Year Level Coordinators

Year 7 Coordinator

Ms. Tara Tartaglia

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Tara Tartaglia is currently the Year 7 Coordinator for 2022. She has taught a range of subjects over the years, ranging from Humanities to Language to Religious Education. Tara was born and raised in Darwin. Her love for children and inspiration she received from several teachers in High School and Church, is what led her to discover her own passion for teaching. Tara completed a double degree with a Bachelor of Teaching and Learning and a Bachelor of Creative Arts and Industries at Charles Darwin University. She started teaching at the College in 2018, returning after being a former student from 2008 to 2009. Tara also spent some time teaching in Adelaide in 2016 and in Darwin at Sanderson Middle School in 2017. 

 Tara's vision is to ensure a strong sense of belonging and community is established. To do this successfully, it is essential that her student's wellbeing is a priority and as a leader this is her main focus in serving her Year 7 cohort. She believes and makes it possible for her students to have every opportunity to reach their full potential and be the best versions of themselves. “Together, we can celebrate each other’s success and lift up one another when we fall.” 

Year 8 Coordinator

Ms. Joanne Green

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Ms Jo Green has moved into this new role, previously leading the Arts and Technology learning areas as the Head of the Department. Jo is excited about the opportunity and is looking forward to working more closely with the year 7 students.

 Ms Green joined the College community after completing her teaching qualification from CDU in 2010. Working in the hospitality and design industry before completing a Bachelor of Visual Arts has helped Ms Green to bring creativity to the College community. Much of her work over the years here, has been focused on putting an emphasis on showcasing the student’s creative work to the College community. She helped build the College’s creative arts festival into an annual calendar highlight as well as producing the College’s musical comeback with Mulan in 2018, Aladdin in 2019 and O to the C in 2021. Ms Green prides herself on creating atmospheres that foster positive relationships with students and believes creativity is a vital and enriching part of education. “My goal is to ensure students feel welcomed and that they belong. They need to be exposed to a variety of creative processes that will enable them to enrich their life.” Ms Green advocates that an education enriched with creativity helps students for the challenges for life after high school. She is very excited to be continuing in the role of year 8 team leader. Her goal is to strengthen and build relationships with students and to create positive and engaging learning environments to help with differentiation, inclusion and student engagement.​

Year 9 Coordinator

Mrs. Maree Hammer

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Maree Hammer is part of the O’Loughlin Catholic College pastoral care team, fulfilling the role of Year Eight Team Leader in 2021.

Maree’s main goals as a Year Level Coordinator are to provide academic, emotional, social and spiritual support to students and importantly forming effective and caring teacher to student relationships.

She has worked in a pastoral role at the College since 2016 and during that time Maree has improved what she does by training in Resilience, Mental Health Awareness, First Aid and the Peer Support Programs. Her greatest accomplishments in her role as a Year Level Coordinator include organising the 2018 Year Eleven Odyssey trip, fundraising for and organising the 2019 Year Twelve Graduation, organising a trip to the Tiwi Islands with Year Ten students and transitioning Year Seven students successfully into Middle School this year.

Before becoming a teacher Maree worked in several fields including hospitality and Environmental Science. After becoming a mother she realised how rewarding it would be to work as a teacher and decided to go back to University to obtain her degree. During that time at University, Maree became very interested in the importance of student wellbeing and relationship building, she advocates that both are required if students are to be successful in Education.

Maree looks forward to continuing her pastoral care role at the college and is looking to continue upskilling and improving her capabilities in the position.

Year 10 Coordinator

Mr. Max Jones

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Max Jones is a Science and Humanities teacher who has previously worked in the Tourism field and for the South Australian Department of Environment. He has a Bachelor of Science and Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning from Charles Darwin University. With diverse experiences outside and within education, Max is the current Year 9 Coordinator who leads the Personal Development and Pastoral Care and Well-being for our students in their final year of Middle School. As someone who loves the multi-faceted challenges of teaching and learning, Max strives to educate the whole person and has worked towards this through his classroom teaching, teaching and learning initiatives, and through his involvement in Year 9 Camps, Team Building days, the College's Big Bike Ride and the PNGAus Secondary Schools Partnership Program

Year 11 Coordinator

Ms. Mickayla Ward

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Mickayla Ward is originally from Melbourne, Victoria and has worked in various roles before realising her passion for teaching. She graduated at Victoria University in 2009 with a Bachelor of Business, majoring in Event Management. Mickayla worked for Staging Connections onsite at 5-star venues; the Grand Hyatt and Crown Towers in Melbourne, Victoria. She developed a great appreciation for being organised, having excellent time management skills and the importance of interpersonal relationships.

Mickayla chose to return to study in 2013 and attained a Graduate Diploma of Secondary Education, majoring in Business and Middle Years teaching, at Victoria University.

She has taught, mentored and coached students ranging from middle years to VCE, the Victorian equivalent of SACE. She was in a similar role, as Year 7 Coordinator, for two years at her previous school, Laverton P-12 College, in Melbourne, Victoria. Mickayla is community minded and involved in all things related to sport and living a healthy lifestyle. She excels in building a rapport with her students and supporting them to achieve their goals. Mickayla enjoys being a role model and understands how important building connections is with students. She is very passionate about delivering curriculum related to improving the overall health and wellbeing of all students. Mickayla predominantly teaches Health and Physical Education and Sport Physiology.

Mickayla has a huge love for sport. She recently began playing Australian Rules Football and has captained the Western Bulldogs football team to a Grand Final appearance in the Victorian Football League in 2019. She continues to play with the Nightcliff Football Club in their Women’s Premier League, as well as coach the club’s Under 16 Girls football team.

Year 12 Coordinator

Mr. Jake Barnes

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Jake Barnes is a Health, Physical Education and Outdoor Education teacher who was born in Alice Springs, lived in Ngukurr and moved to Darwin when he was roughly three years old. He completed a double degree with a Bachelor of Teaching and Learning and a Bachelor of Science (Exercise and Sport Science) at Charles Darwin University after receiving a scholarship from the Northern Territory Government. Jake started teaching at the College in 2011, returning after being a former student from 2002 to 2004, in that time he has spent some time teaching in London in 2013 and Katherine in 2016. Outside of the College, he is a well-respected A Grade Rugby League Coach at the Litchfield Bears, winning back to back premierships in 2018, 2019. Jake believes that positive relationships are the cornerstone of building an inclusive and successful culture within the College community.