Jacey Long is Kerry Street’s Year 1/2 class teacher. Jacey brings a strong passion for creative and performing arts into her teaching after attending John Curtin College of the Arts, and later studying Drama and Visual Art at Edith Cowan University. Following her passion for the arts, Jacey attended Murdoch University, graduating with a Bachelor of Early Childhood and Primary Education, where she has been able to share her artistic knowledge and enthusiasm with future generations.
While at Murdoch, Jacey travelled to Kunming, China, and taught at Beanstalk International Bilingual School under the New Colombo Plan Scholarship Program. In the life-changing and eye-opening experience, Jacey was able to see the International Baccalaureate Curriculum in full swing and it also gave her a lot of experience with English as Second Language students. In Jacey’s fourth year of her teaching degree, she was chosen as an intern and taught a Pre-Primary class at Bertram Primary School.
In 2019, Jacey began her Kerry Street journey as Drama and Music specialist. She was also frequently seen around the school as a regular relief teacher. At the end of 2019, Jacey was offered the position of class teacher.
As a teacher, Jacey places a large emphasis on meeting her students’ needs as individuals and creating meaningful relationships with every child in the school. She uses her silly sense of humour to make learning entertaining and keep kids engaged. Her classroom is always one with lots of laughter!
Jacey has fully embraced the Inquiry-based approach used here at Kerry Street. In 2021, Jacey presented her Inquiry journey into arcade games to a group of Early Childhood Educators at an AISWA Professional Learning Workshop. It’s a fact that children have a natural curiosity about life and it is her aim as their teacher to capture that curiosity and facilitate meaningful learning experiences. Jacey believes that Inquiry-based pedagogy helps students to become fully realised participants within their community.
“One thing that makes Kerry Street kids unique is their genuine concern for the world’s people and our environment. Our students have an investment in making our school, community and country a better place for everyone.”
Jacey Long
In the Year 1/2 class, Jacey encourages our students to drive the learning experiences by participating in goal-orientated projects that link with their interests and many of our goals are geared towards creating safe spaces for animals and educating the community on issues we consider important.
Simonne works as an Education Assistant in the Moorditj Yonga Mia or Year 1/2 class. Before she began working at the school, she was first a parent. She was drawn to the school because of its strong community focus, its commitment to Inquiry and Play-Based learning, the acceptance and respect that the staff have for the children, its eclectic philosophy and approach to teaching, the freedom that the children have to express themselves and the support that they receive as they develop their sense of self in the world.
Simonne is very excited to be working at Kerry Street and brings with her over 15 years of experience working with children in a range of settings. She has studied early childhood learning and development in both New Zealand and Australia and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Design and Photography and is a qualified New Zealand Playcentre Educator. She believes that forming positive relationships is the most important element of her role and is committed to building connections with the children so that they feel safe, understood and loved as they begin their learning journey at Kerry Street.
“Witnessing and supporting children as they form relationships, play, grow, learn and create magical memories together, is what brings me joy.”
Simonne Hamman