Meet our Teaching Team for 2024

		Mrs Virginia Outred is the St Joseph’s Narrabeen Principal, and leader of our teaching team. Best place you’ve ever travelled to? : Italy- the language, culture, scenery, food, wine are the best! Preferred pizza topping? : Fig and prosciutto Most interesting question you’ve been asked as a teacher? : How do you know you’re in love? (when I was just engaged) Beach or snow? : Beach – I can’t do the whole skiing thing! Favourite weekend activity? : Sleeping and reading on the beach Song that always gets you dancing? : “Saw Her Standing There” by The Beatles

		Mrs Alison Jarman is our Year 4 teacher. Best place you’ve ever travelled to? : India; love the vibrant culture, art, food etc and really want to go back to see more. Preferred pizza topping: Prosciutto & rocket Most interesting question you’ve been asked as a teacher? : “Have you always had wobbly hair?!” (Yes, I was born with it!) Favourite type of music? : 80’s British pop, 90s UK dance Song that always gets you dancing? : Robin S “Show me Love” A random fact about you that we might not expect? : I like cooking – especially Asian and Indian food!

		We’re very excited to welcome Miss Chloe Murray to St Joseph’s! Miss Murray is teaching Year 3 and comes to us from Maria Regina, Avalon. Before that she was teaching at Our Lady of Good Counsel, Forestville. Preferred hobby? : I love reading! Favourite children’s book? : Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and all Roald Dahl Best holiday? : Trip to Europe – England, France, Italy and Greece Food you enjoy most? : Spaghetti bolognese What makes you laugh? : My friends and seeing cute dogs!

		Mrs Kath Fogwell is our Year 2 teacher, and also handles the executive role of Religious Education Co-ordinator. Favourite food? : Mango. Pet hate? : Birds in the classroom… there’s almost nothing scarier! Favourite place on earth? : Various remote swimming holes in Kakadu. They are a little hidden piece of paradise. You have to block out the thought of crocodiles though. Children’s book you love? : Anything by Dr Seuss, Roald Dahl, Enid Blyton, Pamela Allen, Julia Donaldson, Mem Fox… I LOVE books.

		Meet Miss Greig, the teacher for Kindergarten 2024! Miss Greig joins us from Sacred Heart Mona Vale. She also did part of her teacher training at St Joseph’s, and we know our students will be very excited to see her return! Favourite children’s book? : The Folk of the Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton Favourite food? : A good cheese toastie Why do you love teaching? : I am constantly surprised and in awe of the children I teach every day. What are you excited about this year? : I’ll be teaching in the same room where my own education journey started! (Yep, she’s a former student!)

		Mrs Lisette Calleja will take on the Year 6 teaching duties. Best place you’ve ever travelled to? : Italy, because I got to meet some of my dad’s family and I got to see where he grew up. Most interesting question you’ve been asked as a teacher? : “Who made God?” Ultimate dinner on a plate? : My dad’s pasta sauce with penne pasta, parmesan cheese and crusty white bread. Favourite book? : I have two: The Girl with the Louding Voice and A Gentleman in Moscow. A random fact about you that we might not expect? : I was a qualified cricket umpire in my twenties.

		Mrs Tiffany Smith (formally Britton) is our Year 1 teacher in 2024. Pet hate? : When people overuse single use plastics What’s on your wish list? : Dogs, dogs and more dogs! Favourite place? : Scotland (especially the Highlands where the cheeky fairies live) What is your favourite children’s book? : ‘Oh the Places You’ll Go!’ – Dr Seuss Favourite food? : Chocolate Random fact about you? : I have touched Taylor Swift’s hand!

		Mrs Rachel Cernecca is one of our Learning Support Assistants. Favourite food?: Vietnamese Best place I’ve ever been? : Ooh too many to choose but I loved Southern Africa ( Otkavanga Delta and Namibia) and Bali and Tahiti. Random fact about you? : I’m Ambidextrous! What makes you laugh? : Anything with Steve Martin, Martin Short or Tina Fey Best TV series ever? : The Handmaid’s Tale

		Mrs Brenda Paul, our Assistant Principal, will also be our Collaborative Coach and Teacher Librarian in 2024. Preferred pizza topping? : Cheese, cheese and more cheese please! Favourite type of music? : All types – I’m an avid music lover so it’s too hard to discern. Beach or snow? : This is too hard to choose also – beach for tranquility and rejuvenation, snow for tranquility and adrenalin rush. Favourite weekend activity? : Chilling anywhere with a glass of bubbles. Song that always gets you dancing? : ‘Jump Around’ by House of Pain. A random fact about you that we might not expect? : Say any word and I can sing a song with that word in it – and I do!

		Mrs Jade Browett is the leader of our Learning Support team. Best place you’ve ever travelled to: I’d have to say France. It’s got it all: Amazing cities, quaint countryside villages, history, cheese and the best rose around. Favourite type of music: Anything that gets you up and dancing Favourite weekend activity: Going for a walk somewhere along our amazing Northern Beaches with my family, followed by a long lunch Song that always gets you dancing: Any good ’90s banger A random fact about you that we might not expect: My husband and I took long service leave a few years ago and travelled around Europe in a motorhome for four months with our three children. It was incredible!

		Mrs Anita Brooks is our Micro Teaching Program Teacher. Best place you’ve ever travelled to: Safari in South Africa – amazing. Thought this would be a once in a lifetime thing, but luckily enough took children a couple of years ago! Preferred pizza topping: Sloppy Guiseppe from Pizza Express (UK people will know what I mean), with garlic doughballs! Favourite book: Until recently, The Goldfinch. Read Where the Crawdads sing recently and loved that too. Favourite weekend activity: Swimming out in the waves, and have them washing over my head. Takes all the worries with them. Song that always gets you dancing: “All the Single Ladies” by Beyoncé. Best not let my children see me though, I am way to uncool to be dancing anywhere!

		Mrs Kim Marlin is one of our Learning Support Assistants. Best place you’ve ever travelled to: Spain, for its amazing buildings, beautiful scenery and the cobblestone streets Preferred pizza topping: Moroccan lamb Ultimate dinner on a plate: Something that someone else has cooked Favourite book: I really enjoy autobiographies A random fact about you that we might not expect: I played the cornet in the primary school band.

		Mrs Kath McCamey will teach Year 2 one day a week, in conjunction with Mrs Fogwell. She is also the release teacher for collaborative coaching on Wednesdays. (Which means she works across various classes while the teacher meets with Brenda Paul for collaborative coaching.) Favourite book: ‘Oh, the Places You’ll Go!’ by Dr Seuss Preferred pizza topping: BBQ Chicken Favourite type of music: Pop Beach or snow?: Beach. I love summer! Favourite weekend activity: Going to the beach

		Mrs Nicola Frost is our sports teacher. Best place you’ve ever travelled to: Chamonix, France – best skiing ever Preferred pizza topping: Pepperoni and mushroom Favourite type of music: Chill out – Jack Johnson Beach or snow?: BOTH! Freshwater Beach – just chill out. Thredbo – smashing down the Golf Course on a powder day! Favourite weekend activity: Skiing/Swimming/ scoring goals at Hockey/ mountain biking/ relaxing at the beach/ cocktails in the spa! Ultimate dinner on a plate: Yorkshire pudding with roast beef
		We’re thrilled to welcome a formidable team to our Joeys community in 2024: Mrs Cassie Cook and Mrs Alix McKittrick. They will be teaching Year 5 together and the pair explain how they work so seamlessly: “For the past thirteen years, we have been both colleagues and friends. We know each other extremely well, both personally and professionally. Our relationship is built on respect and admiration for one another. We each bring a unique set of skills and a wide range of knowledge to the classroom, that will afford your child a comprehensive learning experience. We share many of the same values and beliefs in our approach to teaching, student learning and managing a classroom environment. This in turn will provide your child with a consistent school environment, regardless of having two teachers sharing the role. We are a great team because we value what the other has to offer, know how to communicate effectively, and always strive to support one another. Ultimately, we work so well as a team because we share the same goal, and that is for your child to learn and grow, and be happy while they are at school!” Mrs Cook: Teaching background? : I have taught at Our Lady of Dolours, Chatswood for the past 13 years. I have taught Kindergarten through to Year 4 and am currently on school leadership, as a STEM and Innovation coordinator. I have also held leadership positions in PBL and mathematics.What do you love most about teaching? : I love learning new ideas and believe that as a teacher, the learning process never stops. I love witnessing those ‘lightbulb’ moments for students when they understand or master new ideas. I feel fortunate to contribute to a student’s understanding on their learning journey and see them succeed on their own.What’s a hobby you love? : I love to read or listen to books or podcasts. I love hanging at the beach and walking my dogs. What’s your favourite children’s book? : “Rose Meets Mr. Wintergarten” by Bob Graham. Best holiday you’ve ever been on?: Family holiday to Fiji. Food you enjoy the most? : Guacamole and corn chips… and pizza. What makes you smile? : My family, especially my kids, and friends make me laugh and smile. I love to watch comedies.Mrs McKittrick: Teaching background? : I have worked at Our Lady of Dolours Catholic Primary School, Chatswood for 13 years where I have taught from Kindergarten to Year 6, and held a number of leadership positions, across many years, including English and ICLT Coordinator. What do you love most about teaching? : There are many things I love about teaching, however, when I see a student have an ‘a-ha!’ moment and knowing I helped them get there, it is a wonderful feeling! What’s a hobby you love? : I love to play soccer – my team even won both the major and minor premiership this year! I also love to read, particularly books that are from the historical fiction and fantasy genres! What’s your favourite children’s book? : This is incredibly hard for me to choose, and changes from week to week…but currently my favourite picture book would have to be Shaun Tan’s Rules of Summer or Graeme Base’s The Eleventh Hour, and junior fiction book would have to be J.K.Rowling’s The Christmas Pig. Best holiday you’ve ever been on? : Hawaii holds a special place in my heart – it is a spot I have always traveled to with my family growing up, and now take my children to! It doesn’t get much better than a family holiday with sun, surf, pineapples and palm trees…and seeing the end of a rainbow meet a pod of whales in the ocean off the coast of Kauai! (Yes, this really happened and I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget it!) Food you enjoy the most? : A lamb roast with baked vegetables, peas and gravy. And Haighs chocolate! What makes you smile? : My husband and three daughters!

		Mrs Kerrie Andrews is our Senior Administration Officer. Best place you’ve ever travelled to? : New York, I went with girlfriends two years ago and it was everything I had hoped and more. Most interesting question you’ve been asked in the office? : “Why do you wear sparkly eye shadow?” (Because it’s pretty of course.) Ultimate dinner on a plate? : Anything I haven’t had to cook. Favourite book? : Recently, Where the Crawdads Sing A random fact about you that we might not expect? : I LOVE red frogs, there is generally a packet in my bottom drawer.

		Mrs Sam Carolan is the release teacher for collaborative coaching on Wednesdays. (Which means she works across various classes while the teacher meets with Brenda Paul for collaborative coaching.) What’s your all-time favourite meal? : Mexican What do you do if you’re feeling stressed? : Breathe and go for a long walk. What’s a random fact about you we might not know? : I used to race in a ski team and I would love to be a ski instructor one day. What makes you feel happiest? : Skiing here in Australia and Aspen Snowmass. Which book have you read the most in your lifetime? : New Earth by Eckhart Tolle. Most interesting question you’ve been asked as a teacher? : “Can I see your baby in your tummy?” (When I was pregnant.)

		Mrs Andrea Fitzpatrick is one of our Learning Support Assistants.

		Mrs Sam Greig is one of our Learning Support Assistants. What’s your all-time favourite meal? : I love a home cooked Thai Beef salad or a piece of Salmon. What do you do if you’re feeling stressed? : Go for a walk with my dog Cody while listening to some music. What’s a random fact about you we might not know? : I previously co-owned an online party business. What makes you feel happiest? : Spending quality time with family and friends and being near the ocean. Which book have you read the most times in your lifetime? : Time For Bed by Mem Fox. I would read this all the time to my children when they were little, just before bed.

		Mrs Taryn McCready is one of our Learning Support Assistants. What is your all-time favourite meal? : Nourish bowl from Girdler’s Cafe. What do you do if you’re feeling stressed? : Go to the beach and soak my feet in the water. What’s a random fact about you we might not know? : I was an Artificial Eye Maker (Ocularist). What makes you feel happiest? : Spending time with my family and floating in water! Which book have you read the most in your lifetime? : Where is The Green Sheep?

		Mr Michael Warby is our music teacher.

		Lulu Wilkinson is our School Marketing Officer (and also a Mum of two St Joseph’s students.) What do you do if you’re feeling stressed? : Head to the bush. I love hiking and camping and being in nature. What’s a random fact about you we might not know? : I’ve hiked to Everest Base Camp and competed in a marathon race back down again. What makes you feel happiest? : Snorkelling with my son and singing loudly in the car with my daughter. Which book do you love? : Honeybee by Craig Silvey. Incredible.

		Mrs Jenny Cox is one of our Learning Support Assistants. Random fact about you? : I hate small talk. What do you love to do on the weekend? : Swim laps, drink champagne. What is your dream meal? : Anything Asian with chilli. What always makes you smile? : Sunrise.

		Mrs Karen Calleia is our admin officer, assisting Kerrie every second Friday. Best place you’ve ever travelled to?: Prague Preferred pizza topping: Satay chicken Favourite book?: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier Favourite weekend activity?: Watching sport on TV! Song that always gets you dancing?: “I will survive”