From the Principal
National Excellence in Teaching Awards
Welcome to new and continuing families on your return for the second term of 2023. I trust our students are feeling well rested and ready to engage with the academic curriculum throughout the next nine weeks.
Throughout my teaching career, I have met many people who have told me about a great teacher from their school days - a teacher who has influenced the course of his or her life in important ways. Great teachers are encouraged by the opportunity to help a student’s academic growth, support through a disappointment, redirect a child back on the right path and help a student develop resilience and perseverance. Great teachers know how to reach and motivate their students, while displaying a really keen enthusiasm for the subjects they teach. They seek to stay current through professional learning and model integrity in their daily interactions with students and colleagues.
The ASG National Excellence in Teaching Awards (NEiTA) provide school communities with the opportunity to encourage, recognise, honour and reward their dedicated, talented, innovative and inspiring teachers whose efforts often go unrecognised.
Members of the Somerville House community are invited to nominate an educator for the National Excellence in Teaching Awards. Nominations can be made online by parents, guardians, community and school organisations at 2023 National Excellence in Teaching Awards (awardsplatform.com)
Thank you for considering nominating a member of our teaching staff.
Welcome New Staff
Students and staff are very happy to welcome returning teacher, Ms Bernie Cecchi (Mathematics and Science), and we welcome back Ms Tanya Kelly after leave in Term 1.
We are also pleased to welcome two new teachers on contract for Term 2, Mrs Kate Grayson – teacher of English, maternity leave contract and Mr Gary Green – teacher of Music, long service leave contract.
We welcome two Language Assistants to assist in the Language Department, Ms Manaka Sugisaki (Japanese) and Ms Wendy Tang (Chinese).
The following staff members join the Corporate Staff and we extend them a warm welcome:
Ms Tracy Jackman Admissions and Communications Officer
Ms Lesley Arancibia Compliance Administrator
Mr Tom Sedgwick Junior School Teacher Aide
Ms Enock Chiama SomerFare Catering Assistant
Our Dean of Student Wellbeing, Mrs Julie Brunckhorst, is looking forward to travel plans for her long service leave throughout Term 3. In her absence, Ms Wendy Lauman, has been appointed to this role in Term 3, sharing her extensive experience having previously held the Dean of Students’ position at St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School. Ms Lauman is a retired School Principal and is returning to education after a six month career break. Ms Lauman joins Somerville House with a Master’s degree in counselling and organisational behaviour, in addition to her teaching background in Drama and English.
Mrs Kim Kiepe
Principal