RETURNING TO RUYTON

Graduating with the Class of 2015 and proud members of the Old Ruytonians’ Association (ORA), Kate Graham and Marina Altson have found themselves back at Ruyton in 2023 — this time as staff.

Sometimes I find it hard to believe that my one afternoon a week coaching job I had when I first started at university turned into a full-time teaching position at Ruyton.

In my first year out, Louisa Burbury hired me casually to coach GSV sport on a Thursday afternoon and attend sports carnival events. I continued to do so whilst completing my bachelor’s degree before leaving Melbourne in 2019 to live in the UK. Whilst there I worked at a boarding school as a full-time, live-in teaching assistant and sports coach. This is where my passion for teaching blossomed.

Upon my return to Australia, I enrolled in the Master of Teaching degree at the University of Melbourne, and in-between placements and lockdowns, returned to Ruyton to coach weekly sport. In 2022, I was emergency teaching and coaching at Ruyton when an opportunity to teach Year 7 Humanities presented itself. I was successful in landing the role and by midyear I was teaching Year 7 to 10 part-time, and am now teaching full-time Humanities, including VCE Geography, in 2023.

Coming back to Ruyton at some point in my career was something that I was interested in pursuing. I didn’t expect that opportunity to present itself so soon. I loved my time at Ruyton. I was a very keen student who loved involving myself in as much as I could –particularly in sport. Coming back to the School to teach has been surreal. It did take time to change my mindset from being back at my school to being at work. What makes me genuinely happy is seeing the students enjoy all my favourite Ruyton pastimes, including PAHF, GSV carnivals and other antics that happen on the day-to-day. I don’t think I would be the person or the teacher I am today without the unique experiences, efforts of the teachers and Ruyton’s ethos.

I was excited when Marina told me she had accepted a role at Ruyton. There have been a few classmates of ours who have also worked casually in co-curricular spaces, and as emergency teachers and exam supervisors. It was always nice to receive an ‘I’m at School today’ message and have a chance to catch up and reminisce. Marina and I had a lot to do with each other at School – choosing similar subjects in VCE, a history tour to Italy together, and sport and drama activities. It feels like I have come full circle back to Ruyton, and it is a joy to be working alongside an old friend.

Kate Graham (2015) Senior School Teacher

I am a pretty nostalgic person. I will usually opt to re-read a book, than start a new one. I enjoy revisiting my childhood bedroom and rifling through old notebooks or photographs, so returning to the school where I was a student from Year 4 to Year 12 to work has been an absolute pleasure. Ruyton was an amazing fit for me as a student. I found my people, I found my passions, and I felt I could try anything and everything, so I did. I participated in bands, choirs, school musicals and plays, as well as GSV sport, debating and the Sustainability Team. Kate was right there alongside me from the beginning, both participating in after school drama with Mrs Parker in Year 6, and supporting all the House events together (go Lascelles!). I even featured as a singing knife, whilst Kate was a singing fork in Trinity and Ruyton’s Senior School Musical of Beauty and the Beast. Amongst all the fun, your school years lay the foundation for who you become and where you might go in life. I owe a lot of my character to Ruyton, and to the teachers who guided me to be where I am today.

Earlier this year I was eager to shift jobs and find a new challenge whilst completing my final year of university. By lucky chance, I was perusing Ruyton’s careers page and saw a role that aligned with my experience in community development and embraced my knowledge as an Old Ruytonian. I was delighted to accept the job and am grateful for the opportunities it has already provided. Being back has certainly tickled my nostalgia. I see some of my past teachers in the hallways and now call them by their first name (and almost expect some essay feedback from Paul Upperton when I turn this article in!). I catch up with Kate at lunchtime and Ady Broder walks past shaking his head, hoping he doesn’t have to teach us mathematics next period. Lots has stayed the same about the School such as the warmth and buzz around campus, and the ever beautiful Morten Bay Fig Tree. But it has changed as well. Ruyton is future-focused and dedicated to empowering girls, and I’m thankful for new additions such as introducing pants to the school uniform and aspiring to be ever more inclusive.

There is also a giant construction site where the Dream Now project is currently being built… and though it evokes a little homesickness to say goodbye to Royce Theatre, I am so excited for the new building and all it will bring to the lives of Ruyton students, now and into the future.

If I had to summarise my experience in a sentence, I’d say returning to Ruyton to work has felt a bit like coming home.