Executive Director’s Update to Principals #20 - 5 May 2023
Announcement of Appointment - Our Lady Help of Christians, Murtoa
I am writing to inform you of the appointment of Mr Christopher McCumstie as the new Principal of Our Lady Help of Christians School in Murtoa. Christopher will begin this role from the commencement of Term 3, 2023.
Christopher comes to the Ballarat Diocese from St Philomena Catholic School in Brisbane where he has worked since 2019. He was previously employed at St Mary’s Primary School, Woodend in Queensland and St Clement of Rome Primary School, Bulleen in the Archdiocese of Melbourne. Christopher completed a Bachelor of Arts at Campion College in NSW and a Master of Education at Monash University.
Having previously held the position of Head of Primary School at St Philomena’s in 2020 and 2021, Christopher is an experienced education professional, who demonstrates leadership across classroom teaching, curriculum development, professional mentorship and management operations. He has implemented contemporary pedagogical practices across literacy, numeracy and other curriculum areas with a focus on improved and sustainable student outcomes for primary and early secondary students.
Through the interview process, Christopher demonstrated to the panel that he is very deliberate in establishing his own personal goals as well as the strategic goals of the school. His focus is to expand and review practices in teaching, learning and assessment, with the aim of improvement in student growth.
Christopher also demonstrated to the panel a strong commitment to his own personal and professional growth with a strong emphasis on bringing about school improvement strategically. He is keen to work with the staff and community of Our Lady Help of Christians to expand and review practices in teaching, learning and assessment, with the aim of improvement in student growth.
Being dedicated to his personal faith journey, Christopher is an active member of his current Catholic parish community. His wife, Catherine and their three children are excited about the move and are eager to engage with the Murtoa community.
Please join me in welcoming Christopher as the new Principal of Our Lady Help of Christians School. The panel believe his experience, leadership skills and dedication to education will be a great asset to the OLHC school community.
Principal Arrangements for Term 2 - St Augustine's Primary School, Creswick
Over the past few months the community of St Augustine’s has benefited from the leadership of Shaun Mohr and Bambi Afford, while they continued their co-Principal arrangement at St Columba’s. We are deeply appreciative of the commitment Shaun and Bambi have shown during this time and for the professional, generous and efficient support they have provided.
The process for the recruitment of the new Principal of St Augustine’s is still in progress with the hope of an announcement in the coming week. The anticipated timeframe required for efficient transition and handover to the new Principal will mean that the successful candidate may not begin in the role until Term 3.
To ensure continued strong and professional leadership of the St Augustine’s community, Ms Sue Paulka has kindly agreed to fill an interim Principal role and work with the St Augustine’s community until the end of Term 2. Prior to retirement at the end of 2022, Sue was the Leader: Learning and Teaching with Catholic Education Ballarat and Principal of the flourishing St Patrick’s Parish Primary School, Port Fairy community for over a decade.
Sue has a number of pre-existing commitments and will ensure the leadership stability for the school by being onsite up to three days per week until the new leader commences. Catholic Education Ballarat staff will continue to be present and support the school community and we look forward to taking the opportunity to use the rest of the term for Sue, with Shaun and Bambi’s support, to induct the new principal to the community.
Sue will begin her time at St Augustine’s on Monday 8 May.
We extend our gratitude to Sue for her willingness to step in and support the St Augustine’s community in such an important role. We are confident that she will continue to support with the passion and dedication shown by Shaun and Bambi.
An announcement regarding the new Principal will be communicated with you as soon as the process is finalised.
Again, we offer our sincere thanks to Shaun and Bambi and express our gratitude for their willingness and generosity in supporting the wider Catholic education community.