Welcome
From our Leadership Team
Learning: the key to our future
We are located on the LeFevre Peninsula, just 300 metres from the beach in the western suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia. We cater for 5 – 12 year-olds (Reception to Year 6) in a healthy, caring environment. Approximately 430 students currently attend our school.
The school has a proud history, and many current students are second or third generation attendees of Largs Bay School. We are proud of our past as well as being confident of the future. In 2024 the school will celebrate its centenary.
Largs Bay School offers students a caring and nurturing learning environment. Our dedicated and experienced teachers provide a positive and enriching program, appreciating the individual needs and interests of each child.
We are committed to providing a learning environment equipping all students with the necessary skills and knowledge to become active members of our society.
Our values of respect, responsibility and persistence provide the basis for all we do at Largs Bay School.
We are committed to excellence in learning, caring for people and for the environment.
From the Largs Bay School, Leadership Team
Our leadership Team
John Burns – Principal
John began his career as a Physical Education specialist and upper primary classroom teacher. He then served as a Principal in the South East of SA for seven years.
He served as a Head of School / Executive Principal for nineteen years in International Schools, leading Reception to Year 12 schools, from 150 to 900 students.
After nineteen years of working internationally, John returned home to Adelaide with his family to end 2021, taking up the position of Principal at East Torrens Primary School in 2022.
John looks forward to serving the Largs Bay School community. He enjoys being part of schools with a dynamic vision, inspiring values and a clear site improvement plan. He also enjoys communities where students are proud of their school, their personal development and taking action in the world around them.
Other Experience:
– John has been an Executive Board Member for International Baccalaureate (IB) World Heads Council.
– He served as National Director / Chairperson for the Australian Chamber of Commerce (AUSCHAM) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
– He serves as a Council of International Schools (CIS) Accreditation Team Member and Chairperson.
South Australian Experience
– Principal, Largs Bay School, Adelaide, SA (2023)
– Principal, East Torrens Primary School, Adelaide, SA (2022)
– Principal, Glencoe Central Primary School, South Australia (1998 – 2001)
– Principal, Tarpeena Primary School, South Australia, (1994 – 1997)
International Experience
– Head of School, International School of Paris, France (2018 – 2021)
– Head of School, Pechersk School International, Kyiv, Ukraine (2013 – 2018)
– Head of School, Australian International School Saigon, Vietnam (2007 – 2013)
– Head of School , Medan International School, North Sumatra, Indonesia (2002 – 2007)
Teaching Experience
– Primary School – Classroom teacher, Physical Education specialist
– Middle School – English, Humanities, Information Technology, EALD
John Burns – Principal
John began his career as a Physical Education specialist and upper primary classroom teacher. He then served as a Principal in the South East of SA for seven years.
He served as a Head of School / Executive Principal for nineteen years in International Schools, leading Reception to Year 12 schools, from 150 to 900 students.
After nineteen years of working internationally, John returned home to Adelaide with his family to end 2021, taking up the position of Principal at East Torrens Primary School in 2022.
John looks forward to serving the Largs Bay School community. He enjoys being part of schools with a dynamic vision, inspiring values and a clear site improvement plan. He also enjoys communities where students are proud of their school, their personal development and taking action in the world around them.
Other Experience:
– John has been an Executive Board Member for International Baccalaureate (IB) World Heads Council.
– He served as National Director / Chairperson for the Australian Chamber of Commerce (AUSCHAM) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
– He serves as a Council of International Schools (CIS) Accreditation Team Member and Chairperson.
South Australian Experience
– Principal, Largs Bay School, Adelaide, SA (2023)
– Principal, East Torrens Primary School, Adelaide, SA (2022)
– Principal, Glencoe Central Primary School, South Australia (1998 – 2001)
– Principal, Tarpeena Primary School, South Australia, (1994 – 1997)
International Experience
– Head of School, International School of Paris, France (2018 – 2021)
– Head of School, Pechersk School International, Kyiv, Ukraine (2013 – 2018)
– Head of School, Australian International School Saigon, Vietnam (2007 – 2013)
– Head of School , Medan International School, North Sumatra, Indonesia (2002 – 2007)
Teaching Experience
– Primary School – Classroom teacher, Physical Education specialist
– Middle School – English, Humanities, Information Technology, EALD
Georga Tyson - Deputy Principal
Georga Tyson is the Deputy Principal at Largs Bay School, she ensures the safe and functional operation of the school site. She brings her experiences in a diverse range of settings to Largs Bay School having have taught and lead in Whyalla, The United Kingdom and various schools in metropolitan Adelaide. Georga joined our community after 18 years of teaching and leadership experiences in Catholic Education.
Georga believes that at the core of learning is student engagement. When students are engaged in their learning, outcomes and positive results follow. She works collaboratively with staff, students and parents to ensure that learning programs are informed by contemporary pedagogies, cater for different learning styles, multiple intelligences, emotional intelligence and primarily promote student engagement and rigorous learning.
Karen Smith – Student Wellbeing Leader
Karen Smith is our Student Wellbeing Leader. Karen has been a teacher for over 25 years and a Student Wellbeing Leader for 7. She has three adult children. Karen has a Graduate Diploma in psychology and has many years of experience with students who require extra emotional and social support. Karen works with students individually, in small groups and whole classes on programmes that promote our school values of Respect, Responsibility and Persistence.
She believes that behaviour needs to be taught like the rest of the curriculum and that all children can be successful members of the Largs Bay community.