Dr Terlizzi’s principles to work by while at De La Salle Holy Cross College
The newly appointed principal shares on the importance of making children feel seen.
The early morning dri ve to De La Salle Holy Cross College is like the drive home for newly appointed junior school principal, Dr Marisa Di Terlizzi.
She shared the legacy she hopes to create as well as the everlasting positive effects she hopes to have on the little ones she plans to help nourish.
Di Terlizzi has always loved children. Her first teaching role was at Franklin D Roosevelt Primary School, a school she attended as a little girl. Later, she moved to study psychology, finding a keen interest in the subject, especially the therapeutic side of it.
After her studies and working in private practice for a while, she found she was better suited to work in schools as she knows she enjoys working in a team. She worked as psychologist at St. Stithians College for nine years, working at two other schools before finally coming to De La Salle Holy Cross College.
Only having been part of this school’s community for a few weeks now, Di Terlizzi expressed how she was appreciative of the loving welcome she received, “I don’t think I have ever experienced such warmth.”
During her introduction to the school, college principal Neil Berdensen gave her a rosary, the same one he used while he was junior school principal – a gesture that made her quite emotional.
An important aspect to her within this role is making sure she remembers the children’s names as she thinks it makes it will make them feel seen and acknowledged. One thing that really excites her about her role is the fact this environment will engage even more with children.
In her time at the school she hopes she encourages a love of school and have it be a place where children can do more than just learn, “Embracing all that the environment can offer, such as being part of outreaches, cultural and sport activities.”
Ultimately, these children will leave junior school, and when they do, she hopes they do so knowing they were each seen by her and that this effort is showed through her endeavour of getting to know them and their unique life experiences faced, individually. “When a child feels as though as they are being seen, it helps build someone who will add value to a community as they will positively contribute to it.”
Related articles:
De La Salle Holy Cross College Junior School celebrates International Literacy Day
De La Salle Holy Cross College Junior School cultivate heritages
