Teachers have to start somewhere, too

PREPS and new students weren’t the only people experiencing their first day at Springvale South Primary School last week.
Five new teachers, all university graduates, took control of their classes for the first time as the school experiences a period of change where older teachers are either retiring or taking long-service and maternity leave.
Springvale South Primary School assistant principal Carmel Mathys said the five graduates represented a third of the teaching staff at the school.
She said each was settling into their area well with the help of more experienced staff who – like preps do with senior students – have buddied-up with the first-year teachers.
“They are well supported by experienced staff,” Mrs Mathys said.
“We do have a mentoring program and they all belong to it. Each new teacher has been given an induction buddy and then allocated a mentor.
“They all seem to be surviving so far.”
Included within the batch of graduates is one male teacher – a rarity in primary schools these days, Mrs Mathys said.
“A lot of males tend to go to secondary schools; maybe they feel they relate more to older kids,” she said.
“Perhaps they feel females are the nurturing types for youngsters.”