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Hi, please click for my video.

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Hello St. Andrew's Family!

My name is Sarah Katz and I have the honour of teaching Socials 8 and 9 this year!
I had the opportunity to work as a TOC at St. Andrew's and St. Joseph's last year, which gave me the chance to get to know so many of the wonderful students coming into grade 8 as well as a large number of the students already in the high school.

I was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta and always knew I wanted to be a teacher. I graduated with a Bachelors of Education from the University of Calgary and taught for 7 years prior to moving to Victoria.

When not working as a school teacher I'm also a gymnastics coach and a dance instructor. I love teaching and performing in a variety of dance styles, but my specialty is acro dance and musical theatre.

My husband and I enjoy traveling the world looking for amazing sights and delicious foods. We look forward to traveling again post COVID.

I'm proud to be a part of the SARHS family and am incredibly excited to share a love of learning with all my fantastic students!

Let this 2021/22 year be an amazing time for positive growth and learning!

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Hello from the School Counsellor and Acadmic Advisor.  I'm looking forward to learning along with you this year!

I've been on the staff for eighteen years or so, and all four of my children have graduated from St. Andrew's. Before I was a counsellor, I was an English and Religion teacher.  I've also been a vice principal, a university intructor, and a writing coach.  You might  see me out hiking, riding my bike, or maybe even singing at St. Joseph the Worker Parish.

During the school week, you will usually find me in the left office in the Student Services Room.  Hopefully, you will  find this a welcoming place.  If you are looking for some advice about courses, or future career paths, this is the place for you.  If you're in grade 12,  we might also work on university applicatons and scholarships.  However, my most important job is to help students feel safe and positive at school, and to assist them as they grow, learn, and make decisions.

One of my favourite parts of this job is leading the Peer Counsellors, a group of friendly, compassionate  students who are great listeners.  They are all wonderful people to talk to and they have some super ideas about how we can build a stronger community.  I'm really looking forward to seeing them in action this year.

If you would like to schedule a visit, please send me an email (msanders@cisdv.bc.ca), or pop into the office to have a chat.

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Welcome to St Andrew’s, new and returning families!
This is my sixth year at St Andrew’s as a teacher but Island Catholic Schools has been a part of my life since the beginning. I attended St. Patrick’s Elementary and graduated from this amazing school in the late 90’s. And I loved it so much that I had to return!!!
I was born and raised here in beautiful Victoria and this is where my community is. I am very involved in my church community, my neighbourhood and most importantly my amazing group of friends. My family means everything to me, especially my niece and nephew. I spent the most of this past summer with them, one I will always cherish. And this is what I value most -  my family and friends and the connection we have.

Connection is paramount. And I bring that love of connection into my classroom.  I am the Learning Support Coordinator and my passion is inclusive education - ensuring we all belong and we all experience success. Grades do matter, but relationships and the well being of students trump that in my books!
My hope for this year ( and every year! ) is that each student that attends St Andrew’s feels connected and loved.

My other interests include reading (both professional and pleasure ), travel, walks, swimming at the lake, hockey (Canucks will win the cup one day!), music, and nature.

I look forward to meeting you as the year progresses.

Miss Davis

cdavis@cisdv.bc.ca

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Hi there!
My name is Danny Oh, and this is my first year at St. Andrews as a teacher! I worked in the school last year as an EA, and was given an opportunity to be able to come back as a teacher.

I came to Canada (from South Korea) when I was 10 years old, and attended schools in Victoria (Oaklands, Lansdowne, and Mt Doug). In 2015 I attended Queen's University and received my B.Sch and B.Ed there. I thought I was going to be a teacher in Ontario, but due to COVID I decided to move to BC with my family, and it was a great move to come back!

If I'm not in school (or at home marking), I would most likely be hiking or going camping. I believe going outdoor is the best way to heal both physical and mental health.

I look forward to working with all the teachers and students at St. Andrews.

Hope everyone have an amazing day!
Danny

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Dear St. Andrew's community,

My name is Michael Casagrande and I have been teaching at St. Andrew's for 6 years (my first year as an EA). I mainly teach Math, but I also teach or have taught Chemistry, Accounting and Religion. This year I am working part-time and teaching Chemistry 12 and Pre-Calculus 12 in the first semester and Math 8 and Accounting 11 in the second semester. I also help with Youth Group at St. Joseph's and enjoy spending time sharing the faith and growing in the faith with everyone there.

I was born in Burnaby and attended UBC, studying Chemistry and Biochemistry before doing my degree in education. I converted to Catholicism when I was 25 years old. It took all 25 years to finally recognize God's relationship with me and that I would only find happiness by living out that relationship. Around this time, my wife had an opportunity to continue her UBC studies on the UVic campus. Since we wanted a break from the craziness, we decided to move there for the 4 years of her studies. Once her time was up we moved back to Vancouver where I worked as a First Nations support worker in North Vancouver for 4 years. Once again, her work called her back to Victoria, and I very reluctantly left my job in North Vancouver (I continued to work there for the first year we were here, commuting to Vancouver each week). Commuting to the mainland proved unsustainable and so I decided to look for work here. Luckily, I ended up at the most amazing school, St. Andrew's, and have made many wonderful friendships here.

Last year, my wife and I had a beautiful baby girl, Teresa Marie, and so now I am a bit preoccupied with her, hopefully not to the point of neglecting my duties at school (this write-up is due in 3 hours, so I'm still ok).

In the classroom my number one priority is the kids, helping them to see themselves for who they are, God's beloved children. I also love to challenge them academically and to watch them grow in their critical thinking skills.

Feel free to get in touch and God bless you!

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Hello families and friends of St. Andrew’s.

After teaching five years in the public school system, I joined the staff at St. Andrew’s, where I have now taught over thirty years. Currently, I teach English 8, 9, and 11 and also serve as the Humanities Department Head. I enjoy sharing my interest in literature, especially in poetry and Shakespeare units. Now that Focus Blocks have returned to our school,  I am intending dedicate Tuesdays to sentence structure practice and Thursdays (and some Fridays) to the Chess Club. Parents and guardians who are keen to know what homework has been assigned in any of my classes may check the Google Classroom.

Teaching aside, my interests include travelling abroad, camping throughout North America, English literature, recently translated novels, ancient and early modern history, classical music, and jazz.

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So, you’re interested in getting to know Rosa Stellino, Administrative Assistant, then read on...

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So, you’re interested in getting to know Rosa Stellino, Administrative Assistant, then read on...

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Please click here to watch my 30 second video.

I’m a fifty something who likes my coffee black, my chocolate dark and my drinks on the rocks.  I’ve been working in the office at St. Andrew’s for almost 14 years, although my history with the school dates back to 2004 when my son entered grade 8.  I’m a lifelong volunteer both in our school and community.  I  have spent several years seeing the St. Andrew's office from the other side  of the counter.  I spent years at parent auxiliary meetings, school events, fundraising and have spent many days cooking in the school's hot lunch program.  I have two amazing children; Joseph and Julia, who both graduated from St. Andrew’s Regional High over ten years ago.  I am no stranger to what life as a parent at our school feels like. Volunteering as a parent and a staff member has given me many opportunities to help others and build great friendships.  I still have alumni keep in touch and still call me Momma Rosa.

Originally from Toronto, I am one of five children born to my two immigrant Italian parents.  My move to Victoria was difficult, leaving behind my large family and an even larger extended family; family is very important to me.  I phone my mom in Ontario daily and love hearing about her garden, the weather, how much snow she shoveled or how hot the day is and how her knee feels.  I love spending time with my children.  My daughter lived in Australia for a few years, so now that she is back, I absolutely love having them both close and spending time with them; enjoying the trails and hiking, riding our bikes or simply sitting on a patio somewhere sipping drinks, making and sharing memories.  For my last birthday we made many great memories at Adrenaline ziplining from tree top to tree top and I look forward to continuing to make memories.

This pandemic and the restrictions have definitely been challenging for me, I may even admit that at times it kicked my butt…yet I’m optimistic that when we are completely and safely out of this pandemic, I will return to training for sprint distance triathlons, road races and comfortably enjoy attending more social events.  I look forward to again greeting our families at school events and seeing the smiles on your children's faces.

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Welcome back to all our current families and a warm greeting to our new families.

My name is Ciaran McLaverty and I am entering my seventh year as the vice-principal at St. Andrew's. This is a case of life going full circle for me as I was a Grade 9 student when the high school was founded back in 1983, when it was a much smaller place. Now I find myself back in the school just a few years later in this beautiful new facility.

I was born and raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland before moving to Victoria in Grade 6. After high school I completed my teaching degree and Master's at the University of Victoria. In between I had the good fortune to spend 5 years living and working in Japan, and playing a lot of soccer there. My son graduated from St. Andrew's two years ago and my daughter is here in Grade 12 this year.

Currently, I teach the wonderful subject of Math and I have been fortunate to coach basketball and soccer for the past few years at the school. For me the best thing about our school is that we are very blessed to have a terrific group of students, friendly families, and a supportive extended community.

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Greetings to the St. Andrew’s High School Family.

It is a pleasure to be teaching here in a six week term position. I am teaching grade 8 Social Studies and 10/12 Foods.

My husband and I relocated to Vancouver Island a few years ago and we are very
happy to call this beautiful Island home.

I have spent a number of years teaching in various northern communities in British  Columbia, as well as in Yellowknife, NT.

I completed my teaching degree through Simon Fraser University and a Master’s Degree in Special Education at Vancouver Island University.

My experience includes teaching a variety of grade levels, as well as teaching a special education life skills program at the high school level.

During my leisure time I enjoy many outdoor activities with my husband and our
sweet Airedale named Max.

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Meet Mr. Philip O'Reilly                          - Music Director 

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Meet Mr. Philip O'Reilly                          - Music Director 

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Hello everyone!

My name is Philip O'Reilly and I am happy to be the Music Director here at SARHS!
In addition to having taught at St. Andrew's for the last 16 years, I am also a former student of the school, so St. Andrew's is definitely in my blood!
It is well known that I love absolutely anything to do with music, but a lesser known fact about me is that I love to work on cars - specifically a '68 Firebird convertible that you might see parked in the upper school lot on a nice day!

I am very proud of our award-winning Music program at SARHS which features 3 core performing groups: St. Andrew's Singers, Concert Band, and Jazz Band. One particular learning highlight that took place recently, during the early days of the pandemic, was our first virtual choir.
Other samples of our student work can be found here. Course syllabi can also be found in the Music Google Classrooms.

My hope for this 2021-22 school year is that our students re-discover the joy of live performing!

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Hello everyone,
My name is Claire Devenport and I am an Education Assistant here at St. Andrews High School.
Yes! My husband is also a teacher here.

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Hi ! I'm Marisa Tinsay. This is my second year as an International Education Assistant here at SARHS. My favourite part of the job is learning about all the different cultures and supporting students. I wish you all a blessed year ahead.

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Hello St. Andrew's Family! I am now blessed to be starting my fourth year here at this incredible school as the Director of International Education. The start of the school year is always a very exciting time as we welcome new international students and re-connect with those who are returning for another school year.

Prior to coming on staff here, I was living in South Korea where I taught ESL for a few years, opened an ESL tutoring center and eventually opened a Mexican restaurant catering to the expat population. The highlight of my time abroad though was meting my beautiful wife Sung.

Living overseas has giving me a much greater understanding of how difficult it can be to acclimate to a new culture and I hope that my experience can help me to make the transition easier for our international students. I am extremely proud to represent St. Andrew's and continually impressed with the kindness and generosity of spirit that is found here amongst our students, staff and families.

When not at the school, you can usually find me kayaking or working on my golf swing (which really really needs a lot of work!).

I look forward to the day when we can all meet in person again!

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Please click for my video.

Hi everyone,

My name is Greg Van Dyk and I’m looking forward to a more ‘normal’ school year!  This is my fourth year teaching at St. Andrew’s, my own alma mater, where I currently teach English 8 and Religion 10-12.  I was born and raised here in Victoria and studied English and History at the University of Victoria, where I earned my BA and BEd.  I also studied theology at St. Paul University in Ottawa and St. Mark's College, UBC.  I spent several years teaching in Vancouver, but couldn’t resist the appeal of Island life and the community at St. Andrew’s.  I am currently completing my Master of Education from the University of Prince Edward Island.

My wife and I first met when we were both students in these school hallways and have been married for over six years.  We have two young kids at home and spend our family time exploring the outdoors, playing (and listening to) music, and reading good books.

The best part about being a teacher here at St. Andrew’s is the spirit of our school.  It’s something very unique and I think that we really live our motto here -- to Build in Love.  I hope my students will value their time here at St. Andrew’s; it is truly a school unlike any other and a real blessing.

Course syllabi and Google Classroom information was emailed to parents during our first week of class.  Please feel free to get in touch with me with any questions about the school year.  God bless!

gvandyk@cisdv.bc.ca

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Hello St. Andrew's community,
My name is Mary Kearsey. The 2021-22 school year is my 32nd year of teaching (31 of these years have been in Island Catholic Schools). I am passionate about Catholic Education, and am thankful for the opportunity to share my faith with my students in Religion 9, Socials 9, Comparative World Religions 12, and Social Justice 12. I hold a M.RE (Masters in Religious Education) from St. Mark's College, UBC and a B.Ed from UVic.  Along with my teaching duties, I am the school's Religious Education Coordinator and the school's Faith Formation Team rep.
I share my life with my husband, two daughters, and our furry baby, Ernesto. I am truly a 'happy camper' and am happiest when I am camping, kayaking, and exploring in the the great outdoors.  I am also an avid reader, an amateur baker, and a lover of Ignatian spirituality.
I look forward to getting to know your children in the classroom, hallways, and through school activities. If you need to contact me please send an email to mkearsey@cisdv.bc.ca.
Thank you.

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Hello St Andrew’s families,

My name is Alexis Tate and this year your child will be in my class if they are taking Spanish 9-11, New Media and Composition 10, English Language Development 10 or Film Studies 11 and 12. My undergraduate degree is in Hispanic Studies with a concentration in History.

The supportive community of St Andrew’s made quite an impression on me over a decade ago when I completed my first teaching practicum here; I consider it a great blessing to have spent the majority of the following years working at the school in a variety of capacities. I am passionate about teaching the Humanities and helping students feel part of a special bastion of community and faith in an at times bewildering world. After my courses, I hope your child is more confident and competent in their literacy skill development, whether it be in English or Spanish, and that they find themselves inspired to keep learning.

The other side of me loves cooking for and with my family - even if they don’t always appreciate soup or custard-based desserts as much as I do ;), gardening, listening to music, and watching scary or funny movies. What am I reading and viewing at the moment? The third book in the Dune series by Frank Herbert and my second rewatch of the comedy series Community.

Blessings for a happy and healthy 2021-22 school year.

Alexis Tate
atate@cisdv.bc.ca

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Please click for my video.

Hello St. Andrew's Community,

I've been teaching at this wonderful school for 27 years and once again we are meeting via the internet and not in person. (Three cheers for technology that makes it possible.) I'm so grateful that staff and students are in school and making progress even if we have to wear masks. Thank you so much for your support!

I teach Physics, Pre-Calculus, Calculus and one of the grade 12 Religion courses: Science and Religion. In my Physics and Math courses I encourage students to develop problem solving and communication skills, which will serve them all their lives in many different ways. In my Religion courses, I introduce the students to a number of scientists who are also people of faith. (Check out Brother Guy Consolmagno's Ted Talk!) Furthermore, we discuss the great discoveries of the past hundred years in evolution, cosmology and quantum physics and reflect on how our world view has changed due to these amazing discoveries. It is a privilege to work with students who are so willing to reflect, to learn, to grow and to care.

Outside of school, I'm involved in the music ministry at Holy Cross Parish and assist my Mom on her farm. I'm learning about weeding, pruning, harvesting and more weeding :)!

May this school year be blessed, Tanya Taft

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Meet Mrs. Delude - Physical & Health Education (PHE), Career Life Education (CLE), & Yearbook

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Meet Mrs. Delude - Physical & Health Education (PHE), Career Life Education (CLE), & Yearbook

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Hello new and returning St. Andrew's families! My name is Erin Delude and this will be my fifth year at St. Andrew's! I am grateful to be teaching in person and sharing my passion for health, wellness, creativity, and physical activity with my students.

I grew up in South Dakota in the United States and earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science and Physiology from Minnesota State University. I followed up with a Master's of Science degree in Teaching and Learning Exercise Science and Kinesiology. Additionally, I am certified  as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).

I began my teaching career almost 10 years ago in Bonners Ferry,  Idaho. I LOVE teaching! I want every student to feel safe to try new things in my classroom, trust that they can be open and honest with me, and understand that relationships are the most important part of my teaching practice.

Outside of school I spend as much time as I can being active. My favorite time is my time with my husband Donovan and son Drake (grade 11 at St. Andrew's). We enjoy camping, hiking, boating, and travelling. My personal hobbies include ultra-trail running and playing soccer for the Gorge. In addition to playing soccer, I am part of the coaching staff for the Sr. Boys and Sr. Girls Soccer teams at St. Andrew's.

I look forward to getting to know all my students and families. Please feel free to contact me at edelude@cisdv.bc.ca

It's A Great Day To Be A Sabre!

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Click here to view a short 3 minute video.

Teaching is in my DNA – I come from a long line of teachers.

Reading and books are in my soul – I come from a long line of readers.

So, it is not surprising that I have a Master’s degree in English Literature or that I have been an English Teacher and Teacher-Librarian for over 30 years.

Toss in some stints as a magazine editor for two national school library journals, a loyal Book Club member, an adjunct faculty member in the English department at UVIC and in the Library Science faculty at UBC and you get the idea.

Nor should it be surprising that I have been married to an academic and serious reader for 40 years!

I also have a thing for colourful flowers and beautiful outdoor spaces. That minor obsession led to my garden being featured on a Pond and Garden tour.

As an English teacher, my goal is to engage my students in the learning process and to foster within them a love of reading. I work to give each student the ability to see literature as a reflection of life: its joy, humour, insight, even sadness. Popular activities include:  Speed Book Dating, Literature Circles, Talk Like a Troll, Poetry Slams, creating Ekphrastic poetry, and the thrilling Battle of the Books competition.

As a Teacher-Librarian my primary responsibility is to support inquiry-based learning, and project-based learning.  Together with my colleagues, we focus on developing our students’ critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, digital literacy and creativity.

I am also responsible for curating our school’s print and electronic resources.

If you’re desperate for more information about my professional background you’re welcome to visit my LinkedIn profile.

The purpose of education is to “make life interesting, and fascinating, and alive…”

~Robertson Davies

Recommendations for two apps and one website that can have a positive impact on students' academic success, study habits and mental health.

Flora is an app that provides a fun way for students to improve their ability to focus on academic work and learn to live without their phones for short bursts of time.

Audible is the leading audiobook provider.  If your child finds it difficult to read printed text, then listening to stories on Audible is the perfect alternative!

Khan Academy provides free online tutorials for a variety of subjects and grade levels.

The Midnight Library      I regularly provide book recommendations for students, but this one is for you. Midnight Library is for adults who love books, libraries, and are intrigued by parallel universe theory.

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Meet Mrs. Daniela Hemmings Administrative Assistant 

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Meet Mrs. Daniela Hemmings Administrative Assistant 

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Hello School Community,

My name is Daniela Hemmings and I am one of two Administrative Assistants in the school office.  I been with Island Catholic Schools in one role or another for many years.  First as a student, graduating from St. Patrick’s School, then as a parent with both my boys having attended either St. Patrick’s. St. Andrew’s Elementary and the high school.  I have also worked with ICS for over 20 years.

I was born in Invermere BC and lived there until my my family moved to Victoria when I was 5.  After graduating from high school, I moved to Winnipeg for post-secondary education.  There I met my husband who I have been married to for 36 years.  During our time together, we have lived in Edmonton, Vancouver and now Victoria.  We have 2 sons, one 29 years old and one 21 years old.

One of the perks of working in the office is seeing how your child arrives as new a student with all the anxiousness and excitement of starting a new adventure and then to watch them grow and mature to a young adult ready to start another new adventure upon graduation.  Our school community is also enriched by parents who support our school in many ways.

As we move through this school year, I pray that our school motto “To Build in Love” is reflected in all the experiences that your child has.

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Greetings! My name is Sonny Pawar, and I'm thrilled to say that this is my second-year teaching at St. Andrews High School! I grew up in Prince George, British Columbia and graduated with a Bachelor Physical Education degree from the University of Alberta followed by an Education degree (M.Biology) from the University of Calgary. I began my teaching career in the Coquitlam School District where I taught for five years before moving back to Prince George to teach for additional fifteen years. This year at St. Andrews, I will be teaching Life Sciences 11, Science 10, Foundations of Math 11, Foundations of Math 10 and Math 8. Currently, I live in Cordova Bay with my wife Deborah and seventeen-year-old son Kiran. I enjoy coaching and playing soccer, exercising, reading, watching movies, and spending time with my family.

I look forward to another fantastic year with our St. Andrews students and staff!

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Please click here to see my video.

Chère communauté de St. Andrew's, I am the senior French teacher here at St. Andrew's, teaching French 8-12 this year.  I have taught here for over fifteen years and am the proud parent of three St. Andrew's alumni.

I grew up in England and in Canada, immigrating six times because one parent liked it here and one parent liked it there.  Consequently, I love Europe, have family there and try to instill in my students a sense of adventure and discovery with language and culture.  I have organized six trips to Europe and now facilitate yearly exchanges between St. Andrew's and other schools in France.  Covid has definitely put a damper on things!

My goal in French class is to help my students communicate in French.  Just like babies, we spoke first and learned to read and write later so my classroom is immersion from the beginning.  Little by little, vocabulary increases and grammar becomes inherent so that eventually my students are comfortable communicating in the language.

When I am not in the classroom, I enjoy playing pickleball with my son, the 2021 Canadian National men's singles pickleball champion (yes, it's true), hiking, reading and entertaining friends with my husband, Mr. Ballam.

Welcome to all who are new to St. Andrew's.  Welcome back to those rejoining us.  I hope you enjoy your time this year with us as much as I know I will enjoy being here yet again with our wonderful students and staff.  Build in love!

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Hi! I’m Cathy Fowlie. I teach Social Studies 10, Psychology 11 and 12, Yoga 11/12, Career Life Education 10, and Career Life Connections 12.

This is my 17th year teaching at St. Andrew’s, and 18th year with Island Catholic Schools. Two years ago, I completed my Master of Education in Contemplative Inquiries and Approaches in Education through SFU. I previously completed my BA and BEd through UBC, and I studied theology at Newman Theological College. I am also a trained yoga instructor, with 13 years of experience teaching yoga to teenagers, and a certified yoga therapist with the International Association of Yoga Therapists.

Outside of the school community, I spend most of my time with my husband and 8 year old daughter. I also love my own yoga practice, going for walks along Dallas Road, listening to music, reading, and continued learning.

The community of SARHS is a special one that I am proud to be a part of; the staff and students at our school exemplify building in love. In this year at St. Andrew’s, I hope for our students to find a deeper connection of community, and to value the relationships we have with ourselves, others, and the earth.

My classes and syllabi are on Google Classroom for my students. Please have your child share with you.

Thank you,
Cathy Fowlie
cfowlie@cisdv.bc.ca

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Hello everyone!
Although it would be much better to meet you in person, I'm here to introduce myself and welcome each and everyone of you back to another school year!

I was born in Richmond, BC and moved to Victoria in 2001 to attend Uvic.   My plan was to only stay in Victoria for 3 years but after completing a Bachelor of Science degree and a teaching certificate I just couldn't leave the island.

I have been teaching at St. Andrew's for about 14 years.  I teach everyone's favourite subject, mathematics.  This year I have been given the opportunity to do my thing in front of a Math 9, Foundations and PreCalculus 10, Apprenticeship and Workplace 10, PreCalculus 11, Apprenticeship and Workplace 11 and PreCalculus 12 classes.

When I'm not in the classroom, you can find me spending time with my beautiful wife and adorably challenging 3 children (ages 1, 6 and 9).  If we aren't at the swimming pool, ice rink or ball field, we like to hang out at the beach and go paddle boarding.  We are avid Canucks fans, and although there's been more heartache than celebrations, we will be watching when the Canucks finally raise Lord Stanley above their heads.

I'm excited to be jumping back into the classroom and thankful for the opportunity to teach a room full of students.  I will do my best to help/teach every student that walks into my classroom a little about math and a lot about life.

If you need to get a hold me, please don't hesitate to send me an email, bnishi@cisdv.bc.ca

Talk soon,
Brian Nishi

Course Outlines and Timelines are available upon request.

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Hello St Andrew's Families.

This is my sixth year at St Andrew's. Before I moved to the Island I taught at Vancouver College for 30 years. I thought that I would retire after leaving Vancouver, but I knew that I still had the motivation to keep on teaching. St Andrew's has given a new lease of life to my teaching career. This community is a pleasure teach in. Apart from teaching I have also been involved in many committees within the Ministry of Education primarily in curriculum development and assessment. My aim is to equip my students with the means to be successful in their academic and social lives after leaving St. Andrew's.
I am currently teaching AP English Language and Composition 12, English Studies 12, and History 12. The Syllabi can be found on Google Classroom.

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Hi St. Andrew's Family
I have been teaching for 44 years the last 33 at St. Andrew's.  I am retiring this year.  I am looking forward to the challenge of my last year.
I teach Law, IT, CLE.  The students in my classes teach me far more than I teach them and that is the essence of education.  We all are involved in life-long learning.
I have loved being in a school that allows me to celebrate my faith and to pray with our students.
I will be traveling more than I already have and will take a once in a lifetime trip to Antarctica.
If you are interested in having a wonderful choir experience some of our students work with Voices in Motion choir on Wednesday from 2:15 to 4:00 at St. Joseph's parish hall.
Our choir works with people with dementia and their caregivers and we are always looking for more people to join.

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Science 8, Science 9, Rowing Coach

Welcome to all of our new students and families along with our returning students who are joining the St. Andrew's community this 2021/2022 school year. I am excited to be teaching face to face and having some aspects return to normal such as team sports and tag- it's been a great start so far.

I have been teaching at St. Andrew's for 30 years and have an Education degree from UVIC and  a Master's degree in Leadership from Gonzaga University. This year I'll be teaching Science 8 and Science 9.

Science is one of my favourite subjects to teach. Classes include hands on activities, labs, science competitions and much more. The students are given opportunities to explore and demonstrate their knowledge in creative and innovative ways. This year I am teaching both semester and linear classes. One of my many highlights included a Biology trip to Honduras with 11 senior students. The trip featured field work in a rain forest and on a coral reef in the Caribbean. It was a fantastic experience for us all.

When not at school, I enjoy the great outdoors, playing many sports and travelling. I have two wonderful ( most times : ) boys who have graduated from St. Andrew's and are pursuing their post secondary goals. I have been married 27 years and my husband works at the Ministry of Education.

With some new found free time, I have decided to coach rowing again.The rowing team is in a rebuilding year and has 12 dedicated athletes already out on the water and in the weight room. I look forward to watching the athletes learn and grow in a fantastic life-time sport. It has been fun reconnecting and reuniting with the rowing community as I was fortunate to compete internationally with the Canadian team a few years back and there are still some familiar faces down at the boathouse.

I look forward to meeting you all in person at some time this year.  If any of you are interested in being a guest speaker and presenter, please let me know.

Please feel free to email me at karthurs@cisdv.bc.ca with any questions or concerns. Take care and keep safe,

Kim Arthurs

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ART INSTRUCTOR AT ST. ANDREW'S REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

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Hi Parents,

Welcome new families and students! We are so glad to have you join our community.

I teach Art 8, Art 9 and Studio Arts 10, Studio Arts 11, Studio Arts 12 and the newly titled Studio 2D Arts 11 and Studio 2D Arts 12 classes.

My great love is the natural environment and this year I would like to continue to nurture our students love of the natural environment through art making activities outdoors. I would also like to continue to involve our students in the development of a natural paint called casein that dates back 2000 years and uses milk protein as a binder.

In the Artroom this year we will continue to build on the skills that the students learned last year while exploring a seat of fresh and new projects that will allow our students to learn engaging new techniques and gain valuable new perspectives and experiences.

Several of our grades will complete projects that pay homage to the recent Vincent Van Gogh exhibit that was shown in Vancouver this summer. We will also cover such areas as drawing, pencil crayon illustration, printmaking , 3D sculpture and a variety of acrylic and watercolour painting techniques.

When I'm not at school I enjoy spending my time with my wife Tasha and our two kids Max 9 and Hazel 7. This time of the year we like to heads out into the hills and look for wild mushrooms which my wife uses in a variety of delicious meals.

Looking forward to meeting many of you in the future. You can contact me anytime by email if you have any questions.

Take care,

Andrew Gibbs

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Hello Families of St. Andrew’s Regional High School!

I would like to extend a warm welcome to the new families and students of St. Andrew’s and a welcome back to all of the returning families and students. I am very excited for the new school year and hopefully one that sees more normalcy than our previous two school years. I am excited to be teaching and working with our students in Social Studies 10, Physical & Health Education 10, Marketing 11/12, Outdoor Education 11/12 and Physical Geography 12, as
well as TAG 14. Furthermore, I am a member of the coaching staff for the boys and girls soccer teams. I look forward to working with the students of St. Andrew’s and assisting them in reaching their goals whether it be academic, athletic and/or social.

This will be my 16th year as a teacher, 15 of those at St. Andrew’s. I graduated with a Bachelor of Education from UVIC in 2006 and received my Masters Degree in Physical Education from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 2020.

When not at work I am spending time with my family (Lindsay, Luca and Leo). We love being outdoors and are up for almost any adventure. In my spare time I enjoy camping and being outdoors. I am an avid angler and love being on the water regardless of the time of year. As a family, we enjoy getting in the trails around Victoria, exploring beaches, camping and spending time at our family cabin on Powell Lake. I am a sports enthusiast. Soccer being my sport of choice but I enjoy watching any and all sports.

I look forward to meeting all of you when the time comes. Until then, please feel free to get in contact with me via email should have any questions.

Take care,

Mark Cristante
mcristante@cisdv.bc.ca

Course Syllabi:
Social Studies 10
Physical and Health Education 10
Outdoor Education 11/12
Marketing 11/12
Physical Geography 12

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Meet Ms. Natalie Lambert - Drama, Theatre and French 8 Teacher

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Meet Ms. Natalie Lambert - Drama, Theatre and French 8 Teacher

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Hello St Andrews families and students. My name is Ms. Lambert. I am lucky enough to be welcomed into the St Andrews community for the first time this school year.

I was born and raised in Ontario, until I graduated high school and my wanderlust took me to Banff, AB where I resided as a ski bum for a winter season. I studied education at Bishop's University in Quebec where I got to practice and improve my French language speaking abilities.

Upon graduating, I traveled to London, Ontario where I began my teaching career. Following my first teaching position, my adventurous heart took me to England, where I taught abroad in London for a school year. I was fortunate enough to visit 11 different countries around Europe where I got to see some beautiful landscape, immerse myself in different cultures and taste a variety of delicious foods. I arrived on beautiful Vancouver Island 2 years ago when I began teaching at one of our ICS sister schools, Queen of Angels in Duncan.

I love traveling and many outdoor activities including hiking, biking, swimming, snow skiing and waterskiing. I have a strong passion for the arts, especially theatre and music. On weekends you are most likely to catch me hiking with my dog or snuggling up with a bag of potato chips to watch a musical.

I look forward to meeting students and families this year and getting to know and help grow our students' artistic and linguistic abilities.

Course Syllabi:
French 8
Drama 8
Drama 9
Theatre Production
Theatre Performance

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Meet Ms. Gilbert                                                  Retreat Director for St. Andrews and                            Religion 8/10 Teacher                                                      

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Meet Ms. Gilbert                                                  Retreat Director for St. Andrews and                            Religion 8/10 Teacher                                                      

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Hello Families of St. Andrews,
My name is Ms. Gilbert. I have come from Prince George BC where I have lived for many years. I am enjoying the beautiful city of Victoria and the amazing beauty of the ocean. I am looking forward to exploring and discovering all that Victoria has to offer.
I have spent over 11 years teaching and 6 years as principal. I am excited about our faith and helping others navigate their journey of faith through the lens of our Catholic Traditions. I enjoy the energy of the school community and am quickly learning the ways of St. Andrews.
I will be directing the Retreats this school year for all grades 8-12 and working every week after school with an amazing group of grade 11 and 12 students. I am inspired by these students dedication and commitment to serve the student body of St. Andrews. You have raised wonderful teenagers.
For those in grade 8 and grade 10D1 block, this is the syllabus students received and I have attached the syllabus for parents viewing.
Faith development is an ongoing lifelong journey and as we grow the Holy Spirit leads and guides us from where we are. We trust in the infinite wisdom of the Creator God to watch over us all and journey with us this school year.
Blessings to you and your families.
Cheers
Ms. Gilbert

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Name:  Doug Ballam

Hometown:  Victoria BC

How long have you been at St. Andrew's?  23+ years.

Job Title:  Science Teacher/Science, Maths, Technology Department Head.

But what do you really do all day?

Tell dad jokes, drink tea, avoid marking, and try to find ways to make complexity simple, or simple things more complex (often simple things are more complex than we think, and vice versa).  Also, trying to be a new and improved version of myself.

Who is your superhero alter ego? Jack Jack.  He is the most incredible Incredible!

Who are some of your real-life heroes?  The pope, Ursula Franklin (read The Real World of Technology!), Albert Einstein, our kids Olivia, Duncan, and Gavin, and my wife.

When you’re not at the school you are: Cooking, running, hiking, reading BBC, CBC, ProPublica, or Al Jazeera News, watching Knowledge Network or PBS, watching documentaries, all to avoid marking.

Last thing you learned:  Padlet will not allow me to show a video no matter what format I use.  I tried about a half dozen times and, in the process, got no marking done.  Although that goal was obtained, you now have to put up with a picture of me as you might see me at St. Andrews.

HOWEVER, Thanks Ms. Paul, I am providing a link to my video and I hope this works.  Want to see me?  Click this link and remember, patience is a virture.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TtUaiR5cj65ds6UK84SpUuDK0rga4DGn/view?usp=sharing

Social Media: Not a fan.  It tends to be a time vacuum.  https://xkcd.com/2223/ is a comic if think is quite appropriate regarding this.  However, it can be a valuable tool for keeping in touch when used sparingly.

Google Classroom?  Yes.  Links will be sent to parents via email after all course changes are done (deadline is tomorrow).

Pax tecum

DBALLAM

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Please click for video
Dear families of St. Andrew’s High School,  I want to introduce myself, especially to our new grade 8 families. My name is Glen Palahicky and my roots are Irish-Ukrainian: hence my love of perogies and potato chips! I am the youngest of five and grew up in the other part of God’s country; Terrace B.C. As an adult I have lived in 4 countries (Canada, USA, Bahamas, Dominican Republic) and 3 provinces (BC, MB, ONT) I have been an educator for 25 years and Principal at 3 different schools.  I enjoy many activities, playing most sports; especially tennis, golf and baseball, fishing, hiking, reading, action movies, DIY projects, travelling and a good steak. I am married to Sophia Palahicky and have two St. Andrew's graduate children: Victoria and Jonathan.
I look forward to this year of learning and forming our kids to be competent, compassionate and caring.
Please peruse the electronic bulletin and meet our fabulous and hard working staff.