29 Jul 2024
Dear families,
It is with great excitement that I join the Callaghan College Community as principal of Waratah Campus.
I am returning to Newcastle after 37 years teaching in Sydney. I grew up in Newcastle and attended Cooks Hill Public School and Newcastle High School. I completed by education degree at the old Newcastle College of Advanced Education, since merged with the University of Newcastle.
As a passionate and proud supporter of Public Education I commenced my career at Dunheved High School in Western Sydney and went on to be Head Teacher PDHPE and then Head Teacher Teaching and Learning at Cheltenham Girls High School for 16 years before becoming a Deputy Principal at Crestwood High School.
This will be my third school as principal having served the communities of Sydney Secondary College Leichhardt Campus (7-10) for 6 years and most recently, Rose Bay Secondary College for the past 3 years. I have served as an executive on the NSW Secondary Principals council for the past two years.
It gives me great pleasure to return home to work in the Callaghan College Waratah Campus. A cherished lesson I learnt in my first year of teaching is one which guides my leadership of teaching, learning and wellbeing. The advice provided to me by an experienced colleague was to ensure that every student achieved some level of success in every lesson. This lesson will be ever present in my mind as I start my journey as principal at Waratah Campus.
I look forward to working closely with my fellow College principals, getting to know your young people and serving this wonderful community.
I would like to extend my gratitude to Mrs. Nicole Avard for her exceptional leadership as the Relieving Principal of Waratah Campus over the past 12 months and for her support during my transition into this role.
I look forward to meeting each of you and embarking on this exciting journey together.
Warm regards,
Melinda Bright
Waratah Campus Principal