Emma Clemens – Deputy Head of Primary

Meghan Carroll

Meghan Carroll – Deputy Head of Primary 2018

We are very fortunate to have Meghan Carroll stepping into the role of Deputy Head of Primary in 2018 whilst I am on maternity leave. Meghan is an incredibly competent and experienced teacher and school leader. Meghan joined our staff team in Term 2 this year from Meadowbank Education Trust (MET) School. During Term 2-4 she has been teaching Year 4 at Emanuel.

During her time at MET, Meghan was a Stage 2 teacher as well as Primary Team Coordinator. In this leadership role she coordinated the primary school, created individual education plans for students and presented professional development for staff. Meghan worked closely with learning support staff to develop differentiated learning tools to supports specific student needs. She also led a range of school initiatives such as Student Directed Learning and the Learning to Lead framework.

Before teaching at MET Meghan also worked at Highfields Preparatory and Kindergarten School in Lindfield and Sydney School of English in Mascot. Prior to this she taught at Pierre Elliott Trudeau Elementary School, Queen Elizabeth Elementary School, Sunnyside Elementary School and St Francis Elementary School in Quebec.

Meghan is an innovative, passionate and committed educator who fosters an enriching learning environment for students, parents and staff. During Term 4 I have been doing extensive hand over with Meghan in preparation for 2018. As Meghan steps into the role of Deputy Head of Primary I thought it would be nice to get to know her better through the following interview.

Q: What are you excited about as you take on the role of Deputy Head of Primary?

I am excited to build connections with students, families and staff across K-6 to promote healthy minds for living and learning. I look forward to modelling good social values, evolving Emanuel’s positive environment and assisting with the development of social and emotional learning. I am eager to take on new challenges, inspire and motivate others and maintain the highly successful wellbeing program at our school. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to share my experience and knowledge and provide each student with support and guidance in order to reach his/her full potential.

Q: What do you see as central to student wellbeing and flourishing?

Our school setting, services and holistic approach each play a key role in promoting essential health and wellbeing in all learners. Student wellbeing is achieved by creating a welcoming, safe and supportive environment that promotes mutual respect and trust. In our school, students are equipped with strategies, such as problem solving and critical thinking, to meet 21^st century opportunities and challenges. They develop resilience, flexibility and confidence and use feedback to find alternative ways to proceed, reflect and learn from their mistakes.

Q: How do you seek to collaborate and partner with parents?

I believe that a symbiotic relationship is essential between the school and parents. My goal is to form effective partnerships early on and synergise with parents in order to create a healthy environment and good health and wellbeing. I aim to be visible, available and involved and am committed to taking a fair, consistent and proactive approach to ensure every child succeeds. 

Q: What do you see as unique to Emanuel that makes the school so special?

I feel very proud and lucky to be part of a learning community that is committed to the individual needs of every student. The celebration of student diversity, emphasis on students reaching their full potential and focus on providing students with ample opportunities to apply their learning and grow are exceptional.

Innovation Showcase

Last Friday the Primary School hosted the second Innovation Showcase. The event was an incredible success. The morning began with over 80 students showcasing a range of STEM projects developed in class or through extra curricular activities. Some of the extra curricular activities on display were Coding, Robotics, Maker Space and ICT Cub. Some of the class projects included hydraulic machines and dragster racing cars.

After the showcase, parents and students then moved into the Theatre for a formal presentation. There were three guest presenters. Ned Western who is an engineer spoke about his work in photovoltaics and solar cells. Inge Berman spoke about her work as a mobile game and virtual reality game designer. Macinley Butson who was recently named as the 2018 NSW Young Australian of the Year, spoke about a number of her inventions included a device that deters garden snails without use of poison and a spoon that accurately measures and delivers oral medicine to children.

At lunch the showcase was open to all Primary School students. There was a wonderful sense of excitement and anticipation as students celebrated and shared their innovative learning. Thank you to all of the teachers who prepared and supported students for the showcase including Sophie Poisel, Leisha Strub, Carrie Grieve, Emma Hill, Helen Maynard, Hugo Adrian, Anna Economou, Gabi Wynhausen and Tanya Jeckeln.

Inter-Chess National Final Championships

On Monday and Tuesday this week six Emanuel School students attended the Inter-Chess National Final Championships. Sol Biton and Jesse Gothelf from the Primary School were fortunate enough to be selected to participate and are to be commended on qualifying for the competition. All the students played superbly throughout the competition and the team was placed second overall out of twenty five schools. Thank you to Michael Todd for his coaching expertise and to Colleen Elkins for supporting the team.

Year 6 Fete

This week’s Year 6 Fete was a resounding success. The students organised interesting and creative stalls filled with fun and activity. They have spent considerable time planning collaboratively throughout the term in preparation for this special event. Each group did a wonderful job creating engaging ideas and organised an excellent assortment of prizes. The fete raised $3830 and we look forward to hearing the ideasfrom the school for items to purchase. Thank you to Hugo Adrian Diane Clennar, Anna Economou and Karon Rom for working with the students to make this day such a success.

Primary Orientation Day

Today we had a number of new faces in the Primary School for our Orientation Day. This is an opportunity for students joining us in the new year to get to know some of our students and staff and experience a day at Emanuel. Our students were very considerate, thoughtful and welcoming to all the new children. It was lovely to see them connect in the playground and I’m sure our new students are now even more excited to join the Primary School in 2018. Thank you to Deborah Beder and Gail McKenzie for assisting with organising the day.

Year 6 Excursion Montefiore Home

On Monday Year 6 students participated in the final excursion to Montefiore Home for 2018. During the year each Year 6 class has visited Montefiore Home as part of the Make a Difference (MAD) Project. Throughout the year each grade works collaboratively on a MAD Project. The purpose of  the MAD program is to use the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People from The Leader In Me to develop a project that will bring about a positive impact in the lives of others. The focus for Year 6 is connecting with the elderly. The Year 6 visits to Montefiore Home provide an opportunity for students to engage and interact with the residents. The excursions also build upon connections with the elderly from Project Heritage. Thank you to Adam Carpenter for organising these excursions and working with the Year 6 students on this MAD Project.

Asylum Seeker Centre

Next week a group of Years 5 and 6 students will be visiting the Asylum Seeker Centre in Newtown. This initiative has been led by Alice Milner and Miriam Stubbs-Goulston in Year 5. In the past few weeks students across the Primary School have been donating items to support refugees and their babies. We are asking families and students to bring in baby items such as wipes, formula and nappies which can be donated to the centre. The items can be dropped off in the Hebrew and Jewish Studies Department up until next Monday 4 December. A group of Years 5 and 6 students will deliver the donations to the centre next Wednesday 6 December. Thank to Daniel Siegel and Adam Carpenter for supporting the students in this initiative.

Upcoming Key Events

• Friday 8 December: Y6 Pathways commencing at 2:30pm in Millie Phillips Theatre
• Tuesday 12 December: YK-2 Presentation Day commencing at 9:00am in the Lehrer Family Multi Purpose Hall
• Tuesday 12 December: Y3-6 Presentation Evening commencing at 6:00pm in the Lehrer Family Multi Purpose Hall
• Wednesday 13 December: Primary School Picnic Day and Emanuel’s Got Talent. Please note the Canteen will be closed and students will need to bring their recess and lunch to school.