Cindy May is an experienced upper primary teacher who is passionate about creativity, mathematics and inquiry learning. She has always believed that ‘it takes a village to raise a child’. Cindy has a Bachelor of Education Primary, Major in English. In 2018 she was awarded for Academic Excellence in English Education from the University of Notre Dame Fremantle and Primary Education Teaching Association Australia (PETAA). She has worked in alternative schools before including Lance Holt School and has also taught in the Kimberley Region.
Cindy has driven the development of project-based learning in schools. She recently facilitated an Artists in Residence Project involving approximately 160 students plus the wider school community members. Cindy was the Artist in Residence in collaboration with Larrakia Artist, Trent Bundirrik Lee. This extensive project was created to promote intercultural understanding, creativity, and the innovation of the use of design technology in the school. It resulted in a large mural which the students designed and painted in collaboration with Cindy and Trent.
Cindy encourages the idea that maths is everywhere and is for everyone! She is passionate about understanding mathematical pedagogy and is always searching for new ways to teach concepts. She recently provided professional development sessions to her colleagues about Digi Blocks (place-value resource), activity helping to encourage the love of maths. In 2022 she facilitated the assessment of mathematical data across the Darwin Region. This involved the analysis of primary and middle school student mathematics results as well as comparing teaching pedagogy, in particular mathematical language, in primary and middle years classrooms.
Cindy is committed to delivering evidenced based pedagogy that involves every child’s interests. She eagerly engages her students by using open-ended questions, student-centered content, real-world problems, evidence-based scaffolding as well as explicit communication strategies. Cindy is known for providing appropriate social and emotional support as well as being inclusive, kind and welcoming. She believes school should be a safe and supportive place and does everything she can to ensure this is true for all children.
“Tell me and I’ll forget, show me and I’ll understand, involve me and I’ll learn.”
Cindy May
Carolyn MacDonald currently works as the Year 3/4 Education Assistant alongside Cindy. She also provides support in the year 5/6 class on Wednesdays. Carolyn began her Kerry Street journey in February 2013, and quickly became a pivotal member of our community.
Prior to working in the Education field, Carolyn worked as a Registered Nurse, but wanted a change of scenery, and it is evident in her interactions with students and staff that she has found her place. Her nursing skills however, have not been put to rest, she can be an extremely handy person to have around for First Aid emergencies.
“I love working with students because of the opportunity to be part of the amazement and joy that comes from their learning and discovery.”
Carolyn MacDonald
Carolyn believes that learning should incorporate a good balance of play-based exploration in both small and whole-group sessions, and that it should also include a sense of safety, community and a big dose of humour.