AS a student, Mark Bursik made the most of Atholton Primary School’s sport and academic offerings. Little did he know that more than 30 years later, he would be the newly appointed principal. The 48-year-old recently took over from Graham Aaron, who had been at Atholton for 23 years and he has been the principal since 1996. Bursik besides being a former learner, also served as a teacher, a head of department and deputy principal.
The local resident said he is determined to help every student gain the skills and experiences they need to succeed beyond primary school.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I’d be a principal at a school I attended as a learner. I had my heart set on being a farmer, like my dad. I’m not aware of many other principals that have gone from learner to principal but it’s an honour to lead such a prestigious school. It’s a huge responsibility being named as principal but it’s an exciting prospect at the same time. Mr Aaron was an absolute gentleman and devoted so much to Atholton, something I’m hoping to emulate. The staff and parents have also been amazing, they’ve made the transition very easy for me,” Bursik said.
Bursik said he would continue to help learners persevere in and out of the classroom, telling them never to give up.
“All learners can pursue anything and everything they’ve ever thought of pursuing,” he said. “The only limits are the limits they put on themselves. I hope to continue the proud tradition at the school and help the learners reach their full potential.”
