STAFF IN PROFILE
Interview : KATE IKINGER
Director of Junior Primary
Kate Ikinger started her teaching journey in 1979 , but chose to have some life experience before commencing her first teaching role in a Prep classroom back in 1984 . How lucky were those Prep students to have such an enthusiastic , friendly and warm teacher to start their educational experience ! This was the beginning of a long and distinguished career that has taken Kate into many leadership roles , including Deputy Head at Christ Church Grammar School and Head of the Junior School at the Southwick Campus of the King David School .
Scotch was fortunate to obtain the services of Kate back in 2009 as Director of Junior Primary . During her time in this role she has overseen and worked with many classroom teachers , and inspired them to work as a team and develop innovative programs which have been highly successful and regarded .
Kate has an innate ability to see the positive in everything , which shines through with her infectious laugh and consistent aura of happiness . She has welcomed so many Junior School boys into our Scotch Family with their Prep interviews as well as her warm and friendly welcome every morning , or farewell each afternoon , while on gate duty come rain , hail or shine ! Kate certainly is a prominent and much respected teacher at Scotch who helps to weave the care , compassion and positive relationships into the fabric of our Junior School . CHERYL HARRISON
After all these years of service to Scotch , what is your favourite corner of the School and why ?
There are two areas of the Junior Primary that are very dear to me . The first is the top playground , which was overhauled three years ago , with the ribbon-cutting on the first day of Term 2 , 2017 . Two sandy slopes were reinvented with the help of multiple metal trellises which formed tunnels and caves , then softened with hardy vines and creepers . All these years later , as the vines have grown , the tunnels are a child ’ s paradise of secret passages and I have loved watching its metamorphosis .
My other special corner is my office and bespoke teaching area . The walls are full of children ’ s artwork and photos , there are lamps , prints , birdcages ( empty !), sculptures and books , books , books . It is the most wonderful work environment .
What do you most like about your job ?
I relish the chance to be creative and have the opportunity to troubleshoot . I enjoy the creative aspect of my job , I enjoy tweaking our established ceremonies while creating new traditions for the boys .
I started the Year 2 Tie Ceremony during the first few years of my arrival . We started with cardboard ties in the Scotch tartan , and I stapled elastic to the ties so they could be placed around the boys ’ necks . These days the boys receive a real school tie ! The tie is symbolic for the boys leaving Year 2 , as they will no longer be wearing the blue skivvy of their Junior Primary years .
I enjoyed troubleshooting school readiness issues , trialling then modifying what we now call the Prep Workshops . The workshops are a happy collaboration between the Learning Support Team , our Prep Unit , a Paediatric Occupational Therapist and a Speech Pathologist . All prospective Prep enrolments attend the workshops , giving us valuable information about the classes we are about to welcome , and helping parents where their son would benefit from an additional year of kindergarten .
Many years from now , when you are no longer teaching , what is one of the memories you will reflect on to warm your heart ?
The music – the individual musicians , the ensembles , the bands and the choirs , especially the choirs . I become very emotional when the boys sing with descant ; it ’ s just so beautiful .
What is an achievement of which you are most proud ?
In 2016 we had three boys with diabetes in the Junior Primary . When we had the opportunity to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation , I was committed not only to raising funds , but raising awareness . Through interviews with Scotch families affected by diabetes published in Primary Matters , parent and medical talks at Assembly and ultimately a Walkathon , we raised a huge amount of money for research , but most importantly we developed a culture of understanding , acceptance and empathy .
After hearing horror stories of how children with diabetes were being treated at some schools , I was so chuffed that our boys with diabetes became our heroes , in recognition of how they had risen above their challenges .
10 Great Scot Issue 161 – December 2020