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The Joys of Teaching

Director of Student Opportunity and Career Education, Ms McFetridge recently hosted the fifth of 91���ϲ�����’s extremely successful Alumnae Twilight Insights sessions, this time featuring three Wenonians who have gone on to become educators.

Billed as the ‘Noble Profession’, our Senior School students discovered why teaching is such a rewarding career at our latest Twilight Alumnae Insights session, which our Director of Foundation and Community Engagement, Mrs Sonia Brennan helped to set up. They had an opportunity to submit questions beforehand to our three alumnae, who generously gave of their time to share their insights about their teaching careers, with all three expressing what a privilege it is to help shape the lives of the next generation.

First up was Maria Gaudioso (2002PY), a Project Leader, Accreditation and Italian Teacher at Monte Sant' Angelo Mercy College. Maria has been actively involved in Italian education since she graduated from 91���ϲ����� in 2002, working extensively with NESA as an HSC marker, HSC examiner and curriculum writer, and regularly sharing her professional knowledge at conferences. Maria has also successfully led Italian Language and Culture Tours, is highly involved in Teacher Accreditation and is the co-author of Ecco! Senior, a textbook for students of Italian in Year 11 and Year 12.

The best teachers have empathy and are good at building relationships with their students. Although it is almost 20 years since Maria left 91���ϲ�����, she still has vivid memories of the teachers who helped her to have those ‘lightbulb’ moments in the classroom, including 91���ϲ�����’s current Head of TAS, Ms McNally. When she graduated from 91���ϲ�����, Maria headed to Canberra to undertake a Bachelor of Primary Education. She then went on to do a Master of International Studies at UTS, with the aim of teaching at secondary level. This gave her an opportunity to study in Italy for six months, cementing her desire to share her love of the Italian language and culture through teaching. Maria opted to teach casually at first, which she said was a fantastic way of sampling different types of schools. She has taught at primary level, secondary level and has also taught adults. Being a Languages Teacher has given Maria the opportunity to lead numerous tours to Italy, which has not only enriched the experience of learning Italian for her students, but has enabled her to share her passion and knowledge for her subject. As she says, “Teaching is the best job in the world. It keeps you on your toes, but if you build a rapport with your students, they will succeed.”

Next up was Rachel Nesbitt (Ludowici, 2007), who is a PDHPE Teacher and Sports Coordinator K-12 at Loreto Kirribilli. Rachel graduated from 91���ϲ����� in 2007 - having been taught by our current Deputy Principal (Staff and Strategy), Mr Mark Staker, who was in attendance at the session! She completed a double degree of B. Human Movement and B. Secondary Education (PDHPE) at UTS, before working at a wide variety of schools in the government, private and catholic education, including North Sydney Boys High, North Sydney Girls High, Arndell Anglican College, 91���ϲ����� and Santa Sabina College, before moving to Loreto Kirribilli.

Rachel said she knew she wanted to be a teacher from the age of 11 and credits 91���ϲ����� for giving her so many opportunities to achieve her dream. She worked at Camp America during her Gap Year, which gave her a taste of what it was like to teach young people. While at university, she also honed her teaching skills by coaching Netball at 91���ϲ�����. Like Maria, Rachel has worked in a wide variety of schools, teaching all age groups, which has helped her to build her skillset. As she says, “Every student deserves an education, and it is important that you meet each student at their level.” Having taught both primary and secondary, Rachel understands the challenges and rewards of both. She loves her job at Loreto Kirribilli and works hard to make her lessons relevant for her students. “It’s really nice to know you are making a difference in the lives of young people. I feel extremely lucky to have worked with some phenomenal educators who have helped me become a better teacher.”

Finally, it was the turn of Jessica Hoffman (2015PY), who is a Grade 2 Teacher at Barker College.
After Jessica graduated from 91���ϲ����� in 2015, she studied Primary Teaching specialising in Religious Education and the International Baccalaureate at the University of Notre Dame. She completed one of her teaching placements at an international school in Sweden and her final internship at Trinity Grammar School as a part of their Graduate Teacher Scholarship Program. This year, Jessica is teaching a Grade 2 class at Barker College.

Jessica was only 17 years when she finished her HSC, so she took a gap year in the UK, working at a boarding school, which gave her first-hand teaching experience. She initially had her sights set on another university but didn’t get the marks. However, she relished her time at Notre Dame, which hadn’t initially been on her radar, as it offered her extensive teaching practice opportunities. Like Maria, Jessica did a lot of casual work to hone her teaching skills. Despite being initially terrified at the thought of teaching in an all-boys school, she ended up really enjoying the experience. She likes the variety that primary education offers as it gives her an opportunity to teach subjects across the entire curriculum. She also likes the positive energy and curiosity of younger children. “Every day is different in teaching. And the children respond well to positive reinforcement. It can be tiring at times – particularly when we were doing online learning. You have to smile a lot on Zoom! But it’s so rewarding! Every day I receive thank you messages from my students in the ‘Feedback Box’ on my desk.”

Ms McFetridge thanked our alumnae for their contribution. “There was a lot of collective wisdom at this session, and it gave our students an opportunity to consider the different pathways that teaching offers. As always, we are so grateful to our alumnae for sharing their time, knowledge and expertise with our students.”