Meet the Teacher - Ms. Julia Wake

 
News date: 
07/06/2018

 

In this edition of 'Meet the Teacher' we speak with Ms. Julia Wake, our Campus Co-ordinator and a member of our Secondary Teaching Team.

Name: Julia Wake – Campus Co-ordinator/Secondary Teacher – julia.wake@marymede.vic.edu.au 

What is your role at the College?

I am currently in my third year as Campus Co-ordinator P-12, previously Head of Secondary School for 3 years. I teach young people in the subjects of Religious Education and VET Sport and Recreation at the moment, and have taught Science, Humanities and Chemistry previously.

I am supportive of students and staff engaging in our broad co-curricular program and co-ordinate pre-service teacher placements across P-12. I work closely with our Property and Administration Teams, Teaching Staff and the Parents and Friends Committee and also co-ordinate the event life of Marymede, which is vast and diverse!

My children, Grace and Jimi are students in Year 9 and Year 6, so I sometimes have my parent hat on too!

Tell us about an interesting project or topic that you are currently working on with one of your classes?

I am currently working with some Media and Visual Communication & Design students on two projects:

1.    Child and parent friendly signage for our Primary play areas. Our Visual Communication and Design students created designs for us to choose from and turned the brief into an in-class competition!

2.    A group of our Media students have created a ‘radio podcast’ of interviews with students around the issue of litter. This was used to launch a ‘Keep Marymede Tidy’ campaign to reduce litter being dropped on the ground and caught up in our gardens.

I also keep in close contact with Mernda Rail and distribute the communications we have regarding closures, opening and progress on the nearby ‘Middle Gorge’ Train Station.
 

What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?

As a teacher and leader, I work in the most diverse, satisfying and challenging industry. In 20 years of teaching, not one day has been the same as another! I love kids and community – creating platforms for them to achieve and develop their strengths and talents. The wider community will be rewarded by our children experiencing many opportunities, developing resilience and the capacity to contribute to the best of their ability, particularly here at Marymede!

It is a privileged profession and particularly in the Catholic system where we have the mandate to explain to our students that they are loved by God.

Alongside parents, teachers contribute to developing the amazing creativity and skill base of children, a role of which we can be very proud.

Fast Five:

Favourite Food: Tomatoes – I grow them and make sauce!

Favourite Movie/TV Show: Tombstone, and am really enjoying the series ‘Lost in Space’ at the moment.

Hidden Talent or Something We May Not Know About You: I love watching and supporting local footy – I’ve bumped into many Marymede families around the grounds on a Sunday!

Favourite Sporting Team: Most people know that I am a Richmond Tigers fan! I also follow Renegades in BBL and WBBL and Cricket at an international level.

If You Could Pick Any 3 People as Dinner Guests, Who Would They Be and Why?:

1.    Celia Pacquola – A great local Comedian;

2.    Chyloe Kurdas – Mentor, Coach and Commentator for AFLW at local and state level. Believes that the right process achieves the desired outcome.

3.    Malala Yousafzai – Amazing, hopeful and resilient young woman.