The new year has welcomed in a new principal for Stawell’s St Patrick’s Primary School.

Michelle Hogan took over the head role late last month as the school’s 147 students, and teachers, kicked off term one.

A teacher since 1998, Mrs Hogan’s name might ring a few bells for the region’s residents, as she previously taught at Ararat’s Marian College.

Mrs Hogan said she joined the college in 2013, with a main focus on senior teaching and learning development.

She said she was excited to now have the chance to work with and support the region’s youngest learners.

“I was really looking for a new challenge and this opportunity came up and I thought, ‘let’s go for it!’,” she said.

“It’s been wonderful. The learning and teaching that is going on in St Patrick’s is really impressive. They’re very much about preparing students for their future and are focused on their learning. 

“And the children are really friendly. I think one of my favourite things about teaching primary school children is they still have that joyful look in their face over the simplest things, and that is really inspiring to me.”

Member for Wannon and Education Minister Dan Tehan recently visited the school to announce a $6195 grant for the school’s Resilience project.

Mrs Hogan said in addition to further promoting resilience in the school community, she was also looking forward to growing St Patrick’s and improving learning and teaching opportunities.

“We want to keep working on our learning and teaching programs, offering opportunities for extension for students and supporting students,” she said.

“We’re also going to have a look at the buildings and grounds and see where we can make some improvements. But the school is already running well, so it is all just onwards and upwards from here.”

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