new faculty for 2010/2011 School year   

Ms. BELgUES AL-HARAZY, KINDERGARTEN TEACHER

Personal Statement

I believe my role as  teacher is to guide students to become independent life-long learners, who enjoy learning and pursuing knowledge beyond the walls of a classroom.  In my classroom, children are encouraged to develop their own originality, be creative, and to build confidence in all that they do.  I aim to help learners become self-motivated; learning to take risks and make their own choices.  As an educator, I use developmentally appropriate best practices that allow students to explore a variety of ideas and concepts that challenge and diversify their thinking.  I base learning experiences in the classroom on students' everyday lives to make learning more meaningful and relevant to them.  Children are given opportunities to work alone and with others in order to encourage problem-solving and team building skills on an individual and collective basis.  Every student is unique in their own development; I strive to reach each student through her/his individual learning style. I also believe in addressing the whole child, helping them develop in all areas, not just academically, but emotionally, socially, physically and ethically.  I look forward to continuing my career as an educator at Riffa Views International School.

Mrs. Irene Michaud, middle school teacher

Personal Statement

I believe young adolescents need an inviting supportive learning environment. I plan effective learning and assessment strategies keeping in mind the unique developmental characteristics of middle school students. I know that young adolescents learn best when they are active participants in constructing their understanding. I strive to provide support and guidance as students meet the cognitive, physical, emotional and social challenges of the middle years. I am excited to be included in the development of the middle school at Riffa Views International School. I am eager to share my experience and learn from this new adventure.

Mr. larry Michaud, middle school teacher

Personal Statement

I love my job. How many people can say that? I have a passion for learning and I try to model that for my students.  I believe, most firmly, that all students have the capacity to succeed.  I train my students in the 16 Habits of Mind that successful students demonstrate for success. As an experienced teacher, I know that structured learning experiences and timely, supportive feedback helps students to meet expectations. I work hard to develop lessons that appeal to all learning styles and levels of ability. I believe a creative approach motivates students. My classroom is a flexible learning environment. One day it is a NASA space station with astronauts training for their next flight. Another day it is an Egyptian tomb discovered by archaeologists. The best learning connects to the real world. I am thrilled to be part of this dynamic team of teachers and I look forward to my new job at Riffa Views International School.

Ms. ELLEN GRAHAM, elementary school teacher

Personal Statement

My academic and employment experiences have allowed me to develop an understanding of the importance of assisting children in valuing education and becoming lifelong learners. Children’s experiences in elementary school form the foundation of their feelings towards education. I believe it is my responsibility to provide my students with a secure and stimulating learning environment that encourages a passion for lifelong learning. I believe it is this setting that will assist my students in gaining the knowledge, abilities, and personal attributes that will benefit them throughout their lives. In order to cultivate a learning environment which sustains a genuine love of learning, I believe it is essential that the classroom is a collaborative community of learners. The teacher and students must approach each other in a manner that is supportive, encouraging, and caring. The interactions of the classroom members should strive to be cooperative while ensuring all members feel comfortable and welcome. I will cultivate a supportive and respectful classroom environment, for all children, which will allow my students to feel secure and confident to actively participate, take academic risks, and succeed in their educational goals. I am delighted to be joining Riffa Views International School, in August 2010. I eagerly look forward to meeting everyone.

Ms. Melanie olson, Elementary/middle school music teacher

Personal Statement 

A child’s initial experiences in school potentially affect his view on education for many years to come. I find that many people have a distinct memory of their first music class, and can still recall the feelings and opinions of the teacher and the material. The enormity of this influence is staggering. Therefore, it is my goal to provide a supportive, challenging, yet fun environment for every child. Collegiality and a positive, professional attitude are extremely important to me because I know that we are also role models for our students.

I love teaching music. I love discovering what each child needs to understand a concept and have success. I enjoy watching students thrive in my room especially when they might not have excelled in other areas of school. I like making music fun! However, music is not disconnected from other facets of education. I make it my goal to link the music classroom with other topics and academic subjects, helping to solidify a child’s overall education.

I am thrilled to be teaching at Riffa Views. I know this school will provide the professional vigor, opportunities, and overall camaraderie to generate an amazing, well-rounded education for every child.

Ms. lucy Frembgen, elementary/middle school P.E. teacher

Personal Statement 

Since I was in kindergarten, physical education has been my favorite class and even at that young age, I knew I wanted to be a physical education teacher! I have been working in the physical education/recreation setting since I was in high school; it’s hard for me to imagine doing anything else!

I believe students of all ages should have opportunities to develop their skills, knowledge and confidence, while participating in physical activities throughout their lifetime. I provide my classes with developmentally appropriate lessons and strive to maximize movement time.

I am impressed with the commitment that Riffa Views has made to the physical education program. I am excited to work with the teachers and students at Riffa Views!