As our academic year progresses, we welcome many new staff members. The Woodstocker caught up with some of them to chronicle the first chapter of their adventures.
With 5 years of prior teaching experience, Sabrina joins as a teacher in the EAL Department. She comes from the British Columbia Canadian International School in Cairo, Egypt. In addition to teaching EAL, she enjoys the Arts and has briefly taught young children. She’s joined on the hillside by her husband Mike, who works in the IT industry. She is also very enthusiastic and a delight to be around.
Where are you from and what subjects do you teach at Woodstock?
I am from Vancouver, Canada, and I am teaching MYP English Language and Literature and EAL.
What is different about Woodstock from the last school that you worked at?
That’s a very good question. Lots of things, but I would say the students are very eager to learn and are willing to explore and experiment both academically and outside of schoolwork.
What are your goals for the year?
My personal goals for the year are to read 200 books. I would also like to be more confident while teaching the MYP which is a more educational goal.
What are some fun facts about you?
Well as a teenager, I professionally rock climbed and will be one of the supervisors of the rock-climbing club at Woodstock. As a child I grew up on a farm and am semi-fluent in Arabic, that is a “fun” fact about me. I learned to play the piano from the age of 4 and taught piano in high school. I have also lived and professionally taught as a teacher in three different countries.
What’s one thing you like about Mussorie?
I love how friendly everyone is. There is definitely a strong sense of community up here on the hillside.
What’s one thing you have noticed about Woodstock students?
The students here are very grateful; they’re grateful for their friends, they’re grateful to be learning and just to be here in general.
What are your personal teaching philosophies?
I believe in routine and structure in the classroom. I also believe in building strong relationships with my students, and by knowing my students I can create lessons that are relevant to them, incorporating things that they can use in the future.
Do you have any message that you wish to convey to the students and staff at Woodstock?
Don’t hesitate to do anything that challenges you. Often, we learn the most about ourselves when we’re doing something that is out of our comfort zone.
Faith is a staff reporter.
Edited by Asha.
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