For two new St George’s Anglican Grammar School teachers this year, stepping into the classroom each day feels a lot like coming home.
Both graduated from St George’s. Both were student leaders. Both discovered a love of maths while at school. And now both are helping shape the next generation of Grammarians by securing full-time positions as newly qualified graduate teachers.
For Mathematics teacher Miss Eliza Webb (Class of 2020) and Science and Mathematics teacher Mr Massimo McKie (Class of 2018), returning to St George’s as members of academic staff has been seamless – almost.
‘It was a little daunting at first,’ Miss Webb admits. ‘But the welcoming and supportive community quickly made me feel at home. Understanding what makes a St George’s student unique has also helped me in navigating the demands of teaching in your first year.’
Mr McKie agrees: ‘It’s strange, but in a good way. It’s enlightening to see the other side of how schools work and working alongside some of my teachers as colleagues now is exciting. It’s a privilege to come back and add my own contribution to a school that so clearly shaped me as a student.’
Both teachers say that while St George’s has grown significantly since their relatively recent school days, doubling in size with the opening of a second city campus, the ‘St George’s Way’ and the uniqueness of being educated in the city remains unchanged.
‘The biggest change has been the growth of the school and the incredible range of opportunities that are now available for students and the new facilities available through the opening of the second campus at 441 Murray Street,’ Miss Webb said.
‘What feels the same is the strong sense of community and the close connections between students and staff. St George’s has always had a family-like atmosphere where everyone feels known, heard and understood. Everyone matters at St George’s – they did when I was a student and they do now when I am a teacher here. And, of course, the spaghetti and meatballs are still just as good as I remember.’
Their journeys into teaching were inspired by the educators who made a lasting impact on them. For Miss Webb, it was the current Head of Mathematics Miss Chloe Hewitt, whose passion for the subject encouraged her to pursue a degree in both Drama and Mathematics Education.
For Mr McKie, it was a wide range of teachers who created an environment where mistakes were part of learning and curiosity was celebrated and intellect pursued.
‘I remember the impact good teachers had on me,’ he says. ‘I want to continue the cycle and give back to the school in the many ways that it helped me.’
Leadership was another shared part of their St George’s experience. Miss Webb served as Chapel Captain and Community Service Captain. She was also part of the Year 12 Sync Swim championship team and was in a vast array of school productions.
Mr McKie graduated as Captain of Lincoln House and was a familiar face in the school’s performing arts productions too, experiences he says created skills that continue to serve him today. He was also a strongly academic student and appears on the Honours Board as the 2018 WACE Dux and member of the 95 Club.
Asked what today’s students will remember most about their own time at St George’s, neither hesitates.
‘The friendships, the sense of community and the teachers,’ says Miss Webb.
‘The people and community,’ says Mr McKie.
