Our Teachers
Heather Wheeler – Principal
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I am the person I am because of: My love for my family (my husband, Paul and son, Adam) My love for my friends (they know who they are) My love of my profession (every year for the last 23). My love of my heritage Newfoundlander) This is the view from my Grandfather’s wharf in the community I grew up in – Harry’s Harbour, population 100. |
Betty-Lynn Orton – Grade 1
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All her life, Betty Lynn has been an avid world traveler, slowly checking off the ancient destinations on her bucket list. She has brought back with her a myriad of great local artwork, interesting artifacts, and wonderful memories of the people she has met and even better stories to share. Just ask her about trying to buy “soft sleeper class-tourist train tickets in China in 1990” and you’ll get her started… |
Eva Gelberger-Brown – Grade 5/6
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Eva loves teaching and learning from her brilliant students. She enjoys travelling and exploring new places and trying new food. Eva considers chocolate to be a major food group and offsets her love of chocolate by taking her bull dog, Mousey for long walks. When Eva is not at school she can be found rock climbing or running after Mousey who enjoys stealing and riding on skateboards. |
Karyn Morris – Kindergarten
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When Karyn grows up she would like to be just like Miss Rumphius. Miss Rumphius had been told by her grandfather that when she grew up she must do something to make the world more beautiful. Twenty years ago Karyn became a teacher to try to accomplish this goal. Karyn brought with her to HPAS her love of learning, love of nature and particularly her love of High Park and its native plants. She is still trying. Please read Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney. |
Helena Mendes-Guarda – French
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Helena enjoys languages and traveling. She likes to use drama and games to teach French and make it more dynamic. She has been teaching at HPAS since the beginning of her teaching career and when she is not at school she can be seen in the park walking her dog Harry. |
Kelly Fricker – Grade 2/3
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Kelly comes from a small, rural town, where it wasn’t uncommon to see students arrive at school by horse, dirt bike or snowmobile. Since moving to Toronto, she’s unearthed a love of food and can be found experimenting in her kitchen on weekends. When she’s not making her favourite peanut-butter-chocolate-popcorn, she can be found curled up with a book. This past summer, she travelled to Whangdoodleland, met his majesty the Whangdoodle and enjoyed a tasty treat of wodge (please refer to “The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles” by Julie Andrews should you also enjoy taking off on a wonderful adventure).~ Pax, Amor et Lepos in Iocando. |
Janice MacNeil – Music
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A proud Maritimer, Janice teaches music for K-8. She’s a keen cyclist and social activist. The only thing Janice loves more than music is coffee. |
Kevin Murphy - Grade 7/8
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I am from broken hockey sticks and busted noses,Tree forts and a forty foot fall;
And from four time hand-me-down jeans – Bell bottoms with groovy green shirts. I am from exploring the ocean’s gifts, Offered to me on solitary beaches, And from miles of uncharted wilderness Created for the wonder of my youth. I am from puffed wheat and powdered milk, And from a mouth always aching For the soothing sweetness of chocolate and hot cocoa. I am from pig’s feet and ham hocks’ And from boiled cabbage and “mystery stew.” I am from five children fighting for the first pancake on Sunday morning And faced with the last brussel sprout on Sunday night. I am from a mother who took so little She had little left to give, And from a father who taught me With the backside of a giant hand. I am from “Do it for yourself,” From “Eat what’s on your plate” From “Big boys don’t cry” And from “Fire it into ya’ it’s going to rain.” I am from the flashes of friends’ faces, Some whose names I can no longer recall, And from the countless students I am blessed with – Whose energy keeps me young and whose wisdom Teaches a humble lesson everyday. I am from a wife whose spirit inspires me And whose soul I will forever share, And from a son sent from across an ocean To fill an emptiness in my heart. I am from ancient sea warriors whose lives Were sacrificed to feed the future, And from the mystical presence Of leprechauns and the promise of pots of gold. I am from the distant strains of fiddles and Bohdrain drums, And from tin whistles that make my hidden heart weep. I am from a long line of sentimental fools Who sing “Danny Boy” and long for the past. I am From all this and beyond – I am from the sprit of those before me And the memories that I try desperately To keep within Safe from the outside world. What I am from is an enigma, The clues to which can be found In the deepest regions Of my mind. |
Marilyn Maychak -Grade 7/8
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Marilyn is a proud Prairie girl who aspires to be a travel photographer when she grows up. She enjoys being outdoors (hiking, camping, swimming, etc.), learning languages, being creative, and spending time with her wonderful family and friends. If Marilyn isn’t at school she can be found in the darkroom printing her own photographs, with her nose in a book, or honing her culinary skills to support her love of food. |
Juliet Lamey – Grade 3/4
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Juliet is a busy mother who loves to garden, practice yoga and be creative. |
