A Great First Few Days

What a great first few days it's been for me at Pender's Grove!  Such a terrific welcome from students, staff and parents has certainly made me feel at home.  I have spent this week visiting classrooms and meeting with teachers and parents.  It has been great to see the commitment that the staff show in their teaching and wonderful to see the interest and enthusiasm that students and their families have in the school.

To fill you all in on a little of my background prior to being at Pender's Grove -  I have just completed 5 years as  Assistant Principal at Preston North East Primary.  I worked at PNE for 10 years as, at various times, a classroom teacher, welfare coordinator, Music specialist and ICT specialist.  Many years ago now in 1990 I began my teaching career at Wales St. Primary as a music specialist.  In 2002 I had a year away from teaching working at an engineering firm as a training coordinator.  I live locally  in Darebin,  and have for many years, so have a good understanding of the community and local area.  My wife Trish works at Deakin University in the area of Children's Literature and I have two daughters, one that works as a social worker and one that attends a local high school.  

I really look forward to meeting everyone in the Pender's community over the
coming weeks and months. After being a parent member of the community for many years it is terrific to be back as a staff member and Principal.  I must
also say thank you to Glendy for the great job she did leading the community for many years and putting the school in such a terrific position to continue to
grow and develop.  We can only look forward to the great opportunities and
challenges ahead! 

---