EduDrama Department

•Teacher • Bachelor of Arts in Drama and Psychology, 2001, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand • Speech and Drama Teaching Certificate from the Julia Gabriel School of Education.

While at university I gained a love for working with children. This led me to North America where I spent many memorable summers working in a Summer Camp in North Carolina. There I worked with (or played with, as I like to say!) a huge range of children and teenagers, teaching them drama and many different outdoor activities, such as kayaking and swimming. Also my travels have taken me to different places where I have taken care of children aged 6months to 10 years.

I have two major passions in life. One is for drama and theatre and the other passion is for the outdoors and the great wilderness. I love to snowboard, hike, canoe or kayak, rock-climb and basically anything that will get me outside and discovering new places!

• Teacher • Bachelor of Arts from St. Stephens College, Delhi University, 1995. •Certificate in Teaching Speech and Drama from the Julia Gabriel School of Education, Singapore

I joined Julia Gabriel Centre for Learning’s EduPlay department in September 2006. Since 1995, I have worked as a volunteer teacher at various children’s educational establishments in Germany, India and Singapore. Additionally, I have almost a decade experience in the airline industry and have worked with and supervised children on a daily basis. I am a trained and certified aerobics instructor and choreographer, and have taught children of various ages and abilities. I am also an experienced television presenter and have been actively involved with drama, theatre and music since an early age.

As a mother, I am committed to understanding and nurturing a child’s development. I also love exercise, sports and music

• Teacher •Bachelor of Education ( Foundation Phase, Grades 00-3), University of South Africa, RSA in 2002-2006 • Montessori Diploma in Early Childhood Development, RSA, College of Modern Montessori, RSA in 1998-2000

Goethe once said that “children need only two things; roots to grow and wings to fly”. I have been blessed to have watched this metamorphosis in the children I’ve taught during the past 9 years in South Africa; from the curious and inquisitive 4 and 5 year olds, to the growing independence of Grade 1s, 2s and 3s, where I taught Speech and Drama, as well as Singing. It was during this time that I formed a Drama and Choir Club, participating in various Eisteddfods with great fun! I have also taught briefly at a Singaporean Montessori school on one of my extended holidays, and more recently, English, History and Life Orientation to high school students at a South African Waldorf school, as well as a class of lively Grade 1s thereafter. Apart from this, I have also spent 6 years teaching English to second language students in South Africa.

Raw rhythm, soulful music and eclectic theatre all call to me, and I still remember the very first performance I attended as a child… Shakespeare’s Macbeth! The beauty of translating a story through the body as a medium, and combining the latter with my love for teaching has thus become a passion of mine and I constantly strive to awaken the creativity and love for learning through drama within each child.

Globe trotting, soaking in colourful sights and sounds, amateur photography and culinary endeavours in the kitchen also keep me on my feet whenever time allows. When I’m not dusting the magical dust of faraway lands off my shoes, I love the creative outlet that art affords. Reading is quintessential and long walks therapeutic. I sometimes enjoy the simple pleasures of making music on my violin or flute, as well as singing, but when that becomes too much hard work, a CD whirls to my rescue!

• Teacher • Diploma in Preschool Education Teaching, International Centre of Early Childhood • Orff Schulwerk Level 1, AECES Singapore • Orff Schuwerk Level 2, VOSA Melbourne Australia • Julia Gabriel Teaching Certificate (Speech & Drama), Singapore

In 2000, I was warmly welcomed into the world of drama and music at Julia Gabriel Centre for Learning and also started teaching music in Chiltern House. I taught PlayClub, Bilingual PlayClub and Stepping Stones, and I look forward to sharing and exploring new experiences with children and parents.

I love the Arts and enjoy being actively involved in all arts concerned with children. I enjoy volunteering at children’s homes and doing what I can for charitable organisations. I enjoy attending Arts conferences and meeting new Arts educators from around the world.