I love the beginning of the school year, as we all look forward to the many challenges and rewards that lay ahead. This year, I am particularly excited as I start 2023 as the Acting Head of Senior School. I am very grateful for this opportunity and humbled by the appointment. I look forward to continuing on from the fabulous legacy left by Belinda Delyster, who served our college for 18 years.
If you don’t know me already, this will be my fifteenth year at Investigator College. Some days it feels like yesterday that I started, but when I look back at all we have achieved as a school community, I can see where those years went. I began my journey at our Goolwa Campus as a HASS teacher and Year 10 Home Group teacher. I then went on to to serve as the Head of Middle School for five years. Up until last year I was our Head of the HASS department, where I was able to share my passion for all things HASS, especially History.
My family moved to the South Coast as a military family back in 2008 and we have fallen in love with the area. Both of my children are Investigator College students and have been since Reception. My son, Judd, graduated last year and is undertaking an apprenticeship as a chef. His passion for cooking was really fostered during his secondary years. My daughter has entered Year 10 this year. In our spare time we are all heavily involved in the Southern Breakers Soccer Club. My husband is president of the Club, we share a coaching role of under 17 girls and both my kids play.
I really want to take this opportunity to welcome our fabulous new staff to the Senior School, who will join an existing group of brilliant teachers. Glyn Roberts (Secondary Curriculum co-ordinator), Jamie Pantsaras (English), Ross Groocock (Maths) and Trystan Perry (HASS/English). I am also thrilled to work alongside the newly appointed SACE/VET coordinator, Bob Oldham, and Nicole Ranson as our Year 9/10 coordinator. Eva Zorkovic rounds out our leadership team in the Senior School as our Daily Organiser and Timetabler. I feel very privileged to lead them at this wonderful college. We have all been very busy preparing for this year and are collectively looking forward to so much, including, to name a few: the roll out of our new Schoolbox LMS, the return of camps, Year 10 external work experience, Year 10/11 Careers Expo, the further development of our Positive Education curriculum, and revitalisation of our House System. It feels like the COVID cloud has almost lifted completely and we look forward to many more opportunities to come together as a college community. Very soon we will have our Welcome Evening and an Open Day, where I hope to meet as many families as possible.
I wish our College community a wonderful 2023, full of fun, opportunities and positive change.
Kind regards,
Jodie O’Donnell
Acting Head of Senior School
