Hello St. John’s Community. This is my ninth year at St. John’s. I can’t believe that I have been teaching for 44 years. Teaching has changed a lot over the years, I love the way we teach at St. John’s, it challenges me and excites me.
On a personal level I have had a very exciting year, I have become a grandmother to my gorgeous Marcus. His smiles fill me with joy. I have two sons, Jack & Darcy and a beautiful daughter in law, Jacinta. I am very blessed.
My favorite thing to do is read and I try hard to instil the love of reading in the children I teach. I also love doing craft work which is very calming after a days work. I am looking forward to meeting the children in our hub and learning more about them.
Michele Hayes
Educator
Alicia Hambleton
Hello St John's Community! My name is Alicia Hambleton and I am very excited to be joining St John's school in 2024, as a part of the Three/Four Hub. This is my first year at St John's and I am very much looking forward to getting to know more about the wonderful community that makes up St John's staff, students and families.
I am originally from New Zealand but I have lived in Melbourne for 15 years, and have been a teacher for 12 years. I absolutely love being an educator, believe all children have something very valuable to teach us and it is an honour to see the way they develop a very genuine sense of self as well as their value and place in the world.
In my spare time I enjoy spending time in the great outdoors with my husband Tim and our 5 year old daughter Daisy, playing music or cooking up a storm.
Educator
Jordan Fry
Educator
Faith Leader
Hello beautiful St John’s community! In addition to working alongside Kelly and Erin in one of the 3/4 Hubs, I fulfil the RE/Faith leadership role at St John’s. I feel honoured and excited to continue developing and strengthening our community’s spirituality and connection with Faith.
I believe that children should be at the centre of their learning, and have the freedom to explore and discover their individual passions and interests through the 100 Languages of Learning. Forming genuine and meaningful relationships with students and families is vital in supporting students and in fostering a love for learning.
In my spare time you can find me with my fur babies: Bella the dog and Hank the cat, or spending time with my parents on their farm in Geelong.
Kelly Edgar
Educator
Hello I am so excited to be teaching the grade three/four children this year working alongside Jordan and Erin. I believe that children should be at the centre of their learning and I aim to create a safe, engaging and nurturing learning environment for all children to thrive and explore their passions. I am so grateful to be part of the St Johns community and embrace the rich learning and teaching environment with the many opportunities for growth and new experiences.
Prior to teaching I have had various experience in educator roles in Melbourne and overseas. As a gymnastics coach, I have had the opportunity to train gymnasts of all ages to increase their physical health and motor skill development. Whilst living in New York City, I had the opportunity to educate the public on the ecological and public health importance of street trees and green spaces within the city, when I was working in the department's forestry department.
When I’m not teaching I enjoy painting, playing beach volleyball, hiking and exploring the great outdoors! I am also passionate about travelling and experiencing different cultures.
Erin Schembri
Educator
Hi, I'm Erin and I teach Engaging With Place, which combines learning about the perspectives of our local First Nations People, the Wurundjeri people, and growing and caring for our farm space.
Sustainability is a major passion of mine, so I like to create immersive opportunities for children to engage with the land, like: growing our own organic food and reducing our green waste by composting and worm farming.
I will also have the opportunity to join the Prep, Three and Four teams. I’m looking forward to building strong relationships and co-constructing children’s projects.
When I’m not at St. John’s, I’m exploring every corner of the beautiful parks and lakes that surround Melbourne with my husband and sons, Hunter and Gene. Besides exploring, we love to dance, garden, swim and whip up batches of banana pancakes.
Mel Caruana
Educator
Hello everyone! My name is Mel and I have recently returned from Maternity leave and will be working in the ¾ hub on a Friday with Michelle and Alicia this year.
My husband’s name is Jordan and we have a daughter named Arlie who is 1 ½ and a pet dog named Simba. In my spare time I love to read and go camping with my family and friends. We also like to spend time as a family playing and going on adventures or brunching!
I aspire to create an inclusive learning environment where students feel safe and supported, but one that is also engaging and fun-filled. I love to have fun, play games and get creative! You will often see me having impromptu dance parties, cooking or making and creating with children! I want children to develop a love for learning and inspire them to take ownership of their own learning journey.
I can’t wait to meet and get to know all of you!
Thushari Senarath
Co-Educator
Hello, my name is Thushari.
I am so thrilled to be continuing my journey in 2024 at St. Johns. It has been a privilege to be part of this amazing community for the past ten years.
I strive to build good relationships with the children, respecting each individual. I also value and understand the diversity and strengths of our beautiful community.
At home, I enjoy cooking, listening to music and spending time with my husband Diran, and our daughters Taneesha and Kiara. We look forward to travelling to Sri Lanka together and creating beautiful memories with our parents and families.
Can’t wait to experience another great year!
Sylwia Przybyla
Co-Educator
Hello everyone!
My name is Sylwia Przybyla, and I feel very excited and honoured to be joining St John’s as a co-educator in the Three/ Four Hub.
With this being my first year at St John’s, I look forward to getting to know all the amazing ‘beings’ – large and small – who make up the St John’s Community, especially the wonderful children who are its heartbeat. I am honoured to be part of their journey as they explore their potential, dream big and push the limits of their imagination. I deeply value and advocate for connection, gentleness and nurturing, creative environments where children can learn, discover and extend themselves to be the best that they can be.
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Prior to joining St John’s, I had spent many years working in publishing as a writer and editor, as well as a graphic designer. Exploring language, communication and the richness of expression of our inner and outer worlds are my passion.
In my spare time, you will mostly find me on the side of a football (soccer) pitch supporting my daughter as she pursues her dream of becoming a professional player. Otherwise, you will catch us exploring the great outdoors, visiting galleries and museums, or just being curled up with a book and our menagerie consisting of two cats (Ziggy and Moxie) and a Dachshund named Kielbaska.