Farewell to our staff

Farewell to our staff By Ian Robertson Alumni Manager

Peta Yeo

At the end of Term 2, we farewelled Peta Yeo, Head of Physical Education who retired after more than 19 years of dedicated service to Korowa. Peta joined Korowa in February 2003 as Head of Physical Education and Head of Outdoor Education and has been an inspiring leader of the PE team in developing curriculum and promoting sport and physical activity for all students. Peta has always been passionate about developing young women’s physical education skills and encouraging them to participate in sport and outdoor activities. Over the years, she has had a great impact on generations of Korovians, providing them with many co-curricular opportunities by encouraging them to participate in Physical Education and Outdoor Programs. A true leader who always led by example, Peta was loved and respected by her colleagues and always patient and generous with her time to ensure that her team members were well informed and supported. During her time as Head of Outdoor Education, she participated in many School camps including the Year 9 Trek and Urban Adventure programs. Peta loved the outdoors and always encouraged her students to embrace the opportunities that outdoor education provided in terms of developing teamwork, resilience and an appreciation of both the beauty and complexity of the natural world. Throughout her time at Korowa, Peta was a strong advocate for the health benefits to be gained by participation in physical activity and used her considerable organisational skills to ensure the smooth running of House Sport and other Carnivals. Events like House Athletics, Cross Country and Swimming bore the hallmark of Peta’s organisational capabilities and were events that not only brought together students from Years 7 to 12, but also developed House spirit. In recognition of her years of dedicated service to the School, the Korovian Club made Peta an Honorary Korovian in 2021. We wish Peta all the very best in her well-earned retirement that will give her the opportunity to spend more time with her family and friends and enjoying the things she particularly loves – cooking, reading and the great outdoors.

Robert Konoroth

Robert Konoroth joined Korowa as Director of Business at the beginning of 2016, the same time as Korowa's ninth Principal, Helen Carmody. How fortuitous this partnership proved to be as together they transformed the operations of the School, and had a shared vision for the School in terms of the physical resources required to deliver an outstanding contemporary education. Robert’s business acumen and strategic thinking combined with his passion for advancing Korowa, resulted in the most significant building developments in Korowa’s history. Amongst Robert’s many achievements were his oversight of the new Food Studies learning area, the complete redevelopment of the Junior School playground, the creation of numerous new teaching spaces in the Junior and Senior Schools and more recently, the completion of the Margaret Brumby Junior Science Laboratory and the new Ceramics Studio in the Senior School. He, along with Helen, realised how important the creation of such spaces are in the attraction and retention of both students and staff to the School. However, his most significant and long lasting contribution to Korowa was the pivotal role he played in the purchase of the property in Malvern Road as a future site for development, the first time the School has moved off the Dorrington estate since we arrived in Ranfurlie Crescent in 1914. In addition, Robert’s foresight and negotiation skills were also evident in securing Korowa’s stunning River Campus on the Yarra River that has considerably enhanced not only Korowa’s rowing program, but also offers students greater curriculum opportunities in environmental studies. The recently opened Roslyn Otzen Sports and Wellbeing Centre was the culmination of many hours of dedicated work that saw Robert work closely with Helen Carmody, the Building Committee and the Cripps Foundation, and ultimately saw the successful completion of this amazing project offering so many opportunities to the students and staff of Korowa now and into the future. Robert’s role as Company Secretary to the School Council and the Korowa Foundation was largely unseen by the wider community, but Directors both past and present appreciated Robert’s integrity, advice learnt from his many years of experience and the compassionate way in which he approached sensitive issues. Robert always placed the benefits for students at the centre of his decision making. The School’s sound finances are testament to his financial acumen. Robert’s colleagues will miss his positive and happy demeanour, his sense of humour and the care and concern that he has shown to so many over the years. We wish him every success in the future and we are grateful for his very meaningful contribution to our School.

Xenia Pappas

Xenia joined the staff of Korowa in 1999, and since that time has endeared herself to generations of Korovians, particularly for her teaching of Biology and her other passion, the work of David Attenborough! She is a highly experienced educator having begun her teaching career in 1982 and is well-recognised in the wider educational community in her field of endeavour being a contributing author of the VCE Biology texts for Nelson from the first edition, published in 1999. In the fourth edition, she was lead author for the VICscience VCE Biology Units 1 & 2, and contributing author to VICscience VCE Biology Units 3 & 4 publications. She was always willing to share her knowledge of Biology teaching and has presented at numerous webinars on the changes to the Biology Study Design. In addition to her teaching responsibilities in the Science Faculty, Xenia spent ten years as Head of Clarke House where she developed and implemented a range of personal development programs for secondary students. She led the change from a year level pastoral system to a vertical system, building connections with students and their families, following them through until the end of their secondary schooling resulting in a continuity of care and enhanced wellbeing. For some years, Xenia was a highly effective Head of Year 11 and the Gifted Education Co-ordinator, where she was able to introduce whole school activities that benefited all students, but also provided scope for acceleration for those who were more able, but often preferred to go unnoticed. Xenia’s daughter, Merelina, graduated from Korowa in 2002 and in recognition of her long and distinguished service to Korowa, Xenia was made an Honorary Korovian in 2018 by the Korovian Club. We wish Xenia all the best in her new role at the Royal Children’s Hospital as an Education Consultant, working with young people transitioning back to school after extended absences.