04 Feb 2022
A message from the Principal…
Please permit me to introduce myself as the new Principal of Alstonville Public School. It truly is a pleasure to be leading this beautiful school and its wonderful staff and students, and I look forward to meeting and working with you over coming months.
The staff and students have hit the ground running, with all classes settled and students beginning their learning programs already. I offer a big welcome to our new students and their families, and wish them all the best as we learn and grow together. I also wish our new staff members well, and from what I’ve seen, they will add to the quality and professionalism already present. In coming weeks, we will introduce them more fully.
For me it’s a little hard to believe but I began my teaching career in 1986 as a very raw teacher at Wee Waa PS. So raw in fact that the Department then had me serve as Teacher-in-Charge at Clare PS – a school of six students on a sheep station north of Balranald NSW. The three years there were a wonderful experience and led me to further roles in schools on the Central Coast. I transferred to Ocean Shores PS in 2004, and this was followed by periods as Principal of Wardell PS, Bangalow PS, Ballina PS and Southern Cross K-12. My last few years have been in supporting schools as a principal leadership consultant out of the Goonellabah office, and in 2021 I served as Director of Educational Leadership for the Northern Tablelands. Even though I enjoyed the last four years in the corporate world, it is such a joy to be back in a school.
I have had a few sayings that have sat with me over the years and that seem to reflect my values as an educator. “We’re all in this together” reaffirms in me that learning is a partnership; that parents, teachers and students can learn from each other and work together to support student growth. “It’s all about the kids” shows that every decision and direction the school takes will have the educational and wellbeing needs of our students as its focus. “High expectations relationships” (from the work of Dr Chris Sarra and the Stronger Smarter Institute) is about collegiate staff environments, strong teacher–student relationships and trusting and supportive relationships with parents and carers. Finally, two sayings sit with me always – “the joy of teaching” and “the wonder of learning”.
As I said, I look forward to meeting and working with you and your beautiful children. Please say hello when you see me, or feel free to contact me at school.
Regards
Peter Flannery