St Mary’s Primary School has welcomed a new principal this term.
Elaine Vertriest started at the Mooroopna school at the beginning of term four, and is already settling in to her new principal role.
Ms Vertriest has been teaching for over 25 years, and has recently made the move from Nagle College in Bairnsdale, where she was the deputy principal, and was excited to take on the new challenge as principal.
“I was a deputy principal for five years, and prior to that, I was in a learning and teaching coordinator position,” she said.
St Mary’s is a parish close to her heart, with the first school she ever taught at being St Mary’s Primary School in Malvern East.
“I was there for 11 years as a teacher, and that was a wonderful little community school, just like this,” Ms Vertriest said.
“It’s been really welcoming here, sort of moving back to a small community and having the church on site is great as well.”
She said she moved to the Goulburn Valley to be closer to her children, and is enjoying getting to know her new students.
“The kids have just been super, they’ve had a really great start to the term,” Ms Vertriest said.
“My goal for (the students) is for them to always feel safe, happy and know that they thrive to be successful, so we’re really building on those three words.
“We mention it at every assembly and the kids tell me what being safe means, what being happy mean and how can we thrive to be successful in the classroom.”
While she may just be at the beginning of her journey as principal, Ms Vertriest is looking forward to ensuring that the staff and students thrive inside and out of the classroom.
“I’m really looking forward to a bright future for the whole community,” she said.