Class act helps kids into Norlane community

FOR JENNY Griffiths, teaching at Norlane’s St Aquinas Primary School is much more than just classroom time.
Ms Griffiths is no stranger to juggling multiple extra-curricular learning activities and after-school programs with her already-hectic teaching schedule.
Her diverse role covers everything from reading-recovery teacher, literacy and pastoral care leadership and lunchtime reading club coordination through to managing early-morning breakfasts and refugee program Mercy Connect.
On top of all, she also runs Saint Thomas Aquinas’s mentoring program for children, known as STAMPS.
Ms Griffith’s dedication and passion for teaching was among local success stories celebrated during Literacy and Numeracy Week.
“It’s an absolute pleasure to work with such a diverse group of children and their families (in) a rewarding job that has motivated me to continue my role at the school for so long,” she said.
“One of my favourite programs is Mercy Connect, (which) I’ve been coordinating for three years now. We work with refugee children in the school to teach them English and help them integrate with ease.
“Mercy Connect also welcomes volunteers from the community to help the children’s parents learn to read and write, so it’s not only about the children but the whole family as well.”
Ms Griffiths enjoyed helping students “integrate into the broader community”.
“I love being a part of Norlane; it’s grown immensely over the years and developed into a budding community that’s very supportive of each other, full of wonderful young kids with a bright future.”