“If you see it, say it.”

That’s the simple rule Scarborough Public School’s new principal, Emma Hutchinson, has introduced since starting in January. It’s a reminder to staff and students to notice each other’s strengths and give them a shout out.

She wants children to recognise what they’re good at early, and to start imagining where that might lead them in life.

“If someone hadn’t said or seen something in me when I was a kid, I probably wouldn’t be where I am now,” she says.

“That’s just the culture we’re trying to build – if someone can be attentive to you as an individual student and show you your strengths, who knows where it could take you?”

That belief is behind her plan to bring career planning into the early years, helping even the youngest students talk about what they like, what they’re good at and what they might want to do when they grow up.

“People might not think about career planning for kids as young as this, but it really does make a difference,” Emma says.

This approach to primary education, which aims to nurture each child’s strengths and long-term outcomes, grew from Emma’s time away from teaching.

She completed a master’s in child therapeutic intervention and worked as a child therapist at Bear Cottage in Manly, supporting children and families through paediatric palliative care.

“It was an immense privilege to work with families and children doing end-of-life care and dealing with a lot of long-term chronic illness,” she says.

“I can’t overstate how important it was – it’s definitely shaped me as the person and educator I am now.

“I’ve got this fierce advocacy now, and this unwavering positive regard for every child, and making sure they get to where they need or want to be in life ... that equity lens of ‘no matter where we start, it’s where we finish that matters’.”  

Emma grew up in Engadine and now lives in Thirroul, but her ties to the Northern Illawarra started on visits to Austinmer with her grandparents as a child.

She began her teaching career in Sydney’s inner west and lower north shore, later joining Scarborough Public as a teacher.

She went on to become assistant principal for curriculum and instruction at Ultimo Public, then served as principal at Otford Public for six months before returning to Scarborough as principal.

“It’s a very special place for me and always has been, so I’m extremely proud to be the principal at Scarborough Public School,” she says.

Emma’s four-year vision for the school

Scarborough Public is a small school, with around 70 students enrolled at any one time. Emma has embraced the unique opportunities that come with a smaller setting.

“We can provide a level of personalised care for every child across all domains – intellectual, personal, social, sport, creative,” she says.

“We know each child from kindergarten to year 6, which is an experience they’re never going to have again in their life. That level of care and community is a really unique strength.

“Every single person here wears their heart on their sleeve, and they turn up every day because they care so deeply about these kids.”

Emma is now working on the school’s four-year plan, drawing on the Department of Education’s Plan for Public Education, and a commitment to equity, excellence and helping all students across Scarborough’s three composite classes “connect and thrive”.

“It’s not so much about short-term outcomes for me,” Emma says. “While they’re important, it's about the big picture, and relationships with staff and students.  

“At the end of the day, school is how we spend our days, and we really seek to maximise every day here, every lesson ... we’re really guided by people’s strengths.

Career Day gives kids a glimpse of the future

As part of that vision, Scarborough Public School will hold a Career Day this year, giving students a chance to talk about what they want to do when they grow up.

The school hopes to open kids’ eyes to different possibilities, challenge stereotypes early and help them understand the skills involved in a wide range of jobs.

“We want to do that by getting experts into our school and by getting kids out into industries with different excursions and authentic experiences,” she says. 

“We want to inspire kids from the get-go that anything is possible.

“As a staff, we are currently looking into the research in that space, and that’s going to be a big part of our plan next year around connecting and thriving.

“Thinking about how we set these kids up to think big for a world that we don’t know what jobs are going to look like.”

Scarborough is also running several other new and ongoing programs this year, including:

• an alumni program, in collaboration with Bulli High School, bringing former students back to talk to senior students about high school.
• an inter-generational project where students spend time with residents from Stanwell Park's Kennett Home. Some of the residents will be visiting the school as a surprise on Career Day.
• a weekly community playgroup held each Friday that welcomes local families onto school grounds.
• the Fathering Project, which aims to strengthen connections between fathers or father figures and their kids.
• An art literacy program supported by the school’s annual Scarborough Art Show. An artist-in-residence joins students for two terms each year to work on what Emma calls “incredible conceptual projects”. This year’s art show is in the early stages of planning, and the school is looking for help from the parent community.

Emma says she feels lucky to lead a school where students are genuinely cared for and describes a strong sense of responsibility to the local community.

“You’re so many things to so many people in a small school ... I could be out in the playground fixing something, I could be in a classroom teaching, and then I could have a parent on the phone – there’s so many elements to it.

“I have that deep sense of service to this community, and I feel so lucky to be able to lead and make decisions and listen.  

“The trust that’s instilled within me – I think about it all the time.”