The thick pall of smoke looks like rain clouds to Frank Jones as he sits in St Joseph's Primary School in Taree. It's a trick of light, and as he steps outside, the dry heat and thick blanket of smoke evaporates hope of rain.
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The smell of smoke is familiar to Frank but the school on Kanangra Drive is an environment of unfamiliar faces and pathways leading to classrooms of curious students. He currently leads St Joseph's Primary School in South Grafton but is preparing to exit that position to become the principal of St Joseph's Primary School in Taree from 20 January 2020.
Bushfires in the Grafton area recently devastated the lives of 12 families in his school community, and Frank says he has spent the last week helping them to access services and accommodation.
"Our school draws from Coutts Crossing, Nana Glen, Nymboida, and the fires pretty much ravaged those communities ... 12 families are now living with another 12 families in the school," Frank said.
We organised the donation of all types of things, washing machines, fridges, mattresses and beds, meals, sorting out uniforms, just the things that Catholic communities do very, very well.
- Frank Jones
"We organised the donation of all types of things, washing machines, fridges, mattresses and beds, meals, sorting out uniforms, just the things that Catholic communities do very, very well."
As the bushfires raged in the Grafton region, Frank monitored the news to learn of the bushfires impacting the Mid North Coast.
"We are buying on the outskirts of Wingham, and it's safe from the fires. We had a look yesterday and even though there was plenty of smoke bellowing over the mountain range, we are safe.
"The fires have shown me the spirit that exists in this town ... from all the reports about people in Wingham and Taree, and Old Bar and Crowdy Head, there is just a massive heartbeat with everyone looking after each other."
The retirement of principal Mark Mowbray created the opportunity at St Joseph's in Taree, and Frank describes the decision to leave South Grafton after more than 10 years as being "a family one", as it requires moving his seven-year-old son, and wife from a school and community of people they love.
"I love the Manning Valley, I always have. Born and bred in South Grafton I've played a lot of sport ... rugby league, rugby union, hockey and cricket. I played Far North Coast, and North Coast and NSW school boys and so I have a sporting background and connection to the area."
Frank knows transitions can be challenging, in fact, it's a particular focus in his education career.
"I have a few passions in education - transitions are very important to me, from preschool to kindergarten and from year six into year seven, and also boys education.
"It's not gender based education, it's just understanding the needs of the student that is in front of you. Boys and girls are very different, and one size doesn't fit all in education and so I am very passionate about personalised learning. Research will tell you that boys and girls differ in their educational experiences and education success, and some of it is needless."
Frank is also focused on the need to support students as they transition from St Joseph's Primary School to St Clare's High School.
"If you look to the transition from year six to year seven, it's a difficult time for students. It's very important the journey doesn't start on the first day of year seven, that it starts half way through, if not at the start of year six.
Every human being gets anxious about the unknown and so if we have any opportunity to ease the anxiety of the year six students heading into year seven then we should take it.
- Frank Jones
"Every human being gets anxious about the unknown and so if we have any opportunity to ease the anxiety of the year six students heading into year seven then we should take it."
January 20 will be a milestone moment for Frank and the school community and he says that his "job is accompanying, not directing."
"What is most important to me is that I respect all the work that's been done before me. The school has been successful to date and I will be leading a team, and it's about team. All of us are smarter than one of us, so it's just about finding the community as they are and accompanying them on the journey they are on."
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