Hello there!
Allow me to introduce myself. I am Mr. Chu and I am looking forward to working with all of our families this year.
Here are some standard ice-breaker facts about me:
1) I love travelling! I have caught the “travel bug” since I was young and am always on the lookout for my next adventure – hoping to explore the beauty of different cultures and meet people from all walks of life around the world.
2) I recently completed my Master of Education in Educational Practice at SFU in August 2022!
3) I am a magic enthusiast! 😀 You may find me demonstrating some of my mediocre tricks with students at lunch or after school from time to time.
4) Art and design is my jam and is very grounding for me. Some people practice yoga, others meditate. I… art (yes, I am aware I am using the word “art” as a verb when it is not one).
5) I am a “foodie” who is always searching for some good eats. Sometimes when I try some food that I end up liking, I’ll be ambitious enough to recreate the dish at home too. Occasionally, you may find a group of students around my desk discussing food and curious about what I’ve made for lunch.
How did I get into teaching?
After graduating from high school, I decided to attend Simon Fraser University for my undergraduate degree, studying Business – with a focus on Human Resource Management and Entrepreneurship.
While in university, I volunteered in elementary schools and after-school care centres, worked as a day camp leader, volunteered at a summer reading camp, and tutored students at my local high school. It was from being able to make meaningful connections with students that I realized my true passion: teaching and working with kids. I decided to complete my Bachelor of Business Administration and submit my application for the teacher education program (PDP) at SFU to obtain my Bachelor of Education as well. The rest is history!
Teaching Experience and Stories
All the classes I have taught have been amazing and I am certain that this year will be no exception!
2018-2019 School Year
I completed my teaching practicum at École Brantford Elementary in a Grade 5/6 class. I am so thankful for the opportunities to grow as an educator at that school. That year, our class took on a project which allowed us to understand the idea of empathy and community by folding over 1000 origami paper cranes (a symbol of hope and wellness) for a family going through a tough time during the holiday season. It really touched my heart and will surely be an experience I will remember forever.
Shortly after I completed PDP, I was fortunate enough to land my first full-time teaching position in a Grade 6/7 class at École Aubrey Elementary – a place so dear to my heart (filled with so many “firsts”) with some of the most amazing students I have ever met. While teaching there, I was able to coach and involve myself in a wide variety of extracurricular activities like track, netball, Ultimate etc., which allowed me to connect deeply with my students and the rest of the school community. A fond memory from Aubrey is when the staff participated in an Air-Band performance and while on stage, I performed what is now known as my signature pose. The kids had never let “Lil’Chu” forget it. I still laugh about it to this day. Let’s not forget when 92 shots were taken to drop me in the dunk tank at the Aubrey Spring Fair. Ah… good times!
2019-2020 School Year
For the 2019-2020 school year, I taught Grade 6/7 at École Capitol Hill Elementary. It was definitely a year I will never forget. Yes, I realize that it was also the year of COVID-19, but that’s beside the point. Though our time together in class was interrupted with the transition to remote learning, I was amazed at how strong our connections and relationships remained. There were so many memories that I could draw from this year, but I recall with clarity how I helped apply face-paint on students for Halloween, going to WE Day Vancouver with my students, online cooking competitions, the time when we all learned wood carving techniques, and of course… being mistaken as a student on class photo day by the photographer. The students really got a kick out of the last one!
2020-2021 School Year
Round 2 for Grade 6/7 at École Capitol Hill Elementary and it was never a dull moment from the day that the school year began. Without a doubt, the year was an extraordinary one. This year was my first full-year of in-person teaching with any class, so this group is special to me, for sure. There are so many memories that I would love to re-live from this time, but I think my highlights would have to be: listening to some of the most beautiful speeches during our Grade 7 Public Speaking Challenge, the creation of our winter landscape art that was “The Louvre” quality (not going to lie… *coughcough NC and SH*), watching hilarious stock character skits (top entertainment factor goes to AS) and lip-sync battle presentations (shout-outs to RE, ML, MU, and RB for their amazing energy!) , Grade 6/7 Rock Band rehearsals, schooling many students in badminton during open gym practice (sorry AM 😛 ), Hornet Week pride and team morale, as well as our year-end water fight on the last day of school when the kids teamed up and drenched me with over 50L of water! I’ve noticed a trend here… there is something about getting your teacher soaked that kids just love! If I will remember anything about this group of students, it will be how “tight” our community became.
2021-2022 School Year
I had the most unique experience of my teaching career to have taught for the Burnaby School District’s MACC program – a branch of advanced learning. This year, I had taught students in Grade 4/5 at Capitol Hill. This year, I was able to explore so much in teaching and learning and was able to witness the most amazing work created by some of the most fascinating students! Some students wrote full-on novels, were the next Picasso, could give Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali, or Usain Bolt a run for their money, and could be the next Secretary-General of the United Nations. We completed lots of fun projects this year that I will not forget: prosthetic creations, Rube Goldberg machines, story writing, cooking competitions, and more. If anyone knows me, they will know that I am a not-so-subtle competitive person and for Hornet Week/Sports Day, we ROCKED it in first place. GO BLUE, ALLER BLEU! I also remember this year as this was the first one where we were able to go on fieldtrips again since the pandemic that shall not be named. I had a lot of fun taking the class canoeing and also being able to supervise and be a child again at all the rides at Playland – I even got to try “Drop Zone” and “Revelation” for the first time with previous students and I loved it! Thanks to the students who gave me this opportunity. I will always remember this. And that is that… the end of my journey at Capitol Hill – a place of great liveliness, exploration, as well as laughs and giggles, and I could not have asked for a better way to conclude my time there.
2022-2023 School Year
South Slope Elementary: Let our story be amazing. I am so excited to document it all here with you! 🙂
Teaching Philosophy
Community is at the core of my teaching philosophy and I hope to be able to build a strong, kind community of learners and change-makers during my time with every class I have the privilege of teaching. I strongly believe that a class is essentially like a family away from home. Together, we look out for one another, help each other, and work as a team so that we can all reach our greatest goals.
Our community is built by the relationships established with the students, teachers, staff, administration, and of course – our families as well. I view the parents and guardians of my students as partners throughout the year. We all hope to reach a common goal: to ensure that every child is cared for, enjoys learning, and feels successful in what they do both inside and outside of school.
It is the support from all members of the community that allows our students to continue to grow and be the best that they can be.
I am ecstatic for another school year and I hope you all are too!
~ Mr. Chu
