Sitting in the café at SPCC Newcastle, Alumni Erin Gleeson (Palmowski) shared that, 21 years after graduation, most of her Junior School teachers are still at the College. The mum of two reflected on how special it has been having her sons taught by those who taught her. To celebrate how extraordinary it is that seven of her eight Junior School teachers are still at the College, we gathered these teachers and some of her K-12 peers for a picture.

The Class of 2003 were taught by Jo Birchill (Kinder), Liz Moir (formerly Antcliff, Year 2), Lyndal McCowen (Year 3), Heather Nixon (Year 4), Brian McCowen (Year 5) and Graeme Evans and Brian McCowen (Year 6). Not pictured is Mrs Peck (Year 1, no longer at SPCC) and Brian McCowen (also Year 5, on long service leave).

A big shoutout to Josh Whiddon, Heather Pickering (King), and Chelsea Beech (Rule) for joining this heartwarming celebration of our dedicated Junior School team!

Name: Erin Gleeson (Palmowski)

I’m currently… a business owner, a mum, a speech pathologist and a literacy consultant.

I was at SPCC Newcastle from … 1991 - 2013 (Kindy to Year 12).

At school I... was part of everything and loved being here – sports, musicals, book weeks, Coachwood, even a History and Textiles trip overseas. We had a great year group and great teachers. The school was such a close community and it felt like a second home.

My best memory of SPCC... I remember doing a mud day in kindergarten – we were doing Mrs Wishy Washy and there was a slopy grassy hill where A Field is now, and we had lots of mud. I also loved performing as part of coral groups – we went to Sydney Town Hall to perform - and even performed at the NBN studio at Christmas time in Year 1.

A staff member that particularly impacted me was…there are so many. AJ, our PE teacher, had a huge impact on so many of us. He taught us real life skills and was very supportive. Malcom East was also such a great and engaging teacher. And every one of my Primary School teachers had a huge impact.

When I left school, I wanted to…be a speech pathologist.

I never dreamed I would… own my own company! It wasn’t on the radar. But now I own a company called The Ability Collective with two clinics and six speech pathologists supporting people of all ages across Newcastle and the Hunter. I also work in consultancy in schools doing clinical supervision.

I’m most proud of… my kids.

My greatest achievement is... being a parent. And now seeing my two boys at the College I went to is so special. It is so good to see them thrive in an environment they love and see them surrounded by great friends.

The best piece of advice I ever received... Back yourself. Have a go, you have nothing to lose.

Something new you have taken on…Water polo. I have always been a swimmer and played netball, but I suggested to my friend we play. It is wild, but a lot of fun.