Making sure that every child is known, valued and cared for: that is the goal for Hamilton South Public School’s newest principal.
Mark Warren, who has been teaching for 15 years, started his first term in the role this week.
The father-of-two says it’s been an exciting beginning to the year.
“It’s been wonderful – the kids, the staff, the parents and the broader community have been really welcoming,” he said.
“It [was] strange coming into the school when there were no kids.
“The place comes alive when they are here – it’s really the kids that make it the school, they give it the character and the culture, without them it is just a collection of buildings.”
Mr Warren hopes to create an environment where both the students and staff can thrive.
“I want to support teachers in doing what they do best,” he said.
“They are in the position where they can most directly impact the students, so I think that a key part of my role is making sure they can do their job as effectively as possible.”
Hamilton South Public School is home to more than 400 students, and Mr Warren hopes he can make a really positive impact.
“Being out there and being available to the students is important because the kids do want to have a chat and they want to get to know you and it’s important that you get to know them,” he said.
“I want to make sure every child is known, valued and cared for because once you do that they’ll feel like they belong.”
For Mr Warren, teaching was something he always wanted to pursue.
“I always thought it was the job for me,” he said.
His favourite part of the job is getting to know the students.
“It’s the interaction with the kids and seeing that they are happy with the environment they are learning in,” he said.
“It’s a childhood, it’s not just an education, it’s seven years of their life and their formative years so we don’t just measure our success on strict academic progress.
“Are [the students] engaged and happy to come to school?
“I feel like primary school sets them up with those foundational life skills as well as the academic knowledge, and you hope it leads them to be successful and happy in their futures.”
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