Murrumburrah High School has welcomed a new principal, and two new staff members, as they kick off the 2018 school year. Following the retirement of former principal John McFadyen last year, Murrumburrah High is pleased to welcome Kym Orman (left) to the position. A veteran teacher and principal, Kym applied to fill the position until such time as a substantive candidate is found to lead the school for the long-term.
A teacher since 1976, Kym brings considerable leadership experience to the local high school, having served as principal of Liverpool Girls High School for 12 years. “Murrumburrah High has been great, it’s a really lovely atmosphere, everyone knows everyone, and there’s so many fabulous programs,” Kym said of her new school. Kym believes the school has a great foundation, which she wishes to build upon, with a particular focus on community engagement. “One of the things I’d like to build upon is getting out into the community, ensuring that we’re an option for parents to select as their local High School,” Kym said.
Kym joins the school as it welcomes 29 Year 7’s, bolstering its total numbers to 142 students for the 2018 school year. The school also saw the addition of Catherine Kristoffersen, (middle) who will teach science and agriculture at Murrumburrah High. Catherine joins the school from Wade High School in Griffith, having also taught in Karabah, Queanbeyan, and Mudgee.
The location of Murrumburrah, and the size of the school drew Catherine to the area. She believes the small school dynamic better allows staff to get to know the needs of the students, and understand the students themselves. Her primary focus for the moment is getting to know everyone, and establish what works and what doesn’t in terms of teaching strategies, with communication key in this endeavour. In the long term, Catherine aims to host a science night, during Science Week in August, so the community can come to the school and see its science program in action.
Murrumuburrah High’s PDHPE department also saw a new addition this year, with Sarah Foy joining them, (right) Sarah studied Physical and Health Education at La Trobe University in Bendigo, before taking a position at an all-indigenous school in Brewarrina, where she taught across six individual subjects. Born and raised in Barellan, west of Harden-Murrumburrah, Sarah is familiar with the area and wanted to return after around eight years of being away.
“Murrumburrah High School is excellent; until now I’ve only taught at primary and central schools, so the secondary school is a new challenge,” Sarah said. A lifelong sports fanatic, Sarah’s focus is on sports and PE and establishing the goals her students have, so they can work towards them together. Sarah looks forward to becoming involved within the numerous community sports Harden-Murrumburrah has to offer.
