29 Mar 2019
Congratulations to Mrs Maria O'Harae, our new Principal.
Please read the letters below from John Kennedy, our Director Educational Leadership and from Mrs O'Harae, our new Principal.
Dear Staff, Parents and Carers,
I write to you today to inform you that Mrs Maria O’Harae has been successful in applying for the Principal’s position at Chester Hill High School. I hope that you join me in congratulating her in this success.
Maria has shown exceptional leadership as Relieving Principal and Deputy Principal of Asquith Girls High School and looks forward to joining the Chester Hill High School community. Maria will take up her appointment from the start of Term 2 2019.
I would like to thank the members of the panel who gave a great deal of their time to assist in this critically important process. The panel membership was:
John Kennedy - Director, Educational Leadership Auburn Principals Network (Convenor)
Connie Alves - Principal Dulwich High School of Visual Arts and Design
Andrew Villar- Teacher Chester Hill High School
Mervet Ali – Chester Hill High School P&C representative
Doris Abousalaibi– Chester Hill High School Community Rep
I would also like to acknowledge the hard work put in by Mrs Christina Mateus who has relieved since Mrs. Dabaga’s departure. Her leadership during this period of change has been outstanding.
Please find attached a message from your new Principal, Mrs Maria O’Harae
Yours sincerely
John Kennedy
Director Education Leadership
Auburn Principals Network
28 March 2019
____________________________________________
I am delighted and honoured to introduce myself to you as the new Principal of Chester Hill High School. I have 28 years experience as an educator and educational leader. For the past five years I have been the Deputy Principal at Asquith Girls High School. My career started as a targeted graduate placed at James Busby High School (JBHS) in south west Sydney as a Mathematics teacher. I then progressed to Mathematics Head Teacher at Richmond High School only to return to JBHS as Mathematics Head Teacher and later Deputy Principal (National Partnerships) as my true passion lies in ensuring equity and excellence in education for a diverse range of learners in a safe and harmonious environment.
It is a privilege to be entrusted with the task of providing young people with the essential foundation of knowledge and skills needed to succeed in a complex and dynamic society.
Via my relentless dedication to teaching, learning and wellbeing, my vision for the school is to continue to ensure that all students achieve both academically and socially beyond personal expectations. That they experience an outstanding and enjoyable education and are able to lead rewarding lives as engaged citizens who make positive contributions to their communities.
Working collaboratively with our learning community, we can achieve this ambitious vision.
Mrs Maria O'Harae (BSc, MEd, DipEd, Sydney University)