By Eleanor Wilson
Narre Warren South P-12 College celebrated 20 years of education on Monday 23 May- along with 12 of its founding staff members who also started their careers at the Amberly Drive address two decades ago.
Celebrated with a staff assembly and breakfast, founding principal Ross Miller recalled the school’s early days – and the education department’s low balled estimation of enrolment numbers.
“The predictions were 300 students and they opened the doors at 807, so you can appreciate the enormity of that exercise,” said current college principal Peter Thatcher.
Today the school has grown to cater for over 2600 students, supported by 330 staff members.
“I’m just so amazed and proud of what we started 20 years ago and I always said the potential for this school was enormous, and we’re retaining that potential now,” Mr Miller said.
“It’s taken a lot of hard work, a lot of community support, it’s been a fantastic journey and this school is really on the map now, it’s recognised as a really high achieving school.”
Mr Thatcher said he understands and empathises with the challenges Mr Miller undertook to establish the college.
“I’ve done it twice in my 39 year career and [it’s] extremely difficult,” he said.
Teacher Vera Poliakow said her 20 years at the college has given her the rare chance to see a school grow and develop from humble beginnings.
“To get to here, the road has been challenging but rewarding,” she said.
“That’s why I’m here, because every single year is different and it still continues to be so.”
Starting as a second year teaching graduate, fellow teacher Pauleen Churchill said her decision to commit twenty years to the the college is owed to the vast opportunities she has been awarded.
“There’s been so many diverse opportunities, every year I’ve grown and changed as a teacher so that’s what has maintained my desire,” she said.
“And the students here, I just love them. They’re a great bunch of kids.
“I work really closely now with the EAL students and just to see the light bulb switching when they finally get something you’ve taught them makes it all worthwhile.
“[the kids] have grown to take pride in the school, over the years with the work and dedication of our principals and leadership, for the grounds to have grown from the dirt patch that we were standing on, they take pride in their surroundings and what our school is and what we’ve achieved,” added Mrs Poliakow.
Foundation teacher Jess Henry, who also received her 20 year badge, said the school grounds were comparable to a “dust bowl” in the college’s early stages.
“When we first arrived we had to get all of our classroom supplies in a little cardboard box. You got just one set of everything – one set of textas,” she recalled.
“There were no books – we had to photocopy and staple and make our own books.
“There were second hand library books coming from op shops and things.
“Basically everything outside was dirt and dust – we couldn’t open windows.”
Primary teacher Rachna Gupta added the school was all but a drawing plan when she interviewed for a teaching position at the college in 2001.
“We were interviewed in Dandenong and I said “well where’s the school?” and they said “its being built”,” she recalled.
“That was in December and the school was opened in the end of January
“It was a dust bowl, there was dust everywhere and the principal’s office was in a small portable.
Like all of the teachers Star News spoke to, Mrs Gupta agreed the culture of the school was one of the driving reasons she has reached the career milestone at the school.
“The staff have always been very inclusive and I’ve seen siblings and generations grow up and I know the families,” she said.
“It’s nice to be acknowledged.”
