Hello to our wonderful St Mary’s School community. A bit about myself …

Having grown up the eldest of five sisters and playing ‘schools’ on weekends, I always wanted to be a teacher. In fact, I wanted to be a teaching nun like my aunties. Well … I didn’t become a nun. I married a local ‘Crookwell lad’ and now have two adult children. But of course … I did become a teacher, graduating from Signadou Teachers College in Canberra (now ACU) in 1989. I have been teaching at St Mary’s ever since and I love it. It’s not a job, it’s a passion.

I have taught all grades and, as you can imagine, many, many children over the years. And I have heard many, many ‘stories’. I take great delight in hearing a friendly “Hi Mrs Skelly. Remember me?” from ‘grown-up’ ex-students when out and about socially. I always remember them … and have to persuade them to call me ‘Therese’. These days I am teaching the ‘kids of the kids’ I taught ... and some still call me Mrs Skelly ?. This never makes me feel OLD! On the contrary, it makes me proud that I am still as passionate about kids and teaching and learning as I was 30 years ago. I love every single one of the kids I meet. For me, teaching is a work of HEART. I consider it a sacred responsibility to be entrusted with a child’s education, growth, development and well-being. I’m a firm believer in the positive power of fun and laughter and never miss an opportunity to create or share a laugh. You should see my ‘costume/props’ cupboard.

‘Teachers have 3 loves: Love of learning, love of learners, and love of bringing the first 2 loves together!’

Along with my teaching role, I am the Religious Education Coordinator for St Mary’s, which I absolutely love as it allows me to live my faith more deeply and share it with others.

You may have heard that my other love is … The Canberra Raiders. It’s a family trait. I have managed to recruit many a child to the Raiders’ fan club over the years. If anyone ever finds themselves with unused free tickets to games, I can always put them to good use? ? ?