New principal focused on students’ needs

WILSON Park’s acting principal, Jennifer McCarthy, has served in the Kimberley and the wheatbelt, and is now experiencing the south west for the first time.

Before her transfer to Collie from Dumbleyung, Ms McCarthy had passed through the town on her way from the wheatbelt to the coast, but had never stopped here.

Now based here and settling into her new school, she intends to make students’ needs her focus.

Time spent in the student services’ department has given her great experience and she believes in providing extra support for students who need it, including those with a disability, or with behavioural problems.

“I am happy to be in a small school where you can really get to know the students, rather than a metropolitan school where you just can’t get to know them all by name,” Ms McCarthy said. “I like to get to know the children as individuals.”

Another aspect of Collie schools which pleases her is the way all five schools work together, and share resources.

One of her out-of-school pastimes is eating out, so she finds the number of good eateries in Collie an attraction she intends to explore.

She has already joined a book club, and plans to take up golf.

“I’ve been told there’s a lady who teaches beginners, so I am looking forward to that,” she said.

The school’s previous principal retired, so Ms McCarthy’s appointment is temporary. The permanent position has been advertised and will be decided down the track, but she has already applied for it.

“It’s a lovely little school,” she said.