We are so lucky to have a dedicated staff team who are truly committed to the best learning outcomes for our students. Meet them below.
Leadership and Administration
Damien Kitch
The most rewarding part of my job is when I get to share that “Ahh Ha!” moment with a student who is so proud to have achieved their learning goal. When these learning moments occur (and they happen daily!) they are often followed by a knock, knock at my door. It is this opportunity to discover something new every day which keeps me motivated!
Throughout my career, I have taught every level from Foundation- Year Six, and even had a dual role as a PE teacher. I have worked in a variety of schools from those with over 1000 students, to schools with less than 100 students. My teaching experiences have taught me that Upwey South Primary School is just right for learning…not too big and not too small.
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Clare Bennett
My role as Business Manager involves looking after the finances of the school and coordinating all aspects of HR. I am very lucky that my office overlooks lovely greenery and is often bathed in sunlight. Working in the Administration Team means I get to see a variety of students and watch them grow from the tiny, timid Foundation students to the tall, well-mannered Year Six students…very rewarding (and entertaining at times). When I am not looking at spreadsheets and my computer screen you will usually find me camping or eating.
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Janette Clarke
I began my journey with Upwey South Primary school in 1998 when my eldest daughter started in Prep. In 1999 I began working in the office and now I love my job as Office Manager and the many challenges it brings on a daily basis- this means that every day is different. We have a great staff at Upwey South and I enjoy the many relationships I have built with past and present staff and families over the years. That’s the best thing about my job- meeting and greeting and being the first face that everyone sees as they enter the school. In my spare time I love spending time with my family and friends, going to the movies, walking at Birdsland, camping and music!
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Specialist Teachers
Justin Scicluna
I am honoured to be a teacher at such a great community school where people are kind to one another and always willing to lend a hand where needed. I come to school each day because I love seeing students develop and improve in all aspects of their schooling. Within PE I gain great satisfaction out of seeing students challenge themselves and work with one another to achieve a desired outcome. In my spare time I enjoy watching my beloved Geelong Cats, coaching and playing senior football in the Eastern Football League and going to the gym to keep fit.
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Sam White
I have been a teacher at Upwey South since 2001 and the Visual Arts teacher since 2013. I love to see the creative side of our students. I have incorporated my love of picture story books into our Visual Art program and I enjoy encouraging students to develop their creativity and to push themselves to try new skills and techniques. In my spare time I like baking and creating with my children, as well as getting out into nature.
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Penelope Lang
I have been the Performing Arts teacher at USPS since 2013 and truly believe I have the best job in the world. I get to sing, dance, dress up and play musical instruments every day. I believe children learn best when they are having fun and that the arts are a beautiful vehicle for allowing children to express themselves without judgement or fear of getting something ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. In my spare time I am a busy mum to my two children, love op-shopping and drinking lavender tea. I am a keen advocate for reduce, reuse, recycle and treating other people how I would like to be treated.
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Masai Sensei
‘Strike while the iron is hot!’ This famous saying sums up my teaching beliefs. Seeing how quickly and enjoyably my students mould and discover their new language is the best thing in the world. That is why I love teaching young students the Japanese language through songs, games and a lot of other hands-on activities. I myself also endeavour to be a life-long learner of languages and linguistics, so I’m always hoping to be their role model in this regard. When I am not in the classroom, I like dancing, cooking and trying out different cuisines from all over the world.
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Classroom Teachers
Holly Peters
I thoroughly enjoy teaching the Foundation students at Upwey South Primary School and have been teaching this level for three years now. I love helping and nurturing young children to develop and progress as learners and find it highly rewarding. I am passionate about getting to know all my students and providing them with a safe, supportive and positive learning environment. Outside of the classroom, I have two children of my own and love spending time with my family at the beach.
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Lisa Dam
Teaching Foundation is rewarding and exciting, where I strive to develop a sense of confidence and well-being in all students at the beginning of their school journey. I enjoy creating learning experiences where students have the opportunity to use their knowledge in a hands-on manner. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family, running with my dog and camping.
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Laura McQueen
I love being a teacher. I thoroughly enjoy this job because I get to work with an amazing bunch of young people and I get to witness them grow from strength to strength. The thing I find most rewarding about working with my beautiful students is their capacity and eagerness to learn. I strive to create a safe and happy learning environment where my students understand to make mistakes is proof of them trying. If I am not at school, you will find me having coffee with friends or walking my dogs.
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Rebecca Tilley
I love having the opportunity to teach grade ones at Upwey South Primary School. I really enjoy making the learning for my students engaging, exciting and challenging. What makes my job as a teacher so rewarding is seeing all of my students beaming with enthusiasm to learn and to be excited to come to school. One of my biggest beliefs is that every student has the right to feel safe and supported in their classroom in both learning and social aspects. When I am not teaching I like to travel to different places around the world and show off my baking skills!
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Julie Hall
I love making learning exciting for my students and kindness is an important part of our classroom and helps to make everyone feel safe and engaged. I believe students learn best when they are safe, happy and excited to be an important part of their class. Teaching at Upwey South is extremely rewarding- I have been here for 19 years and I love the students and the community. In my spare time I love going bushwalking, supporting my beloved Melbourne Storm and spending time with my family.
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Mel Rowe
Teaching Foundation students is such a rewarding experience. Seeing the children so excited when they achieve their learning goals and being able to be a bit silly during the day is all part of the fun in teaching this level. I love developing positive relationships with students and seeing them develop a love for learning. Throughout my teaching career I have taught across all levels and am currently in my fifth year of teaching Foundation. When I am not in the classroom, I enjoy spending time at the beach and enjoying my favourite Thai cuisine.
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Megan Henchley
I thoroughly enjoy teaching Year Three and Year Four. The students I work with are driven by passion and creativity! I care deeply about each child’s social and emotional development. Important life skills such as, resolving conflict, displaying kindness and having a growth mindset are key learning foci in the Year Three/Four community. My goal is to create an engaging and enjoyable learning experience for all students.
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Melissa Woollard
As a teacher in the year 3 / 4 level, it is such a joy to watch the students grow and mature, not only in their learning but in their personalities and their characters. The growth and maturity that is made during these years is a pleasure to be a part of. It is so rewarding to see the smiles on the students’ faces as they continue to have light-bulb moments throughout their learning journey. The increased stamina for learning and the ability to become more resilient is also something that I enjoy being a part of.
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Llewella Humphries
Teaching at Upwey South Primary School has been part of my life for 18 years. Coming to school each day is a rewarding experience and I continue to grow as a human being alongside all of my students. My teaching belief is to build a community within our classroom where we respect and value each other, let our emotional guards down to be brave and learn new and exciting things and to grow to be positive members of the wider community. I am proud to be a teacher at Upwey South Primary School as well as a Collingwood supporter.
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Gary Monopoli
I have been teaching for nearly forty years and my passion for teaching lies in being a positive role model for young people and supporting their development from children into exceptional young adults. Each child is a unique individual with a special talent or ability. I try to harness and promote these qualities to take with them on their journey through life. It is important to provide a stimulating, secure, cooperative, relaxed and enjoyable learning environment in which the students are engaged in a wide variety of learning experiences. Outside of school I love travelling the world and footy- I’ve been a member of the Hawthorn Football Club for over 50 years! As has always been the case, I am extremely lucky to love my work and continue to grow and learn as a teacher.
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Jess Cameron
I find incorporating social justice and emphasising kindness in the classroom to be so important. I like to make sure my students leave my classroom feeling empowered to be their best selves, knowing that they are all unique and talented in their own ways, meaning they can go out and make positive changes in our world.
USPS is a special place to teach. Being a teacher here for the past 5 years has allowed me to form some lovely relationships with families from the community and I have had the privilege of teaching many siblings. When I’m not teaching, I enjoy spending time with my beautiful daughter, Daisy and my husband, Rob, going on adventures as well as relaxing on the couch with a good cup of coffee.
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Laura Ramadge
In my current role as an Integration Aide, I love helping all of the children achieve their learning goals and I especially enjoy the privilege of experiencing their ‘a-ha’ moments with them. I am a passionate advocate for children’s wellbeing and right to learn. Prior to working at USPS, I was an Early Childcare Educator. On the weekends, I enjoy hanging out with my hubby, our cat Sadie and two dogs, Diesel and Sia. We like to camp and 4WD in Australia and travel the world.
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