A NEW year has started at Penola High School and five fresh faces are gracing the halls.
The group of new teachers have started the year off strong, already taking the students on excursions and retreats.
Jane Pryor, Kate Jones, Amy Moretti, Milan Pavlovic and Jessie Cope have joined the team and are all eager to dive into the school year.
After working in the Limestone Coast for around six years and most recently at the Naracoorte Independent Learning Centre, Ms Cope is now teaching history, English and coordinating the school’s flow learning program.
“I was a teacher and youth worker at the learning centre for a number of years and I am a really big supporter of alternative education,” she said.
“It is important to work with students who do not necessarily fit mainstream learning and flow learning is a great way to do that.
“It only started last year at Penola High so I’m really looking forward to developing it further and learning from the students on how to build on the program.”
Moving to the South East three years ago from Newcastle, Ms Moretti will take on a role in the art department and her work has already been recognised in the community, being scouted for the upcoming Penola and Coonawarra Arts Festival.
“I moved to the region around three years ago and was working at Grant High School before winning the position at Penola,” she said.
“I’m teaching art and design which is obviously a huge passion of mine so I’m pretty lucky to be doing what I love every day.
“I think supporting the kids and watching them grow as artists as well as students over the year is really rewarding and I’m definitely looking forward to watching them progress.”
The pair has already been welcomed into the community.
“Everyone has been absolutely lovely to me since I have been here,” Ms Cope said.
“I’m just really looking forward to getting out into the community and immersing myself in everything Penola and Coonawarra has to offer.
“It’s a really exciting new venture for me and I cannot wait to make my mark.”
