James Sheahan Catholic High School assistant principal Peter Meers will step up into the role of principal on January 29.
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He will follow Mark Pauschmann, who was principal for the past seven years but will move on to become principal of Parramatta Marist High School next year.
“It Is an exciting time at Sheahan,” Mr Meers said.
“My mission is to continue, in the spirit of our previous principals, to continually imagine ways of creating an education and opportunities that will prepare our students for the incredibly challenging and changing world they will face, to give them experiences that cater and recognise each and every one of our students, and to inspire them to live our values and be guided by our faith.”
He said one of the biggest challenges is preparing students to enter a workforce in a rapidly changing world.
To achieve that the school will take part in Sydney University’s science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) project next year.
He said wellbeing programs will also help address the growing concerns of anxiety, depression and mental health among students.
“I feel we provide a powerful 21st century education, very much built on the concept of a holistic education, where hopefully our students leave with a strong sense of faith, with skills to help them to be both successful in careers and also to be successful in all aspects of their lives, in families, in communities and within themselves,” Mr Meers said.
He has a 30 year teaching career that has included roles as an English teacher and religious education teacher at various schools including Canobolas Rural Technology High School.
However, since 2006 he has worked at James Sheahan as English coordinator, before becoming assistant principal in 2009 and he has also previously been a head teacher of both HSIE and English.
Mr Meers said he can identify with the experiences and needs of students living in a country area having attended St.Matthew’s Catholic School in Mudgee followed by Mudgee High School.
“I do hope our students leave with a strong understanding of compassion guided by Catholic teaching – a compassion that goes beyond their immediate family and friends to their communities and to those with far less in our society and in our world,” he said.