Special Education teacher Zoe Urquhart with her students Austin, Kye, Alex and Eli, with parent Blake Rosmulder lending support.
Mulwala Public School’s first ever special education teacher Zoe Urquhart loves her role and school – a school which holds special significance to her.
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Full-time teacher Zoe teaches four boys, ranging in age from six years to eight years, with additional needs.
The 27-year-old started at Mulwala in May: “It’s going great,” Zoe told the Yarrawonga Chronicle.
“I love teaching and seeing the students further their growth and achieving their goals.”
Year 5/6 teacher Kate Sergeant amongst some of her students in her first permanent teaching appointment.
All of Zoe’s primary school days from 2002 to 2008 were spent at the very school she is now teaching and with her own classroom.
She has a Bachelor of Education K-12 from the Charles Sturt University Albury. “I then taught at a Melbourne Special Education School where I developed a strong interest in special education teaching,” the former netballer from Under 11s to C Reserves with Mulwala, said.
“It’s great being back at this school after so many memories and now I’m making more memories.”
The four students under Zoe’s control are enjoying their own memory-making. They love their various classroom activities and their teacher.
Learning and support co-ordinator of music, dance and drama, Jackie Sullivan, takes some of her students though a dance routine.
Mulwala Public School Principal Gayle Pinn welcomed Zoe’s appointment. “It’s wonderful to have her - first of all to have a support class established and to have a former student and local person,” the principal said. “Zoe’s got experience in this area of special education.”
An experienced teacher of nearly 30 years, Jackie Sullivan, is the newest teacher at Mulwala Public School and also has fond memories of the local area. Her late Mum, Lexie Sullivan, was a pupil at Sacred Heart Primary School and Sacred Heart College.
Jackie moved from Sydney to Yarrawonga to become the learning and support co-ordinator of music, dance and drama at the start of this year’s Term 3, just six weeks ago for the Melbourne Street Mulwala-located school’s students.
“I wanted something different to do and to experience more skills,” she reasoned for her move which she likes.
“I love kids. I love teaching. The teachers here go beyond the call of duty so the kids don’t miss out on anything.
“All the bigger schools have on offer, we offer here so our kids can really benefit.”
“Jackie has lots of experience and different experiences,” Ms Pinn said.
“Coming from a much bigger school environment she is able to pass on her wealth of knowledge to our students.”
Year 5/6 teacher at Mulwala Public School from Albury Kate Sergeant, 25, now living in Yarrawonga, started at Term 3 time last year and also likes her surrounds.
“I came to Mulwala because it’s a permanent job,” she said.
“The school’s good, you get to know all the kids and I’ve learnt a lot from Gayle (Pinn) and Michelle (Rosmulder, Assistant Principal).”
Ms Pinn is also delighted with Kate’s gaining of teaching experience and the school’s teaching complement of six for the current total of 57 students.
“The teachers are terrific,” she said.
“We would, however, like more students. We have so much to offer here at Mulwala Public School.”
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