Staff Retirement – Lyn Gazal

Staff Retirement

LYN GAZAL SHARES HER INSIGHTS AS SHE PREPARES FOR HER RETIREMENT YEARS

“A school is as good as it’s teachers. I’ve been blessed as I’ve taught with some of the best in a school that pursues best practice in facilitating learning….today that is a hard gig but you have outstanding leadership and each and everyone of you are up to the present day challenges.”

In 1984 I had a job interview with the then Principal Sr Francis Baker. We talked art, food and fashion and I got the job. This was the start of a 35 year association with St Aloysius College.

I have had the privilege of working with two extraordinary female principals here at the College. At the beginning of my St Aloysius College life and at the end. Mary Farah didn’t interview me for my job as I was already part of the furniture here but rather I carried out a secret appraisal of her and I thought ‘here comes a dynamo’ and I was right. Recently I met with Mary to formally resign and she took me on a tour of the school. The place has been transformed both inside and out. Learning areas are amazing and very forward focused, thanks to Mary. Both Francis and Mary were/are visionaries and they created the conditions under which the college blossomed and I was able to flourish

My tertiary education was in Fine Arts and Education and I dabbled in education for the gifted and more recently educational neuroscience. My teaching methods were Art and English however I’ve taught in several faculties including VET & VCAL but never English. I love what I do, working in the arts and the creative technologies enabled me to facilitate students’ ability to extend their physical self through the use of tools and stretch their minds to embrace innovation and creativity. This College has fed my spirit and has energised, stimulated and provoked my engagement in a variety of ways.

In my time here I was supported when introducing new initiatives and given opportunities to grow personally and professionally. Working with the Graduate School of Education at Melbourne University and more particularly Dr Jarad Horvath was and still is my watershed. Five years of reading, listening, sharing and implementing Madena’s brain rules etc changed my thinking and enhanced my teaching. Another standout experience for me was my 2013 Italy trip. Travelling with twenty students and long time colleagues, Rina and Kim-Sue. I’ve travelled a lot (my record stands at 17 countries and 59 cities, towns and villages in 5 months) but this was one of the best adventures of my life. These twenty girls (I had taught every one of them at some stage) were a credit to the College. We educated them not just in the classroom stuff but in thoughtfulness, friendship and care for each other. I was very proud of our girls. We who teach spend more waking hours with our students than most of their parents do in a school week. We spark their curiosity, help them to explore their talents and most importantly show them what is possible when we engage with human innovation and creativity.

I will not be idle in retirement. I’m planning to travel later this year and once my new shoulder is fully functional I might try something completely left field. Watch this space!”

Lyn Gazal