Humanities

Victoria Papadopoulos

LAC Humanities
HoD MS Humanities
TiC Classics

BA (Hons); LLB; GradDip Arts; GradDipTchg
Phone: 04 388 0850 ext 812
Email: papadopoulosv@scotscollege.school.nz

Victoria has taught in a variety of roles within the Humanities learning area, and its predecessor, Social Sciences, over the last twelve years, and is currently the Head of the History and Classical Studies department.  A Wellington born member of the NZ Greek community, she attended Wellington Girls’ College, followed by under-graduate and graduate study at Victoria University and Wellington College of Education.  Victoria was awarded First Class Honours in Classical Studies, as well as a BA in Ancient Greek, an LLB specialising in Human Rights and Constitutional Law, a Graduate Diploma of Arts, and a Graduate Diploma of Teaching.

Victoria has a passion for history, both ancient and modern, and also for classical literature, especially epic poetry.  She is a firm believer in the Scots College “All Round Man”, and sees him as a worthy successor to the classical concept of arêté, or all round excellence in physical, intellectual, and cultural fields.  Victoria coaches and manages the Premier A and B Debating teams, and took great pleasure and pride in the fact that at last year’s National Debating Grand Final, both regional teams competing were coached by Scots College Old Boys, and the team thence put together to represent NZ at the World Debating Championships was likewise coached by an Old Boy.  This year’s young teams have a lot to live up to, but will no doubt rise to the challenge.  Victoria is also an Aitken House tutor.

Callum Brookes

House Dean Mawson
Teacher of Geography

Bachelor of Arts (Geography and Psychology) University of Otago, Post Grad Dip. Sec. Teaching
Phone: 04 388 0850 ext 615
Email: brookesc@scotscollege.school.nz

Callum teaches senior Geography, middle school Humanities, and Environmental Systems and Societies in IB. He has taught Geography in New Zealand, Australia and the UK bringing a global focus to the subjects covered. Callum has been at Scots college for over 3 years, joining the college in 2011, with a brief stint teaching abroad in between. Previous schools include East Otago High School and The American Community School of London, at which he was HoD Geography at both institutions.

Callum is the Dean of Mawson House, a role he took over in 2015, and enjoys working with students and families in fostering the developmental growth during student’s time at Scots.

He has a strong sporting background with interests in basketball and rugby, both of which he coaches at Scots College. In his spare time he enjoys playing basketball, touch rugby and travelling whenever he gets the chance.

Stephen Lawrenson

HoD History

MTLS, BA
Phone: 04 388 0850 ext 541
Email: lawrensons@scotscollege.school.nz

Stephen joins us this year as part of the Humanities department as a teacher of History. Growing up in Dunedin, Stephen attended Otago Boys High School excelling academically and competing in a variety of sports. After high school Stephen spent several years as a manager in the Hospitality industry and then as a personal trainer and gym manager.

Stephen attended the University of Otago for his undergraduate degree gaining a BA in History with a minor in English. He then completed a Masters in Teaching and Learning (Secondary) at Victoria University of Wellington. On top of this Stephen also has a Certificate and Personal Training and a Diploma in Advanced Exercise Prescription.

Stephen has joined Glasgow House in 2016 as a Year 7 Tutor. Stephen hopes to be involved in a variety of aspects of the co-curricular side of the school including debating and basketball and has put himself forward as the GATE representative for the Humanities department for the coming year. Stephen also has a keen interest in film, being involved with BOTU productions a Dunedin based production company. Stephen has a passion for learning, culture, health and fitness and believes a well-rounded lifestyle helps to develop an all-round individual.

Stephen is teaching both middle and senior school students this year and is keen to see students push past their potential and achieve their goals.

Jason Laverock

Deputy Principal, Senior School Operations & Pastoral
Teacher of Humanities

BA (Hons); PostGradCertEd
Phone: 04 803 0597
Email: laverockj@scotscollege.school.nz

Jason joined Scots College in 2016 as the Deputy Principal of the Senior School. Jason moved to New Zealand in 2007, he has worked at schools in Reading and Birmingham in the UK and Orewa and Oxford, Canterbury in New Zealand.

Jason went to Birmingham University in the United Kingdom where he studied Medieval and Modern History before qualifying as a teacher. As a teacher his philosophy and goal has always been to work alongside his students to inspire them to be the best they can be. Jason sees learning about History as one of the best ways of trying to make sense of the complex world we live in. Jason and his wife love to travel and feel they probably know New Zealand better than the UK. He has been trying to write a book about a real life murder mystery for the last eight years and claims “Maybe one day I will get it finished!”

Michelle McCorkindale

Teacher of Religious Education and Humanities
Junior, Middle and Senior Schools

BA (Music)
Dip Teaching
michelle.mccorkindale@scotscollege.school.nz

Michelle joined Scots College in 2021 as an experienced Music and Religious Education teacher.

She has a particular interest in helping students learn more about the world in which we live and becoming their best selves. She enjoys creating a respectful class environment, where students feel empowered to create, engage and explore new ideas. Outside of the classroom, Michelle enjoys spending time with family and friends, music, sewing, getting out for bush and coastal walks around Wellington and volunteering within her church, school and local communities.

Hannah Clark

Teacher of History and Humanities
Middle and Senior School
Aitken House Tutor

BA(Hons), MA, MTLS
Phone: 04 388 0850
Email: clarkh@scotscollege.school.nz

Hannah joined Scots College during 2020 as a part of the History and Humanities department. From Wellington, Hannah attended Sacred Heart College in Lower Hutt before undertaking study at Victoria University. She has a Bachelor of Arts in History with a minor in Classical Studies, alongside postgraduate degrees in History. Hannah has spent time working at Victoria University as a History tutor and working in the Humanities faculty before taking up a position at the National Library of New Zealand. After a few years out of study, she returned to Victoria to complete a Master of Teaching and Learning (Secondary) degree, where she spent her placement at Wellington College. She gained a History and Digital Technology teaching role at WC, where she taught until moving to Scots.

As a teacher, Hannah views learning History, and developing the skills within this field, as important lifelong skills for students to help in everyday life. Hannah coaches and manages the Senior Cert B Debating with a hope of developing young debaters who think critically. In her spare time, Hannah spends time with her family, catches up on reading and is out in the fresh air.

Amy McMullan
HoD Geography

BA; BSc; PGDipSecTchg
Phone: 04 3880850
Email: Amy.McMullan@scotscollege.school.nz

Amy is born and bred in Wellington/Motu Kairangi and an Old Girl of Queen Margaret College. Teaching since 2007 Amy joins Scots College with previous teaching experience in Wellington at Queen Margaret College – Biology, Science, Geography, Humanities, Maths (MYP), St Mary’s College – Geo, Social Studies and Maths and Hutt Valley High School – Biology and Science as well as some time in London where she taught Biology A levels and GCSE Science.

Outside of teaching her interests include Rowing, Surf lifesaving, Scuba diving in tropical water and travelling, of which she has explored over 65 countries!