Gary Smith

Quick Links

How to Enrol
Information Sessions
Fees Information
Location & Bus Routes
Contact Us

Pay Fees

Employment Opportunities

towards2010

gary

Gary Smith
Title	Year 7 Co-ordinator, English and Humanities Teacher, Year 7 Homegroup Teacher
Biography	Gary Smith completed a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Melbourne and a Diploma in Education at Melbourne State College. Gary has an adventurous spirit and while at university, he joined a group of students to spend four weeks trekking in the Himalayan mountains to reach Everest Base Camp - an experience he will never forget. His first teaching appointment was at Whitefriars College in Donvale. At Whitefriars, he gained much experience working with the Year 7 Pastoral Team. As Head of Geography, Gary organised many Year 9 and Year 12 camps to one of his favourite areas in Victoria - the Grampians. He is delighted to note that the Acacia Year 5 - 7 camp for 2010 will be held at Halls Gap. During this time, Gary completed a Master of Educational Studies at Monash University, focusing on curriculum research. In 1992, Gary and his family moved to Alice Springs so that he could take on the role of Head of House and Head of LOTE at St. Philip’s College, a Uniting Church school that was in its third year of operation. Here he was able to establish a sister school relationship with a school in Indonesia, in order to facilitate student and staff exchanges. During this time and studying long distance, he was also able to complete a Graduate Certificate in School Management. Gary reflects that the sense of a strong pioneering spirit in such a new school was very rewarding. Gary comes to Acacia College most recently from Goulburn Valley Grammar School in Shepparton where he has enjoyed a number of roles including Head of LOTE, Year 7 Coordinator and Year 8 Coordinator. A highlight for 2009 was leading a small group of students to the beautiful tropical rainforests of Sarawak on the island of Borneo where they were able to see semi-wild orangutans and stay in an Iban longhouse. During the summer season, Gary plays A Grade tennis and he enjoys boating and camping with his family. His latest passion is playing the piano, but concedes that his first public performance is a long way off! Gary is excited about the whole Acacia College concept and is looking forward to the years ahead as Year 7 Coordinator whilst teaching English and Humanities.