GUNNEDAH South Public School has hosted a special visitor for a week all the way from Ontario in Canada.
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Marguerite Campbell is visiting Australia for the first time as part of an international leadership program Leading Educators Around The Planet (LEAP).
Ms Campbell is the principal of Morse Street Public School and is a ‘match’ for South School principal Emma Jeffery through the LEAP program, which connects school leaders around the world.
Mrs Jeffery picked Ms Campbell up from Sydney Airport on July 16 and took her home to Gunnedah to stay with her family.
“We've hit it off like I’ve known her for a long time,” Mrs Jeffery said.
“It’s an amazing opportunity for me. I’m just gobsmacked.”
During her time in Gunnedah, Ms Campbell visited the Waterways Wildlife Park, Porcupine Lookout, Pensioners Hill, GS Kidd Memorial School and the High School. At the school, she participated in a staff development day, sat in on classes and spent time with students in their lunch break.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” she said.
“Children all over the world are exactly the same… They’re curious, they’re bright and lovely.
“We struggle with the same things. It's not any worse and it’s not any better anywhere else.”
Ms Campbell’s school is in the city and has 620 students from varied cultures including the Caribbean, Europe, East-Asia, Korea, Kyrgyzstan and Russia.
“Coming to a country school has been a real eye opener,” she said.
“We have such a short period in which it’s warm that we kind of organise our lives around cold weather.”
Ms Campbell said she decided to sign up for the program after a friend suggested it.
“I have three children who have been everywhere… and I thought, here’s an opportunity to go and participate in something,” she said.
The Canadian left Gunnedah yesterday and flies out on August 6. Mrs Jeffery will visit Ontario in September to spend time at Morse Street Public School.
“I’m really looking forward to learning more about Ontario,” Mrs Jeffery said.