Reflections Of An ‘Ole Boy

Teaching at St. Thomas Aquinas College for almost ten years has been an exciting, challenging, though pleasurable and truly enriching experience for me – all so necessary for my ‘teacher development’.

When I began teaching here (though admittedly with some reluctance) in 1997, after teaching in Chicago, USA, we had barely the essential ingredients with which to begin a school: forty boys, four teachers, and five classrooms. These indeed were the ‘pioneer days’ – difficult and uncertain though they were, yet happy!

It was back in these days that I soon came to the realisation that teaching in a parochial school is certainly no ‘eight-hour per day, five-day week occupation. IT’S YOUR LIFE! We all worked around the clock teaching each day at school, correcting papers, preparing lessons, instructing the less-gifted and wayward boy, supervising study-hall for interstate borders, dealing with hard-to-handle boys, breaking up fights, accommodating borders on week days and week ends in your own home, running backwards and forwards to Hampton for Mass and special occasions, etc, etc, - really took it out of you, though made you learn quick! Little did I realise that ‘all the while’ we were shaping our school for future growth and development.

The plan to establish a girls’ secondary school in close proximity to the boys’ campus was initially a daunting prospect. If at the time the boys seemed to be somewhat restless, disenchanted and often belligerent, well then, what would they be like with girls on the scene? Uggh! Even though it wasn’t easy at first and more vigilance was required, it soon worked out for the better. More teachers trained in specialist areas joined our skeleton staff, the quality of lessons improved, students were noticeably more settled and satisfied, and visible success was eminent. I soon learned that teaching girls can be just as interesting and enjoyable as teaching boys.

The whole establishment process was precipitated by the introduction of a primary school. Too much, too quick? A resounding ‘NO’, not with more dedicated, experienced and able-bodied teachers with a God-given determination to ‘make it all work’. They were gratefully welcomed aboard.

Our growth in student enrolments soon necessitated the building of more classrooms, a library, science room, and administration block. It’s now looking more and more like a school – all happening under Our Lord’s watchful gaze.

In the year of 1999 we introduced the Victorian Certificate of Education course of study for our Year 11 and 12 students. This was made possible through the tireless efforts of former teaching staff members John Dalton and Jacqueline Bellars, with the help of past and present VCE teaching staff. It has become my responsibility and privilege to co-ordinate the VCE course of study at our school. I am sure that the VCE staff would agree with me in saying that it’s all been worth the effort, and that it’s personally satisfying to see students excel in their academic pursuits and later on in their chosen professions.

I wish now to reiterate my opening statement about teaching at St. Thomas Aquinas College: “ …it’s been a pleasurable and truly enriching experience.” I believe wholeheartedly that any teacher is blessed to devote some years of service to our unique ‘microcosm’. The unceasing efforts of priests, teachers, students, parents and parishioners have made our school a happy ‘sphere of operation’ in which to work. May God continue to bless our work, and make it bear even more fruits.

I am so looking forward to seeing many old and familiar faces, and exchanging a tale or two at out tenth anniversary in 2007, which for me will be a ‘trip down memory lane’. Until such time, may God bless and keep you all safe.

Mr. Kevin Ryan
VCE Co-ordinator

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