Back from left: Groundsperson Steve Wilkinson, canteen manager Krissyi Leak, Sudanese aide Othow Chaliker, and classroom aides Robyn Lazaridis, Sharyn Tour and Gail Cunningham. Front: Library technician Bev Allen, administration workers Chris Kenney and Elaine Bryan, Vietnamese aide Hong Nguyen, primary wellbeing officer Elissa Sewell and Cambodian aide Siek Liv Lim.– Shaun Inguanzo
KEYSBOROUGH’S Maralinga Primary School paid tribute to support staff this week who work tirelessly to keep the school’s administration, cafeteria and other facilities running smoothly.
Principal Peter Gray said this week was National Recognition Week for School Support Staff.
Mr Gray said that when people thought of schools they often thought of teachers.
“Yet our support staff are just as important in their own ways. Each one has a unique and important role which contributes to making our whole staff a great team,” he said. “In addition to office roles our school support officers (SSO) contribute in many ways over and above their job descriptions.
“They attend working bees, supervise after-school sport, handle first aid, are on School Council sub-committees, work at out of school hours activities such as our forthcoming musical, twilight sports evenings, Carols by Candlelight, a stall at the Dandenong Show, to name but a few.
“In this way, they are just as important as anyone else on our staff.”
Mr Gray said celebrations for staff members’ contributions were taking place this week, with each class allocated an SSO.
“Each grade has been allocated an SSO for whom they are going to prepare a card or letter,” he said. “This will be presented, together with a flower, by a representative of each grade. Teaching staff will then put on a special morning tea.”
Mr Gray said each SSO contributed differently.
“Our support staff are all unique and reflect the diversity of Maralinga,” he said.
“Elaine has been employed for 30 years in the office while Sharyn has been on staff for only a few weeks, and we have SSOs of Greek, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Sudanese and Australian background.”
