Katanning Senior High School gets new deputy principal as Calvin D’Sylva joins school leadership team

Katanning Senior High School has added a new member to its leadership team, with a fresh face now walking the school grounds.

Calvin D’Sylva is a new deputy principal of Katanning Senior High School, having joined at the start of Term 3.

Mr D’Sylva said he felt welcomed by the school community.

“I am excited to be at Katanning because of the warm community spirit that exists and the eagerness of the community to be part of the school,” he said.

“The school has excellent facilities and staff have high levels of competence.

“The opportunity to lead the core business of the school, which is teaching and learning, is something I am also excited about.”

He joins Katanning SHS from Carnarvon Community College in WA’s Gascoyne region, where he served as associate principal.

Mr D’Sylvia started his career at Newman Senior High School, before working at Shenton College, Safety Bay Senior High School and Lynwood Senior High School.

He has a design and technology teaching background, and a masters degree in school leadership.

He credits university professor Dr John Williams with igniting his love of learning.

“I am grateful to the many inspiring school leaders who have supported and shaped my leadership journey,” he said.

“Having worked under many inspiring and innovative school leaders, I hope to bring that experience to make Katanning SHS a highly effective and efficient educational organisation that serves the needs of the local community and ensures every student’s educational needs are met in a caring and supportive environment.”

Education runs in Mr D’Sylva’s family, with his 91-year-old mother previously working as a primary school teacher.

Four of his nine siblings are also teachers.

He migrated to Australia from Chennai, India, where his father worked on the railways.

Mr D’Sylva said he was excited about his new challenge, working as one of two deputy principals at Katanning SHS.

“I am really looking forward to continuing my life’s work, and to enacting the school’s motto of ‘Strive for Excellence’ by embedding high expectations in every aspect of the school operations so that students have the best preconditions to strive towards their own version of success,” he said.