My name is Robyn Kelly and I am very excited to have been appointed as the Foundation Principal for the new Catholic School, St Teresa of Kolkata, Tarneit North. St Teresa of Kolkata is part of the St James the Apostle, Hoppers Crossing Parish.

St Teresa of Kolkata Primary school will be officially welcoming students from January 2024 but I will be working behind the scenes this year to ensure we are ready to go at the start of Term one next year.

I have been in Catholic education for over 30 years. During that time, I have taught across all grades and held different leadership positions in a variety of schools. I even taught overseas for several years. Most recently I was the principal at a primary school in Brooklyn, Melbourne. My husband Tim has been a Catholic school principal for many years and he has also recently opened a new school, so it is definitely in the family! We have one son Thomas, who has just followed his dream to be a lawyer in Canberra and has only just recently relocated interstate. I miss him every day!

There are so many aspects of teaching that I love. I love being part of a school family where everyone is valued for what they bring to the community. I love working alongside staff to deliver an education that is of the highest quality and where every child feels success. I love watching the joy in the children’s faces as they learn something new. I love building relationships with parents, staff, parishioners and children. I love being part of the Catholic community where the Gospel values underpin all that we do.

I am especially excited to be the principal of a school that has been named after Mother Teresa who has always been someone I have greatly admired and respected. My vision for this new school is that it will be a reflection of all that Mother Teresa did during her life. It will be a school where everyone is welcome, where every voice will be heard and where every child will be nurtured in a safe and inclusive environment.

This school will not be my school, it will be our school. In the words of St Teresa ““I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.”

I can’t wait for our journey to begin!