2011-2012 School Year
These portraits of our teachers were done by children of grade 2.
If you would like to see a larger view, please click on the drawing.
Kindergarten
Michelle Kennedy
Michelle Kennedy has worked for Cathedral School for many years, with a one year break to have a baby boy.
Grade 1 Teacher and Assistant Head for Elementary grades, with special responsibility for the Junior Kindergarten
Tobi Blue
Mrs. Blue has been with the school for 11 years and has enjoyed working with wonderful, talented colleagues and great students at our school. She still says she feels like she has “won the lottery to be able to work at such a great school!” Currently, Mrs. Blue works as a Reading Specialist, PE Specialist and general classroom teacher for Grade 1! She is also the Assistant Head for the Junior School, supporting the Junior Kindergarten program through to the grade three class.
True to her energetic and creative teaching style, she believes education is an active and lifelong process. She strives to involve each student in a positive and active learning atmosphere, developing his or her team skills as well as individual leadership skills. Come by grade one and see how much fun they are having learning together!
Grade 2
Judy Hodges and Kristin Meissner
The Grade 2 class is shared by Judy Hodges and Kristin Meissner.
Mrs. Hodges was born in Victoria and raised in Metchosin. She received her education degree at UBC and a Montessori Diploma in Toronto. She has 17 years experience teaching primary grades in Richmond, BC.
In her first year at Cathedral School, Mrs Hodges taught grade 1. She is now teaching grade 2. Her youngest son attended Christ Church Cathedral School. Mrs. Hodges’ particular love is art and the younger grades have all benefited from her expertise and enthusiasm for painting. In 2003 she coordinated the students work for a portrait exhibition sponsored by the Community Arts Council.
Kristin Meissner says she feels very fortunate to be a part of the Cathedral School staff and students, as it struck her immediately what a unique school this is. She also loves getting up before dawn to coach our middle school rowing team!
Grade 3
Matt Lurie
Mr. Lurie teaches Grade 3. Before becoming a teacher he studied English Literature & Broadcasting.
Rolling up his sleeves to get messy with his students, Mr. Lurie can often be seen making plaster animal tracks, building spaghetti bridges and growing string beans as well as other plants in his classroom. He also gets his students to learn about technology by recording their spoken word stories, making short videos, and using the smart board.
Grade 3 students know how important their foundation skills are: reading, writing, and math are integral to the program. It’s a busy, messy and sometimes noisy year, but Mr. Lurie thinks that of all the grades, Grade 3 is the most exciting!
Grade 4
Linda Trevena
Linda has been at Cathedral School for six years now. She brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to the classroom.
She just “loves” this age group and is looking forward to an exciting year with her students.
Grade 5
Julia Borzoni
Mrs. Borzoni has been teaching at Christ Church Cathedral School since 1991. She has enjoyed teaching split classes with as many as four grades in the same room! She is now happy to be teaching the grade 5 class. She loves working with the children at drama and speech arts.
“I am still learning something every day-and loving it! I love the curiosity, creativity and insight of the students and feel privileged to be teaching in our School. My interests outside the School include singing in the Cathedral Choirs, reading, birds, walking, gardening and my two cats!”
Grade 6
Isla McConnachie
Isla loves math and science … and her students! She is an athlete and enjoys helping out with extra-curricular activities, such as those rowing lessons at 6am!
Isla teaches Math to all Middle School students and Science to grades seven and eight.
Grade 7
Laura Christensen
Laura joined Cathedral School this year as a teacher but many of our students will already know her as a dance instructor.
Laura is our grade 7 homeroom teacher but works with all the middle school students for various subjects. Laura also guides our student council as they develop their leadership skills.
Grade 8 and Assistant Head: Middle and Intermediate Grades
Marylee McKeown
After a very rewarding 12 year teaching career in Vancouver working with middle school and intermediate aged students in the classroom, as well as teaching French as a Second Language and Physical Education, I joined the CCCS team to instruct a grade 2/3 class.
Since 2001, I have taught grades 5, 6, and 7 and am currently working with the grade 8s. My philosophy of education is a simple one; I believe that all children can and do learn if they feel connected to their learning community, especially their teachers. My job is to make meaningful connections with all students, help them to get organized, and most importantly, encourage the students to be the best they can be!
This is my 7th year acting as Assistant Head to the intermediate and middle school aged students and I enjoy this responsibility. CCCS is a small school that provides a nurturing environment for all students; the staff knows the students and the students know the staff. I am proud to be a member of this learning community.
Art Consultant
Julia Halliday
I have been teaching art to children in my home for nine years now, and began at Cathedral School when my daughter came into grade 4.
For thirteen years I worked in public galleries, for nine of those years in the Victoria Art Gallery, initiating programs such as The Children’s festival, The Studio, and ‘Gallery-in-The Schools’.
When Cathedral School was first renovated I seized the opportunity offered by a new, empty wall to make the ‘Seven Days of Creation’ wall-hanging with all the students in the School. Recently I have been doing art with grades 4 through 8 in a great new art room.”
French Specialist – Primary
Betsy Clarke
Mme Clarke is the French specialist for students in Junior Kindergarten to Grade Three. She also teaches Grade One on Tuesdays.
I can honestly say that I have my dream job! Why?
- The students at Christ Church Cathedral School are wonderful to work with!
- I spend my school days teaching and learning about French language and culture which is a personal passion of mine and has been for many years.
French Specialist – Intermediate
Kirsten Salmon
Kirsten Salmon joins us this year as our Intermediate French teacher for grades 4-8. She was a French Immersion student, and experienced first hand the joys and benefits of learning a second language at a young age. She has taught in both Australia and Toronto.
“I am very excited to have the opportunity to teach here at CCCS with such great students and staff!”
Music Specialists
Kathy Stacey, Michael Gormley & David Enns
Kathy has been the primary music specialist at CCCS since 2008 and also the Choir Director for the Primary choirs. In addition to her music degree, Kathy studied cello and piano at the Royal College of Music in London, England.
Kathy has always been passionate about teaching music to children, owning her own full-service children’s music school in Nanaimo for fifteen years. There she was the assistant principal cellist in the Vancouver Island Symphony orchestra for nine years and the Education Consultant for the Symphony for 5 years, compiling the educational materials for the Children’s Education Concert Series.
Michael teaches music to our grade four and five students. He has a strong background in choral music, having once been the Director of the Vienna Boys Choir, and has already taught his students to sweeten our chapel services with beautiful harmonies and upbeat syncopated rhythms. Michael is also the Director of Music at Christ Church Cathedral, leading the adult and children’s choirs and playing the organ for services.
David takes on the exhilarating challenge of teaching band to our middle school students. Their level of enthusiasm is clear evidence of the impact he has on their growing appreciation, talent and skills. David is an active performer on the local music scene on both piano and trombone and in a variety of musical genres.
School Counsellor
Lora-Beth Trail
Lora-Beth joined the CCCS Staff in September 2010 as our School Counsellor. She is an experienced teacher with her Bachelor and Masters from UVIC. “I am enjoying my weekly job at the school providing support to students and staff K-8.”
This year she is assisting us in adopting a social skills program called “Second Step”. She is providing staff training, in-class team teaching, classroom support and parent sessions. We were pleased to have Lora-Beth train a group of students in grades 7-8 as Peer Helpers in 2010-11 and once again we have nine students this year ready to take on these leadership roles. Last year the game of Schlockey was introduced to staff and students. It is simply “hockey in a box”. Drop by and see the game in action!
Educational Assistants
Vicki Bashista, Patricio Molina Espinoza, Brianna Grove-White, Christabel Umaguing, &
Leah Wall
Our Educational Assistants are essential to the success of our programs. They work throughout the school and playground to ensure that all students can reach their full potential.” Christabel spends most of her time working with our students in the kindergarten classroom and she loves it!
Learning Assistance Teacher / Special Education Coordinator
Christina Majcher
Christina Majcher has worked as the Learning Assistance teacher and Special Education Coordinator since 2004. She provides both direct and indirect services to support our school and students through individual instruction, as well as consultation and support to classroom teachers and our educational assistants. She coordinates the services of Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Pathologists, Psychologists and any other outside of school professionals for children in Kindergarten to Grade Eight. She provides Learning Assistance for children in Kindergarten to Grade Five.
“I love working at Christ Church Cathedral School. I really feel that it is a positive learning community. All the children at Cathedral School are given a variety of opportunities throughout their schooling to key into their strengths. As you can imagine, the results are fantastic.”
Learning Assistance Teacher / Physical Education Specialist
Bob MacMillan
We are pleased to welcome Bob to Cathedral School this year. He will spend most of his time working with our middle school teachers and students as a support teacher and will teach PE to the middle school students. Before completing a degree in political science and education Bob was a professional hockey player. Bob also has a certificate in special education and is proficient in the use of educational technology.
“I hope the PE program will inspire an active lifestyle by engaging students in a variety of sports, outdoor adventure activities, games and discussion. Emphasis will be placed on teamwork, participation and skill improvement in an inclusive environment. The middle school learning assistance program focuses on discovering how each individual student learns. We work hard to provide supports for our students and allow for opportunities where students can use and display their strengths.”
Religious Education / Faith Development
Ms. Anke Rohleder
The Christian Education of the children is in the hands of Ms. Rohleder