Stawell West Primary School has announced a new interim principal for the first two terms of 2021, to fill the shoes of absent principal Jim O'Brien.
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Ja-San Trimble, who will step into the role after spending eight years as the principal at Halls Gap Primary School, said she was looking forward to helping the pupils transition back to school after a tough 2020.
"I think its fair to say 2020 was a pretty tough year, so this year is about instilling a bit of fun back into school, getting kids re-engaged and making sure they are happy," she said.
"The fun and positive side of it is probably going to play a big part for kids and that's my aim to make this transition as smooth as possible.
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"Hopefully everyone will get to know me, but I won't be having too drastic an impact on the school."
Ms Trimble grew up in Stawell before spending some time teaching at Stawell 502 Primary School, then moved to Halls Gap Primary School to be the principal.
She has joined Stawell West Primary School as part of temporary placements program, where she is stepping in to fulfill the role of principal in the absence of on-going principal Jim O'Brien, who has taken up a temporary role in Horsham.
Ms Trimble said she was looking forward to the challenge of leading a larger school and looking after the wellbeing of her new pupils.
"This is a little bit bigger than the school in Halls Gap, so there is about 44 students at Halls Gap and there is about 90 here, so it is a bigger school and it will be more of a challenging environment," she said.
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"Halls Gap is a beautiful school and it is a great job, but eight years is a long time.
"Sometimes a school can be ready for a change in leadership as much as leaders can be ready for change in schools, so it's good just to give everyone the opportunity to try something else.
"Being a principal is more about the wellbeing side of it, so I am really passionate about making sure everyone has their best interests looked after; staff, kids, parents all of them.
"When you're a teacher you have an affect on your own class and the parents of that class, but I am really passionate looking after everyone's wellbeing.
After her two semesters with Stawell West Primary School, Ms Trimble will return to her ongoing role as principal with the Halls Gap Primary School.
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