A FAMILIAR face to Quambatook Group School and its supporters is overseeing the management of the school until a new principal is appointed.
Xanthie Girdwood, who is into her third year of teaching at the school, is the acting principal for term one.
Mrs Girdwood – who spent 10 years teaching at Melbourne’s Wonga Park Primary School – took on the leadership role after the school’s original replacement for Greg Adams, who is now at Leitchville Primary School, gained employment at another location.
“The community has been exceptionally supportive of me, including school council president Briony Baker and business manager, Kerrie Knight,” she said.
The school has five students this year spanning grades two, four and five, with Mrs Girdwood overseeing classwork during the first week of term.
A new classroom teacher will temporarily fill Mrs Girdwood’s teaching role until a new principal is found.
“I’ve still been teaching the children, but I’ve got more of a whole of school responsibility,” she said.
“I’m learning more about budgets, timetabling and booking scheduling in school events.”
Despite the disruption to the start of the year, Mrs Girdwood aims to ensure a smooth transition for the school’s pupils.
This includes preparation for what is becoming a feature of the school’s curriculum – a major community celebration or initiative at the end of each term.
“The children are exceptionally adaptable,” Mrs Girdwood said.
