STAFF SPOTLIGHT

Welcoming

In Term 2, Mrs Kellie Douglas began her new role as Head of Boarding at St Mary’s. With 20 years’ experience in the education sector, Mrs Douglas has an extensive background in boarding, having worked in boarding houses at The Rockhampton Grammar School and Rockhampton Girls’ Grammar School in Queensland, and at Great Southern Grammar in Albany, Western Australia. Mrs Douglas was most recently employed as Acting Head of House Years 9 to 12 and Acting Head of Year 8 at Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School in northern New South Wales. Prior to that, she was Head of Department, Future Pathways and Vocational Education, at Mt St Michael’s College in Brisbane.

Mrs Jacinta Sirr-Williams joined St Mary’s as Director of Philanthropy in April, arriving from the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, where she held the position of Philanthropy and Annual Giving Manager. She replaces Mrs Linzey Allinson, who served the School with distinction for 14 years. Mrs Sirr-Williams has a broad background in philanthropy and fundraising, having previously managed fundraising portfolios for Edith Cowan University’s School of Education, School of Business and Law, and the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. She also had the pleasure of fundraising at one of the state’s most trusted charities, Guide Dogs WA.

Ms Megan Crust joined St Mary’s in April from not-for-profit disability organisation, Ability WA, where she was General Manager Marketing and Communications. Ms Crust was previously Director of Communications at St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls, and has extensive experience in marketing and communications at a senior level in the resources and utilities sectors. She is excited to share all the School’s wonderful stories and achievements with its engaged community.

Ms Erica Herron, previously Dean of Students, commenced in a new Dean of Boarding role to provide executive oversight of boarding. Ms Herron, who has a considerable background in boarding, is working closely with Head of Boarding, Mrs Kellie Douglas, to support and strengthen our vibrant boarding community. Following Ms Herron’s change in role,

Mrs Rebecca

Payne, previously Associate Dean of Students and Head of Year 12, assumed Dean of Students responsibilities, while also retaining her Head of Year 12 position for 2021. Finally, Ms Felicity Monck, Head of Psychology Services, embraced an additional role as Associate Dean of Students and Wellbeing.

Announcing

Congratulating

Miss Ines Leal, Science Department Laboratory Technician, was recently awarded a PhD in Oceanography from the University of Quebec, Canada. Miss Leal’s multi-latitudinal project explored the nutritional drivers that shape natural populations of rocky shore communities. In short, she sought to answer the question, “How do larval traits, driven by different environmental conditions, shape natural populations, that is, their abundance and distribution?”

FRESH FACES

JOIN PSYCHOLOGY SERVICES TEAM

St Mary’s commitment to cultivating a culture of care and wellbeing that produces courageous, curious, compassionate and confident young women is supported by our highly credentialed Psychology Services team. In Semester 1, we welcomed three new faces to that team – Mrs Denise Bendotti, Ms Caitlin Timms and Miss Jessica Lethbridge – who have already built strong connections with our girls under the guidance of Head of Psychology Services and Associate Dean of Students and Wellbeing, Ms Felicity Monck.

DENISE BENDOTTI | Lead Senior School Psychologist (Year 10)

Mrs Denise Bendotti has worked as a psychologist in the education sector for more than 16 years. She was employed as a Senior School psychologist at Newman College for 11 years from 20092019 and joined St Mary’s in Term 2 from John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School, where she served as its K-12 school psychologist, while supporting the development of the school’s new pastoral care team and wellbeing strategic plan. Denise specialises in positive psychology and youth mental health. She relishes working with students to identify and nurture their strengths and build their capacity to manage their mental health and life’s challenges.

CAITLIN TIMMS | Senior School Psychologist (Years 8 and 11)

Ms Caitlin Timms joined St Mary’s in Term 1, following a four-year stint at the Department of Health, where she worked as a clinical psychologist across several settings with children, adolescents and adults. Caitlin most recently worked at the East Metropolitan Youth Unit (EMyU), where she assisted young people with complex and acute mental health issues in an inpatient environment. She is passionate about improving youth mental health and enjoys teaching young people strategies, including distress tolerance and mindfulness skills, to help them manage their emotions.

JESSICA LETHBRIDGE | Senior School Psychologist (Years 9 and 12)

Miss Jessica Lethbridge boasts more than 10 years’ experience as a youth and adult clinical psychologist in both clinical and school settings. She arrived at St Mary’s in Term 1 from Presbyterian Ladies’ College, where she specialised in teaching students and parents mindfulness techniques, anxiety management skills and the value of building strong wellbeing foundations through nutrition, exercise and sleep. Jessica enjoys exploring the connection between body and mind, promoting resilience and helping young people develop skills to cope with difficult situations or emotions.

SEEK SUPPORT | SEEK REDRESS

IN 2019, ST MARY’S ANGLICAN GIRLS’ SCHOOL, ALONG WITH OUR BROTHER SCHOOL, HALE, AND OTHER ANGLICAN SCHOOLS, JOINED THE NATIONAL REDRESS SCHEME.

Our participation in this program signified the School’s commitment to recognising the suffering endured across Australia stemming from abuse and to provide an opportunity for members of our community who may be impacted to have a voice in a supportive environment. We continue to encourage members of the St Mary’s community, past or present, to contact the School by phone (9341 9111) or email (principal@stmarys.wa.edu.au) should you wish to discuss any issues. Alternatively, you can contact the National Redress Scheme direct via www.nationalredress.gov.au.