Lachlan , Jack and Grace all the best as they make the exciting move to Ballarat . Jackie Cowcher
MICHELA PELLIZON
Michela joined Scotch in 2016 as a teacher of Italian , after having previously taught Italian at the Academy of Mary Immaculate , Melbourne Grammar School , Santa Maria College and Melbourne University .
Michela immediately became part of the Italian department and the Languages team , demonstrating enthusiasm , positivity and the ability to engage students at all year levels . Her passion for the Italian language was evident in all that she did and this flowed on to her students .
In 2022 , Michela took on the leadership position as Head of Languages , a role she took to with dedication . From the onset she demonstrated her unwavering support and assistance to the staff in the languages team . Michela also assisted students and their families in continuing the opportunities available at Scotch through various language competitions and exchanges .
At the end of 2022 , Michela took a year of leave during which she was given a remarkable opportunity by CoAsIt , to assist in the promotion of the Italian language by implementing programs which are available to all students of Italian in Victoria . Michela is also part of the COMITES ( Committee for Italians Abroad ), a group which supports Italians in Australia . These are roles which Michela has greatly enjoyed , albeit missing the Scotch community very much .
In her pursuit to support the Italian Language and culture in Melbourne , with great difficulty Michela made the decision to remain at CoAsIt , and to resign from her position at Scotch .
We thank Michela for her contribution to the Italian and Languages departments at Scotch , and wish her well as she embarks on the next chapter of her career . Vera Bifano
CLAIRE VAN BOXEL
Claire was living in New Zealand when she was hired in late 2013 to teach Latin the following year . By the time the 2014 school year began , she had also been contracted to teach Years 7 , 8 and 10 History , and to be a Year 7 Form teacher .
Any reservations we had about this unknown quantity were soon dispelled , as she demonstrated from the outset the qualities that her colleagues see as characteristics : thoroughness , dedication , innovative teaching and compassion towards her students . She proved to be a wonderful teaching colleague , coordinating Years 7 , 8 and 11 History with skill and generosity . Her love of ancient history saw her teach it at Years 7 , 10 and 12 , as well as Year 9 Latin . She also taught Geography at Years 7 and 8 . Many students who have excelled at senior history have begun their history studies at Scotch in her care .
‘ Care ’ is a key word for Claire , as was apparent also in her extracurricular activities . She undertook the Community Connections service for several years and accompanied the first Nepabunna remote community visit as part of the Year 11 Immersion Program . For five years she was a manager of Year 7 and 8 cricket and of various levels of rugby , including ( for three years ) the 1st XV . She led two rugby tours . Claire ’ s love of and knowledge of sport , especially Kiwi sport , were sources of endless discussion and banter with colleagues ( and boys ) over the years .
From 2016 Claire worked in boarding at Scotch . She began as a Residential Tutor in Arthur Robinson House , and in 2019 moved to McMeckan House as Deputy Head . The demands of looking after dozens of teenage boys day and night in their home away from home is of course very different to being a classroom teacher , but Claire not only met those challenges , but loved doing so . She excelled at the everyday practicalities of the job , but was also a deep thinker about how it worked and could be improved . Her Teacher Action Research and Career Development Program project regarding student voice on the Hill led
to her acceptance into the IBSC Action Research Program in 2023 .
Little wonder that Claire decided to take her career in boarding school education to a higher level , and to accept the role of Head of Boarding at St Catherine ’ s School in Toorak . We thank her for all she did for Scotch and wish Claire , her husband Neil and her son Freddie all the best for the future . Dr Mark Johnston
Great Scot 53