Emma left Australia’s shores for three weeks, spending time in Ontario in Toronto as part of the international leadership program Leading Educators Around The Planet (LEAP).

The principal, and her husband Todd, stayed with her LEAP ‘match’, Marguerite Campbell, who is principal of Morse Street Junior Public School. Marguerite visited Gunnedah in July and spent time at South School.

Emma went to Marguerite’s school each day, attending meetings, sitting in on classes, and joining students for lunch.

“You live and breathe it,” Emma said.

“Everywhere you go, you talk about education.”

Though South School and Morse Street school have a similar number of students, Emma was surprised by some of the differences, including the evident patriotism, and the abilities of the junior Kindergarten students who are only three years of age and attend school five days a week.

“They were amazing,” she said.

"What they could do blew me away.”

The weather in Canada has a big impact on how the school is designed and run. There is no carpet because of the snow season, and students have indoor and outdoor shoes.

Emma said Canadians had remarked on how unseasonably fine the autumn weather was during her time there.

“We had three weeks of beautiful, unprecedented weather,” she said.

“The leaves hadn’t even begun to change.”

Emma said the Morse Street school community is made up of more than 35 different cultures, and parents are actively involved in planning school activities, such as awareness days.

Most schools also run parenting classes that encourage teaching of literacy and numeracy at home. 

“We’re all striving to make improvements in kids’ learning and outcomes,” Emma said.

“That’s why we’re in education. That’s the ultimate goal.

“The joy you get from seeing that – you can’t put a price on it.”

The principal said she loved Canada and would go again “in a heartbeat”.

“I’m really refreshed and energised, and I suppose, really thankful that I had that opportunity,” she said.