Kennedy staff are sure to be gathered around a grazing board full of cheese and crackers when they farewell Mrs Meredith Lorraine at the end of this year.
“I love preparing food that encourages people to relax, talk and stay around,” says Mrs Lorraine when she points to massive grazing boards as a go-to.
She has taken this communal approach to the management of her classroom, focusing on creating environments where students feel encouraged and supported – which might mean having a recipe saved from disaster or a stich quickly fixed. While there would have been some errors over the years that were beyond even Mrs Lorraine’s skills, she hopes that her students have discovered that mistakes are simply part of the learning process. “Sometimes,” she explains, “the best lessons come from a failed recipe.”
There have been more occasions when things did go to plan, and Mrs Lorraine tells us that her favourite memories included sharing in the pride and success of students when a dish did turn out beautifully. This was especially the case in the Year 9’s hosting of morning and afternoon teas for family, friends and the occasional favourite teacher. Giving back to the community through the creation and donation of Christmas cakes is similarly high on the list of her favourite moments.
But it’s not the smell of a freshly decorated Christmas cake that she will miss, instead it’s the daily interactions, the conversations and the sense of purpose that comes from working with young people. Add to that the frequent College events, the staff celebrations and the camaraderie amongst the staff, it’s fair to say that Mrs Lorraine’s career has been a full one. To those teachers starting out on this journey, she advises, “Be patient with yourself and your students. Teaching is not a race. Build relationships first. Once students know you care, the learning will follow. And remember to look after yourself along the way. A happy, balanced teacher creates a happy, engaged classroom.”
On her own journey, after joining our forerunner, Winthrop Baptist College, Mrs Lorraine has been witness to Kennedy’s growth in both size and spirit. “Our facilities, resources, and learning technologies have evolved so much, giving students opportunities that we only ever imagined” she says.
As she enters retirement – although she is excited to return to provide relief – Mrs Lorraine hopes to continue bumping into past students who will share their own memories and perhaps their own successful recipes. When she does, she hopes that those students would describe her as patient, encouraging and creative. “Or, on days when the kitchen got particularly chaotic, maybe organised, optimistic, and able to problem solve.”
For now, she’s looking forward to less chaos and more relaxing, whether its spending time with family and friends, having coffee, exploring hobbies that she has had on the backburner and perhaps even travelling a little more. She tells us that she’s especially looking forward to holidaying whenever she feels like it!
We wish you the best in your retirement, Mrs Lorraine, and hope that you continue to participate in our community.
