Please find the annual 2017 School Board Report HERE
| Board Chair | Emma Herrick | e_pyne@hotmail.com |
| Principal | Hayden O’Mara | Hayden.O’Mara@education.wa.edu.au |
| Deputy Principal | Dave Sachse | David.Sachse@education.wa.edu.au |
| Parent Representatives | Cate Turk | cate.turk@fau.de |
| Joanna Ryan | ryan.joanna@santamaria.wa.edu.au | |
| Jennifer Jackson | jfaulknerjackson@gmail.com | |
| Katrina Sachse | katrina.sachse@iinet.net.au | |
| Tamsin McArdle | tamsinmcardle@gmail.com | |
| Nicole O’Connor | nicole.o-connor@sap.com | |
| Nina Rovis-Hermann | nina_simon@aapt.net.au | |
| Staff Representatives | Belle Thompson | Isabelle.Thompson@education.wa.edu.au |
| Nikki Rooke | Nicola.Rooke@education.wa.edu.au | |
| Jen O’Neill | Jennifer.Oneill@education.wa.edu.au | |
| Community Representative | Serena Davie (University of Notre Dame) | serena.davie@nd.edu.au |
Fremantle Primary School’s Board was formed in 2015 when the school became an Independent Public School. The School Board meets two to three times per term, usually in the evening, in the school library.
Fremantle Primary School is lucky to have such a committed and diverse Board. Members have a wide range of professional backgrounds and experiences which are highly beneficial to the school. The Board comprises eight parent representatives (elected via the parent community) and five staff members (elected via staff and include the Principal and Deputy Principal). Members have different tenures ranging from one to three years, to enable continuity.
Fremantle Primary School has enjoyed a successful partnership with Notre Dame University over the last few years, especially with ICT implementation its Junior Primary classrooms. This relationship has been strengthened by co-opting a representative from the University onto the School Board to provide valuable guidance and input. The school will also be investigating other co-opting opportunities.
The Board played a crucial role in setting the new strategic direction of the school. In autumn 2015, it comprehensively revised the school’s vision, mission statements, values and strategic priority areas, thus developing its aspirations for the next few years.
The Board now provides ongoing scrutiny and accountability, especially for activities and outcomes in each of the four strategic priority areas. This overseeing ensures that the school is continually striving for excellence, and that this enables each and every student to achieve their personal best both educationally and socially.
Emma Herrick, B.A (Hons).
Board Chair
Parent Representative
My two children have attended Fremantle Primary School since 2012 when we moved to Australia from the UK. I was lucky to enrol them at such a fantastic, vibrant and welcoming school.
I joined the School Council in 2012 and then became the Chair of the School Board (as it has become) in 2015. I am also an active member of the P&C.
I have a passionate interest in education, and have helped to shape the strategic direction of the school over the last few years. I have also suggested various beneficial programs and initiatives that have been subsequently embedded.
Professionally, I have nearly 20 years’ experience in project and program management; community and partnership development; and urban regeneration and renewal. Many of these skills are of benefit to the School Board.
Over the coming years I want Fremantle Primary School to maximise the opportunities provided through our new Independent Public School status, and ensure that it is an excellent school of choice where every child reaches their full potential.
Dave Sachse
Deputy Principal
Since joining Fremantle Primary School in 2006, I have really enjoyed being part of such a vibrant and busy school community. In a teaching career of 30 years, I have worked in a variety of primary, district high and remote community schools as teacher or administrator. Other than Freo, career highlights include 7 years as principal of a remote school and taking the whole school on camp to Uluru and Alice Springs by driving across the Great Central Rd, 7 years in beautiful Exmouth and the very rewarding experience of living and working overseas on teacher exchange (organising a Year 6 camp to Paris). My special interests include travel (100 countries and counting!), photography, camping, lapidary, cooking and music. Outside of school, I love to spend time with my family and never miss the opportunity to watch the mighty Freo Dockers live. I had my son graduate from Fremantle PS in 2016 and a daughter just beginning Kindy here in 2017.
Cate Turk
Parent Representative
Jo Ryan
Parent Representative
Jennifer Jackson (BSW, MCCP)
Parent Representative
I’m the mother of Eleanor (Yr 3), Odetta (Yr 1) and Harry (due to start kindy next year). My husband, Henry, and I moved to Fremantle from Melbourne, in 2010, having worked in environment and planning law, and child mental health services, respectively. We have been particularly keen on supporting Fremantle Primary develop its environmental awareness and principles of sustainability through connecting students to nature in their playgrounds, and their native and kitchen gardens. We love the inner city aspect of Fremantle Primary and all that Fremantle has to offer in terms of diversity, accessibility, beautiful beaches and a community that values the arts.
Katrina Sachse
Parent Representative
I’m a parent of two boys Milan and Gabriel, we have been a Fremantle Primary School family since the boys were at the Early Childhood Centre. I have lived and worked in remote areas of WA working with a diverse range of people in arid land management and community engagement after having completed a degree in Environmental Science. I have attained qualifications in alternative dispute resolution and when my boys were very young I pursued a personal interest in the Montessori style of education for primary children. I now work for a local council. I have had a long association with Fremantle having completed my high school years here and love everything Fremantle has to offer. I find the Fremantle Primary School community welcoming and united in supporting a quality school experience for all our children and I’m honoured to be a part of it.
Tamsin McArdle
Parent Representative
I am the mother of Wilhelmina (Year 4/ 2016) and Emmanuelle (Year 1/ 2016). Wilhelmina started in Kindy in 2011 having moved as a family to WA from London in 2010. My husband, Justin, has been visiting relatives in and around Fremantle over the past 40 years so has a close connection to the area. Both of our backgrounds is in the arts and media and as a graduate and post graduate of History of Art and Contemporary Art Theory I have a keen interest in the visual arts and all forms of creative expression. Professionally I have worked in television production for most of my career making programmes for various UK broadcasters as well as more recently documentaries for the ABC and SBS. As a family we were drawn to Fremantle Primary School’s creative and inclusive community and I would like to help the school continue to embrace the arts as it moves forward as an Independent Primary School.
Nina Rovis-Hermann
Parent Representative
Nicole O’Connor (B.A., H.Dip Ed., M.A.)
Parent Representative
I am a mother of two boys, Luka is attending pre-primary at Fremantle Primary School and Torin is 14 months old. I am a secondary school teacher by profession but have been working in the world of corporate ICT for the past 18 years – 15 of those in Perth where I moved to from Ireland. I am currently the State Manager for SAP in WA. My husband is a Serbian-born South Freo boy who runs his own small business and we feel a deep sense of connection with the multicultural, artistic and historic community of Fremantle. We want to help the continued growth and development of our home and to support FPS in its vision to build for the future while respecting its past .
Nikki Rooke
Staff Representative
Belle Thompson
Staff Representative
Jen O’Neill
Staff Representative
Serena Davie BSc (Hons), PGCE, MEd (Leadership and Management)
University of Notre Dame Representative
I am a secondary science teacher and have taught in the UK and in Australia. My current role in the School of Education at the University of Notre Dame is to facilitate pre-service teacher placements in schools. I am currently completing a PhD on the use of mobile learning in early childhood education. Other research interests include rural and remote practicum experiences for pre-service teachers and the role of teachers in childcare settings.
I live in Fremantle and my two children both attended Fremantle Primary School.