Hello Families! 

My name is Christine Barbrick ---yup that's not a typo---I'm a certifiable CFA Nova Scotian bluenoser, having been beached on this beautiful island since the year 1998. This year I will be entering my 29th year of teaching. You can be rest assured that I know our curriculum very well and I am excited and happy to work with your child this year and present some fresh and unique ideas that I hope ensures they will enjoy their daily learning and find it fun and engaging.  Personally, I have always placed parents foremost in my teaching philosophies. You are a critical piece in your child's educational team.  I will be counting on you for a variety of feedback in helping me to lead your child to success with skills for their development.  I hope you always feel that you can contact me when you have concerns, or, when something is going well.   I will be making it my point to try and do the same for you and your child in return.

This will be my 17th year at Westwood. I have also taught at both Souris Consolidated and Southern Kings Consolidated prior to coming to Westwood.  I bring a variety of prior elementary and secondary level experiences, having taught earlier in my career with the Halifax Regional School Board and also with the Chignecto Central Regional School Board in Nova Scotia.

Originally, my passion for health science led me to receive a dual undergraduate degree with a Bachelor of Science in Health Education and teaching certificate from Dalhousie University specializing in secondary sciences.  Eventually, I broadened my enjoyment and background in the teaching field when I studied further at Université Sainte-Anne for French and later Mount Saint Vincent University for both my elementary specialty as well as my Masters in Education.

Over the years, as my teaching has evolved, it has certainly taken a path that clearly revolves around critical literacy issues and projects.  In the past, I have designed and facilitated enrichment projects with the Hackmatack Children’s Literacy Award in several schools. I have also served on several  committees beginning with the ESD Curriculum Analysis Survey (CAS), and then as a teacher leader, table leader, and marking board member for both the provincial Primary (Gr. 3) and Elementary (Gr. 6) Language Arts teacher working committees  for the common assessments (PLA, ELA) in PEI for 10 years.  As part of those experiences, I was also invited to attend conferences in New Brunswick and Ontario and participate in reading comprehension and writing initiatives with the Eastern District.

In more recent years, I have broadened my knowledge of the provincial assessment process by also serving as a table leader and marking board member for the Primary Math Assessment (PMA) as well. In addition, I was very honored to be invited by the Department to collaborate with a working committee on the development of the provincial K-9 Writing Continuum.

Over the last several years, I have continued to reflect, muse and question our current focus in theory, curriculum, and assessment practice within social literacy and the evolution of challenging classroom compositions.  I look forward to working with all of you to investigate and evaluate tools for equitable practices in education that honor your child's learning.

When I’m not working, I seek balance, creativity, and solitude in activities that keep me grounded outside of the classroom like gardening, photography, hiking, renovating, cooking, reading, geocaching, and generally lolling about somewhere in nature and breathing in all the beautiful things this world has to offer.

I can't wait to watch, nurture, and be inspired by your child as they grow and discover how their own minds interpret and create beautiful things!

Sincerely,

"Mrs. B"