Millie welcomed at Koondrook Primary School

Former, and now returned Barham local, Millie Dean has joined Koondrook Primary School staff as the new Grade 2/3 teacher for 2021 after spending the last two years teaching at Keilor Primary School in Melbourne.

Her first teaching job since completing her degree at Geelong University was at Murrabit Primary School. It was a special time for her, not only because it meant being close to her family in Barham but also due to the welcoming country school atmosphere.

So, when an opportunity came up for her to come back to her roots and away from the busy city life, Millie jumped at the chance.

“It was a great experience teaching in Melbourne, but I did miss the country, so I’m pleased to be back,” she told The Bridge.

A little over a week in, and Millie says she is already feeling she has made the right choice in returning to the country. The support she has received from staff and students since joining Koondrook Primary School has made that all the more reassuring.

“The change of pace, the smaller school, being back on the river and of course being close to family has been amazing. There is such a tight knit community within a country school and you really get to know the families, plus I have such a great little class so I’m really looking forward to the year ahead.”

With such a disrupted year for schools in 2020, we hope all students enjoy an exciting and productive 2021.

** Apologies to Millie for mistakenly originally publishing her name as "Amelia"... The staff at The Bridge have been forced to 100 lines...