CIARAN EDWARDS
NICHOLAS AMATO
JONATHAN GASPARINATOS
MATHEMATICS TEACHER
JUNIOR SCHOOL TEACHER
PDHPE TEACHER
The inspiring and committed teachers I was lucky enough to encounter during my own time at high school have had a significant and lasting impact on my life. From influencing the way I approach problem-solving to encouraging me to pursue whatever aspirations I may have, the positive effects of my high school mentors cannot be understated.
After completing a Bachelor of Arts at Monash University, I spent some time coaching various sports, both at local clubs and at my old school, Melbourne Grammar. Working with children to develop their skills and attitudes became a passion of mine and I wanted to have a greater positive influence in their lives. This led to me undertaking the Master of Teaching (Primary) degree course at the University of Melbourne.
Everyone should love what they do and this is especially true for teaching, which I believe to be the best job in the world. Every day I am given the opportunity to shape the hearts and minds of my students. I believe in the intrinsic and inherent worth of every student and I believe this is where the best teaching begins. Creating relational and pastoral classrooms where students are safe to be themselves, feel valued and feel they matter is something I will always strive to do.
By tutoring HSC students after I left school, I discovered I found teaching others immensely rewarding and this led me to become a teacher myself. Music and Mathematics being the two disciplines in which I have found the greatest joy, I began a combined Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Science with a Mathematics major at the Australian National University. I completed the science degree before moving to the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where I graduated in Music (Performance) focusing on classical guitar. Although many people see music as an expressive art form and mathematics as more of a rigorous science, I consider both to be highly creative art forms: in this sense, the two disciplines go hand in hand. I plan to encourage students to be imaginative and to appreciate elegance and value creativity across all aspects of their lives. I was immediately impressed by the attitudes towards learning on display at Wenona and feel privileged to be a part of a school with such a strong culture of personal and professional development for both students and staff.
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UPON REFLECTION | ISSUE 3 NEW STAFF
Throughout my degree I enjoyed wonderful teaching experiences at various schools in the Bayside area of Melbourne, as well as a school in rural Victoria and the Yew Chung International School in Hong Kong. For the past two years I have worked as part of the Year 3 team at Gardenvale Primary School in Melbourne. During my time there I was also actively involved in the Environment curriculum team, helping to develop a vegetable garden and implement sustainable practices. I have gained a wealth of knowledge from many wonderful teachers throughout my work experience, which has assisted the development of my teaching practice.
I enjoyed every second of my own high school education and was immensely privileged to be given the opportunity to build strong relationships with my amazing teachers. Following school, I undertook my Bachelor of Education (Human Movement and Health Education) at the University of Sydney and set my sights on one day becoming a great educator. At the completion of my degree I was lucky enough to secure both casual and full-time work at PLC Sydney, where I developed an even deeper love for my vocation. Above all else, I want to help my students develop character, learn to love the beauty of life and believe they can change the world they live in. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Wenona community and look forward to helping shape my students’ lives through excellent education.