PENOLA Primary School (PPS) was a flurry of new faces last week when school officially returned for 2019.
While a number of students enjoyed their first day of school, the facility also welcomed three new teachers who have joined the Penola community.
Meagan Petzke, Jane Thring and Kimberley Bohmer complement the existing staff and all three look forward to the year ahead.
They will be overseen by newly appointed principal Anna Copping who filled the role in an acting capacity in 2018.
A former intervention and wellbeing coordinator at the school and a Foundation/Year 1 teacher, Ms Copping said her focus for 2019 included building on the strong pedagogical practices the school has developed over several years, particularly around reading, writing and mathematics, and developing students’ quality dispositions.
Ms Copping plans to set high expectations so students are informed and compassionate citizens with holistic development across intellectual, academic, physical, social and emotional facets.
Filling in as a relief teacher in 2018, Ms Petzke is no stranger to the school, having taught every year group last year.
Now in a permanent role, Ms Petzke said she was excited to settle into her classroom and create strong bonds with students.
“I already know almost every student at the school due to my relief work last year,” she said.
“But now I have my own little class so I get to focus on getting to know them all individually and figure out how best to teach them.”
Already settled in the region, Ms Petzke said she had made great friends in the short time she has lived in the district.
“My partner studies winemaking so that’s why we came to the region and as a teacher I am lucky enough to be able to take my job anywhere,” she said.
“Since being here we have felt so accepted in the community and have made great friends.
“I am looking forward to getting involved as much as I can in school and community activities – I am excited to play women’s footy this year and hopefully play netball if I do not injure myself beforehand.”
Ms Bohmer finished university last year and has moved from Adelaide to Naracoorte after being appointed as a Foundation and Year 1 teacher at the school.
New to country life, Ms Bohmer has enjoyed the transition so far.
“My partner is from Naracoorte so I was always planning to move to the region,” she said.
“Obviously it was up to whether I could get a job here and I was lucky enough to secure the position at Penola Primary School.
“It is much less chaotic living in the country and although I have a bit of a commute from Naracoorte to school every day, I am enjoying country life so far.”
Ms Bohmer had a keen focus on teaching early primary years students throughout her training and was grateful to win a position in her preferred age group.
“I did my final placement at university with kindergarten aged students which has always been my focus,” she said.
“I love teaching young minds and shaping them into good students.
“Most of what we do at the beginning is just teaching them how to do school.
“We teach them how to learn and grow as students and just get them settled into the routine of schooling.”
School services officers (SSO) Samantha Freeman and Louise Burgess also joined the PPS community this year and both look forward to what is to come.
“This is my first time working as an SSO so I am excited to see how the year will pan out,” Ms Freeman said.
Ms Burgess is originally from Penola and is a former PPS student.
“I think it’s really great to come back to the school that I went to,” she said.
“It’s a bit of a weird feeling to be working here now but I love working in my hometown and being an important part of the community.”
