love their enthusiasm and their willingness to tackle some new concepts. It has been a joy to teach them this year and I wish them much success in the future.

MAT08A

Usually I take terrible selfies - this is a good one!

Lucy, Sunday, Jet, Charli, Lily, Eloise, Sophie, Chanelle, Vanessa, Lauren, Olivia, Danielle and Amy (why the face?)

                                     
The photograph below is of my final 'Spesh' class. 11 incredible girls who I am sure will go on to greatness. Penny, Rachael, Lily, Imavi, Jas, Christina, Yvonne, Jess, Teresa, Emma and Farnaz. It has been a difficult year, but the girls have worked very hard to master the work. Best of luck for the exams.

My final SPE12 class

The Year 12 Valedictory was a wonderful night. Sarah Hunter-Smith was the guest speaker. She spoke beautifully. Turns out I taught Jessie Watts Dad and Finn Andersson's Mum.

Well after 40 years of teaching including 28 years at Toorak College, I have decided to retire at the end of 2017!!!! What a weird thing to say - only old people retire. I have received many wonderful messages from my present and my past students and parents. Some Hamilton Collegians returned to say their farewell to me along with Barb O'Brien. I have enjoyed my career and look forward to the next stage of my life.

2016

This year I am teaching Yr 12 Specialist Mathematics, Yr 11 Mathematical Methods and Yr 9 Advanced Mathematics. At this early stage, all of the girls have made a positive impression on me.

Kristy Kendall, the new Principal, has made a wonderful start at the school. She grew up locally and always dreamed about coming to Toorak College. She is also coaching the Aerobics Team. The girls love her. My Grandson, Cash is about to turn 2 years old and he is about to get a baby sister in April.

Mila was born on my daughter's birthday in the second week of the Term 1 holidays. It was great being up there for the event. They live on a Dairy farm near Echuca. My son's daughter Evie is beautiful, she is!

A great group of new teachers have started at the school and even Gina McIntosh has come back to teach Yr 12 Global Politics while Liana Gooch is in the Acting Deputy Principal position.

The Year 7 and 8 area looks great. Complete with Pizza Oven and Weber B-B-Que!!

The combined Athletics Track, Hockey and Soccer Field is coming on well and the school is hoping that it will be ready for the House Athletics in Term 2. (It wasn't - so we are back to Ballam Park). It appears as though the earth works are nearly finished and the new retaining walls are going up around the edge near the Gym, Chapel and Boarding House. I hope the school will be able to access the area easily. It looks a little dangerous at the moment.

Phoebe Blakey is the Head Girl ably assisted by Jaymie Moynihan as Deputy. They talked me into performing in the Prefect's Uniform Video. I am meant to be 'Osher'??? from The Batchelor. Bit of a stretch to the imagination.

The Middle School building plans have now morphed into the Centre for Innovation and Science. I am interested to see what the final decision is.

Kristy Kendall was formally inducted into the role of Principal in April. I was honoured to speak on behalf of the Senior Staff.

The Year 11 Formal was held at the Peninsula Country Club on Friday the 15th April. Great night, the girls looked beautiful and the food was excellent.

Andrew O and Greg - Photobooth

My beautiful Tute - compare the photo to 2015

Diane Furusho has commenced as the Head of the Senior School. She is a good fit to the school and she obviously loves our school.

Julie Carrington had Semester 1 off to travel and also to have a hip operation. She decided to not come back. I was privileged to give the farewell speech for Julie in the middle of the year.

The Year 12 girls have just finished at Toorak College for the year. The celebration was great fun and the assembly was held in good spirit. The Chapel service on Tuesday was the best I have been to. The speeches were wonderful and the present Prep girls gave Teddy-Bears to the Year 12s who have been here since Prep. There wasn't a dry eye in the room. I loved it when Matilda-Belle hugged her Preppy without bending down.

My Specialist girls gave me their heartfelt thanks on their final day that brought a tear to my eye. I will miss them dearly. Yana Howden was the guest speaker at the Valedictory service. She was the Head Girl when the present Year 12 girls were in Year 8.

SPE12 2016 - Joanne, Meg, Spring, Serena and Maggie

My crazy Year 9 Advanced Maths Class

My Gorgeous Hamilton Tute girls on Camp (missing Taryn L)

Karen Towers has retired. We first met at University in 1977 and started working together at Mt Eliza HS in 1978. I was asked by Karen to make her farewell speech.

2015

I am now a Tutor of Year 10 Hamilton students. The plan is for me to be their Tutor for the next 3 years. They are a great bunch of girls and I look forward to seeing how the system will work. The image of my Tutorial Group below is from the Year 10 Social that was held at the Mornington Golf Club in June. Lots of high heels and fake tan!

Bettine, Tarryn, Lily, Zoey, Amelia, Penny, Lucy, Emma, Katherine, Christina, Bridget, Imavi, Zoe, Melody

I am teaching SPE12, MAT10 and MAT09 all in LW4. Interactive Whiteboards are all the go!

Here is an image of some of my MAT10A class taken at the social:

Emma, Jessie, Ashley, Melayni, Bronte, Asia, Lily

Some enthusiastic teachers have joined the school: Andrew O, Dr Kate and Natasha V. Beyond Boundaries is now only focussed on Year 9 in 2015, Year 10 can travel overseas to  Nepal after their Semester 2 exams. They have also thrown in Murray Marathon and Mt Feathertop. The school Chapel is being renovated after a generous donation by an Old Girl (Collegian). The middle school plans are still simmering as are the plans to renovate the lower oval. Jenny Luca the Head of IT is leaving at the end of Term 2 to go another school in the city. Phil Carew has been promoted to Head of eLearning. House music was once again a wonderful celebration of the talent of the girls. I was also talked into doing a 'Rap' with the Off the Stave band by Aynsley M. It was a great experience, the first time in my life that I had performed in front of an audience. I was shaking with nerves. I cannot get over the musical talent at this school, not counting me.

Mrs Carmody announced her resignation in Term 4, she is off to Korowa College at the end of Term 1, 2016. This decision was changed when the Board appointed the new Principal who will start in Term 1. Our new leader is Mrs Kristy Kendall. Previously she was the Deputy Head of one of Haileybury's Campuses. The Board also announced that Lois Dwyer would finish up her 6 years at Toorak at the end of 2015.

The renovation of the Year 7 and 8 area has begun! I will put up a photo next year.

Here is a photo of my final SPE12 class for 2015.

Estelle, Joven, Erin, Kate, Ruby and Kassie

And finally my wonderful MAT09 class for 2015. It was a fun year.

Cass, Ash, Han, Harry, Amelia, Paris, Ruby, Sara, Persia, Jess, Phoebe, Steph, Vanessa, Kim, Donna, Fiona, Hannah (Missing Victoria)

The final piece of the 2015 puzzle is me turning, dare I say it, 60!!!! Lisa Hamilton-Smith printed off my Seniors Card and placed copies all over the staff room. So funny! I started here in 1990 as a 35 year old. What a journey.

2014

2014 was the year that my good friends Frankie and Liam Davison lost their lives on board Malaysian flight 17. Frankie was the Head of Year 8 and an exceptional teacher. Sad times that confirmed my belief that the TC community is like a family to me. I miss them very much.

I only had 3 students in my SPE12 class that year, the numbers are disappointing, but a great trio of girls they are - Renee, Molly and Maggie. Renee went on to become Dux of TC and is now studying Medicine at Melbourne Uni.

Toorak College also celebrated their 140th year as a school. We had an assembly near the Village in Mt Eliza, followed by a walk down Old Mornington Road to school led by a Navy Marching Band. Cliff Elliot buzzed the procession with his Drone. We also had a carnival complete with 'Dunking Machine' and another all school photo. Plans are in progress with developing a Middle School with its own curriculum and building. Year 10 to 12 now receive their reports only 'online'. We have a 10 day timetable with 60 minute lessons except for Thursdays when the lessons are 55 minutes long. The sad news was that a previous Deputy Principal - Kathleen Rumph had passed away, ironically on the anniversary of Christine McKay's death. Hamilton won the House Singing competition due to the hard work of Anna Durham. The Staff performance was a Michael Jackson medley, led by Alison Swift on vocals, Jenny Stevenson on Piano, Nick K on drums and Brendan on Bass. It was the first year that we organised the tutes into House groups. So I have the Year 12 Hamilton girls. It has worked well.

I work with a beautiful bunch of talented women!!

SPE12 - Maggie, Molly and Renee

My wonderful Hamilton Year 12 Tute

2013

In 2013, Helen Carmody introduced the positions of Director of Music - Jayne Turner, Director of ICT - Jenny Luca and Director of Innovation, Teaching and Learning - Liana Gooch. All school Executive positions. Along with these positions was the Head of Curriculum - Julie Carrington. She finally released her position as Head of Mathematics that she had held for many years. We now have another Business Manager - Anthony Steer. (I have lost count of the number that have worked here). The school clock tower was repaired thanks to a generous donation and a bell was purchased for the old bell tower, an iconic piece of architecture at the school. I have always loved the Valedictory at the end of the year for Year 12s. It has been in many locations: Frankston, Mornington but there is no place better than in the Gym. Its transformation is always amazing. Retirement packages were offered to staff over 55 during the year, that sees a number of staff taking early retirement - Deb Page, Roger Wiggins, Mark Richardson, Ev Kreppert and Gina McIntosh. Unfortunately our dear friend Christine McKay succumbed to pancreatic cancer on the 9th May. She will be remembered forever though, due to the annual presentation of the Christine McKay Literature Award. A fitting tribute to this lovely lady was held at TC in the Hall with many past staff and students in attendance. 

Yi Jien from Malaysia in SPE12

Hubbard Yr 12 Tute

Valedictory with Nat and Jess

2012

I again took LSL in Term 2 of this year. Rhonda and myself travelled to Egypt and Europe. We finally travelled around Spain and Portugal. We loved it and I managed a Blog while I was away that many staff and students commented on. Helen Carmody started as Principal while I was away. Andrew Williams took over the SPE12 class for me for the year. It was the first time in my teaching career that I didn't teach a Year 12 class! However, I did get to teach an amazing bunch of girls in Year 9 and 11. Hattie Kelso was in my Yr 12 Tute and as a farewell present, she gave me a very delicate Orchid. It is still alive, but only just. It is amazing how many experts there are out there when it comes to growing Orchids! Another student in my Tute was Seren Oroszvary. She was a very talented actress, I even performed on stage with her once, or should I say that I walked onto stage as a Policeman with her once, and even then, I botched it.

Abbey Rich and myself danced in the Tute Dance competition, Abbey in her wheelchair with me pushing her around.

My Tute that year. They will be pleased to know that I still drink from the cup with their faces on it and I still use the mouse pad with their faces on it, though it is starting to look a little shabby now.

2011

The Principal, Noel Thomas came back from the Term 2 holidays and announced that he had an epiphany on the cliffs of Merimbula and had decided to finish up as Principal immediately. He now works in China. The rest of the year was spent with Lois as acting Principal with a number of staff picking up extra jobs to get us through to the end of Term 1 in 2012. Notably Lee -Anne Marsh as the acting DP, she did an outstanding job. In 2011 the Beyond Boundaries trip that I attended was Thailand. We worked with the Hill Tribes in the north of the country painting and concreting. We also went on an amazing Elephant trek up into the hills and stayed overnight in a small village.

My Year 12 Tute - pretty are they not?

SPE12

Thailand Team

Dressing casual with Phil Carew, Michele Coventry and Barb O'Brien