Judy Goodsell is the Principal of Balgowlah Heights Public School, a school my family and I know well as my son studied through here (and is now at Sydney Grammar in the city) and my daughter is here now. We sat down with Judy to talk about the school, what brought her to Balgowlah Heights and what parents can do to get involved in the area.
In our video interview with Judy, she talks about her long career in teaching and the joy it has brought her. She has been a principal at two previous schools, with the last school she taught at being very similar in terms of the surrounding community and the people she interacted with to Balgowlah Heights. The main difference of course was the size of the school with only 360 students compared to Balgowlah Heights’ 720 students.
Today, Judy remains focused on the school vision – striving for excellence and opportunity for all of her students. She wants each of them to be respectful, responsible and have a love for learning when they leave the school – something that drives what she does every day.
Parents are a big part of what makes Balgowlah Heights Public School such a success as well. Judy discusses many of the things that parents do and interact with at the school throughout the term. From welcoming parents to the classroom for assistance as classroom helpers to their involvement in the PNC running the canteen or uniform shop, their role is incredibly important.
Specifically, there are a number of social activities that help to fund the robotics program, band program (which has a wonderful reputation in the community) and other programs for students by the PNC.
It’s too to benefit the students, and it allows Judy to do everything she can to focus on that school mission and vision for each of them.