It’s time for a fresh start

BRINGING experience, knowledge and passion to the table, Kingston Primary School’s new principal Kelly Dyer has plenty to offer and is excited for the year ahead.

Last year Ms Dyer was awarded the Hardy Fellowship scholarship, which enabled her to travel to the US for a professional training opportunity at Harvard University.

“It was a wonderful experience and an absolute gift,” she said.

“The Hardy Fellowship was an opportunity to delve into discussing classroom decision-making and how that can really add to our teaching and learning programs.”

Ms Dyer began implementing her learning in her role as principal at New Norfolk Primary School last year.

She now hopes to bring that knowledge to Kingston “to work alongside the teaching staff, but also work alongside our students so our students become true partners in learning”.

In her 22 years as a teacher, Ms Dyer has taught in the UK, Oman and a number of schools across the Tasmania.

She has also been a principal for the past six years, including the past three years at New Norfolk Primary School.

“Every school that you teach or lead in you learn new skills, and certainly working abroad allows you to learn and experience different curriculums and experience different cultural ways of doing things,’’ Ms Dyer said.

“It creates a deeper sense of what you believe in, and you can take something from each of those experiences to tweak and build on your practice.”

She said staff at Kingston are looking forward to this year and building on the learning experiences and the opportunities for students.

“There are lots of really wonderful things that are happening at our school, so our goals are to further build on the foundations of positive learning environments, 21st century learning dispositions, and the notion of our students being partners in learning,” Ms Dyer said.

She also wants to create an environment that is powered by curiosity by building on each student’s capacity for curiosity as a resource to explore and understand their day-to-day lives.

Ms Dyer said joining Kingston Primary had been a fantastic and positive experience.

“Kingston Primary School has a really proud teaching and learning history, and as the new principal that sense of pride throughout the school has been highly evident and palpable,” she said.

Kingston Primary School offers a range of learning opportunities and experiences for students, including music, physical education, band, Japanese, maths extension programs and kitchen and garden programs.

“We really look to offer highquality teaching and learning, as well as diverse opportunities for our students,” Ms Dyer said.