S TA F F S P OT L I G H T
Alexandra Fegan curiosity, wonder and capabilities inspire me every day.” While studying her Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies, Alexandra represented Victoria at the U/21 National Netball Championships in 1992. She was then chosen in the Australian U/21 Squad and was one of 14 athletes selected for a netball scholarship to the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in 1993.
Alexandra Fegan assumes many roles during a day at St Michael’s. She is the Director of Margaret Thomas House (MTH), a teacher, our First Team Netball Coach, and a parent. “I've always had an affinity for working with young children. Their potential,
“Being at the AIS was one of the absolute highlights of my life. It taught me about perseverance, belonging to a team, aspiring to reach my full potential, and knowing that you are a part of something bigger.” After graduating from university, Alexandra commenced her career in Early Childhood. “I was very fortunate to begin my career in a wonderfully diverse childcare centre.
The three years I spent there gave me a great foundation on which to build my career in Early Childhood Education.” Alexandra’s career progressed quickly, and since arriving at St Michael’s in 2006, she has seen Margaret Thomas House double in size, taught many 3 Year Old and 4 Year Old Kindergarten groups, acted as MTH Coordinator, and in 2021, moved into the new role of Director of Margaret Thomas House. In 2016 Alexandra's son Charlie (3E) joined the St Michael's community. We thank Alexandra for her contributions as a leader, teacher, coach and parent. “As St Michael’s supports the children to follow their strengths and interests, they also support the staff. I am grateful for the diverse opportunities the School has given me, in terms of pursuing my passion for early childhood education, my sport, and in developing my leadership skills.”
Luke Matthews Luke Matthews graduated from St Michael’s in 1993, and in 2000, he returned to the School on placement for his teaching studies. During that year he co-directed the Middle School play The Secret Garden with Mrs Isabelle Mangeot-Hewison, and in 2001, he came back to direct The Witches. In 2018, Luke returned to St Michael's to teach English in the Senior School. Since then, Luke has grown his teaching profession around Drama, Theatre Studies and English, and has always maintained a strong connection with St Michael’s. Over his career, Luke has taught Drama and Literature at the Australian National University, became the Leading Teacher for the Performing Arts across three campuses of a newly formed state school in Melbourne’s north, studied a Masters of English and Theatre Studies, written for Oxford University Press secondary humanities textbooks, and in 2020, won the University of 8
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The Crest Issue 5 2021
Melbourne’s Percival Serle Prize for his research thesis into the work of German theatre director and composer Heiner Goebbels. Despite this incredible list of achievements, Luke continues to push himself to try to learn something new every day. “I think it is always important to have something one is doing that involves developing a new skill. It’s important to try to keep rounding oneself out and to always put oneself well outside of a comfortable position of mastery. Last year I learned to ride a motorcycle and took some piano lessons with my daughter; this year I am trying to do five minutes a day of German.” Luke sees teaching as a privilege, to work with young people who are “just wonderful and clever and can be so insightful”. For Luke, teaching at St Michael’s is particularly sweet. “There is something wonderful about returning to teach at a school you attended – it kind of ties the threads of
your life together. Working with teachers who inspired me as a student has been a gift. I think that the staff at St Michael’s are just so skilled and a fantastic group of people. The School’s Performing Arts tradition has remained strong. And I love the inclusivity and intelligence of the student body.”
