S TA F F P R O F I L E S
Mrs Gina Peele
Mrs Gina Peele Director of Student Programs Year 12 Dean Indigenous Program Coordinator Senior School Teacher Whilst training for the 2000 Sydney Olympics as part of the Australian Rowing Team, Mrs Gina Peele was offered a position at St Catherine’s as Junior Coordinator of Rowing. This position has led to 15 years of teaching at St Catherine’s across a wide range of subjects. Now the Director of Student Programs, Dean of Year 12 and Indigenous Program Coordinator, Gina’s passion for teaching as well as her background in elite sport provides students with a positive female role model well versed in time management, goal setting and reaching individual potential. Discussing her pathway to the Olympics Gina explains she only commenced Rowing at Club level when she was 18. “At the age of 18 I took up Rowing which quickly led to eight years of representing Australia at six World Championships and the 1996 and 2000 Olympics.” Living away from home during her time at the Australian Institute of Sport, as well as daily travel from her family’s farm in regional Victoria to school in Melbourne each day, provides Gina great insight into many of the challenges girls face when balancing academic and co-curricular programs. “A large part of my role is providing pastoral care to our students. A strong focus is ensuring the girls are making time for balance during Year 12 including exercise, healthy eating and a social life in addition to their academic load,” says Gina. “I really enjoy working with young people and seeing them achieve their goals. I also find working in the wellbeing area supporting students in a variety of ways such a rewarding aspect of my job.”
Ms Kristina Schrader
MISS Kristina Schrader ELC 4YO Program Teacher “In the St Catherine’s School Early Learning Centre, a ‘typical day’ does not quite exist. Each day is as unique as the children who I have the privilege of collaborating with,” explains ELC Wattle Room teacher, Miss Kristina Schrader. “Every new day sees fresh inquiries and wonderings emerge. I never know exactly where the day may lead, which is an incredibly exciting aspect of engaging and learning with children!” Kristina first decided to become a teacher whilst living in London collaborating with four to eight-year-old children in performing arts workshops. “I took a real shine to working with very young children, their enthusiasm is so palpable and their imagination and laughter contagious, I discovered how special it was to play a part and share in each of their individual journeys.” Following time working abroad, Kristina arrived in Melbourne four years ago and has dedicated her career to providing a positive and stimulating environment where children and adults can explore learning together. “To engage in companionable learning and to celebrate growth alongside inspirational professionals, children and their families, all of whom contribute with such heart and generosity to our collective experience, is an immeasurable joy,” she says. Kristina’s other life passion is performing arts which she interlaces throughout her classroom with a focus on music and movement as a tool for learning. “I have grown up acting, singing and dancing I love how movement promotes vitality and unique expression and it is something I encourage in our Wattle Room everyday,” Kristina says.
Mr Tim Collins
Mr Tim Collins Deputy Head of Music When you hear St Catherine’s Deputy Head of Music, Mr Tim Collins discuss Music and teaching you appreciate the true passion he has for both and the joy he receives from sharing this with his students. “The most rewarding aspect of my job is I get to work with beautiful works of art every day. I feel privileged to be able to share incredible experiences with young people and to have such a powerful and positive impact on them. “The most sublime moments in my life have been when conducting a performance and reaching the moment in a piece we have been working on for months and 40 dedicated and skilled musicians unite to produce the effect we have been striving for, and we all realise it at the same time. All 41 of us have shared in a single, overwhelming success,” says Tim. Commencing at St Catherine’s six years ago, Tim describes climbing the stairs of our Music Department for the first time and hearing a student practising a Mozart Aria, “it was then I knew I was working in the right place.” Teaching however was not Tim’s initial career path, originally studying Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics in VCE and Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering at Monash University. “My Dad always loved music but he was a scientist so I followed his path. Whilst at school and university I continued to study Music and play in bands. I spent every weekend practising and composing, however it was many years before I followed my true calling. It was the perfect case of convincing my family, friends and myself that this was a noble pursuit. Music teaching is the synergy for so many of my passions – psychology, technology and the capacity for humans to achieve extraordinary things,” says Tim.
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