Mr. Michael Principal
It is my sincere pleasure to be a part of the OVS team. Working alongside experienced teachers and support staff who are all committed to providing a thriving educational environment for our students is a distinct honour.
I started in education as a mathematics teacher after graduating from the Faculty of Education. After years of teaching high school math, I became a Department Head of Mathematics, Vice-Principal and Principal in the York Region DSB.
My passion turned to eLearning when it became clear that there are many students whose needs cannot be met in a day school. After a year of planning, I implemented eLearning in York Region with great success and was appointed Principal of its Virtual Schooling program.
Beyond education, I have spent many years as a volunteer with the Canadian Diabetes Association at the local, provincial, and national levels. In my spare time, I love to golf, camp, garden and do woodworking.
Let us all remember the quote by Carl W. Buechner:
They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.
Ms. Atkinson Arts Teacher
Hobbies: You can usually find me in my studio painting, photographing and playing around with ideas on my iPad. I am an avid traveller and love exploring art and cultures around the world. I also enjoy hot yoga, writing, hanging out in cafes and chatting with my art students around the world.
You are the artist of your life. Don’t give the paintbrush to anyone else. – Chriag Arora
Ms. Leitch Arts Teacher
Hobbies: I love to learn about world cultures, which has led me to travel extensively and teach in many countries such as Ghana, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Laos, and Vietnam. Some of my favourite things include sports, fitness, yoga, cooking, and the beach!
If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you. – Fred DeVito
Ms. Raza Business Teacher
Hobbies: I love reading, writing, and travelling.
Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Wishing is not enough; we must do. – Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
Ms. Halchuk Chemistry Teacher
Hobbies: During my free time, I enjoy watching a Netflix series or one my favourite You-tubers (preferably with my hedgehog or one of my two cats with me!)
It matters not what someone is born, but what they will grow to be. – Albus Dumbledore
Ms. LaBine Chemistry Teacher
Hobbies:In my free time, I enjoy downhill skiing, taking in the sights and sounds of nature, visiting museums, reading, doing yoga, attending concerts, hiking and taking road trips. My guilty pleasure is tuning into syndicated journalists.
"Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less." – Marie Curie
Mr. Walton Chemistry Teacher
Hobbies: “I am a Chemistry and Biology nerd! I love learning about them and teaching them both. During my free time I enjoy playing video games and learning to code. I also enjoy woodworking and building all sorts of things for my home!”
There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.
Mr. Wiebe Chemistry Teacher
Hobbies: I love discovering more about the world through travel, reading, and science. Mountain biking and white water kayaking are a couple of my favorite activities. I’m also not at all above the use of chemistry puns.
To do the useful thing, to say the courageous thing, to contemplate the beautiful thing: that is enough for one life. – T.S. Eliot
Ms. Crognale English Teacher
Hobbies: In my spare time, you can always find me with a book in my hand or watching the newest TV series. I also love the outdoors and spend a lot of time taking my Goldendoodle, Conrad, on new adventures.
The more that you read, the more things you will know, the more that you learn, the more places you’ll go. — Dr. Seuss
Ms. Humphreys English Teacher
Hobbies: I love travelling! My favorite trips have included backpacking through Europe, a backcountry camping adventure in Northern Ontario, and an impromptu road trip down the coast of California. When I am not travelling, I enjoy hiking, visiting with friends and reading. One of my intentions this year is to read 100 books.
The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary. – Vince Lombardi
Mr. Lewis English, Social Science & Business Teacher
Hobbies: I enjoy music and movies; coaching soccer and basketball; and playing soccer, hockey, volleyball, and tennis.
Remember that the turtle makes progress the fastest when she sticks her neck out.
Ms. Malcho English Teacher
Hobbies: When I'm not reading, kayaking, spending time with loved ones or researching arbitrary topics, I am keeping the
movie theater in business thanks to my love for nachos and films.
My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.
Ms. Moncada English Teacher
Hobbies: In my spare time I love to be active. You can often find me playing volleyball, basketball and soccer with my friends and family. I am also a certified yoga instructor! Spending time swimming in the lake, going for hikes and hanging out with my dog Cash are also some of my favourite things to do.
Do things for people not because of who they are or what they do in return, but because of who you are. – Harold S. Kushner
Ms. McDonnell English Teacher
In my spare time, I am an avid reader who enjoys reading various genres. I am also an animal lover, and love to horseback ride as well as teach riding lessons.
There is no such thing as a kid who hates reading. There are kids who love reading, and kids who are reading the wrong books. – James Patterson
Mr. Murphy English Teacher
Hobbies: In my spare time, you will find me in the gym improving my strength and physique, or in the pool going for a swim. People say I live at the gym. Living a healthy lifestyle is a big part of my life. I also like to read, play video games, and watch retro movies.
Never, never, never give up. – Winston Churchill
Mr. Persad English Teacher
Hobbies: I enjoy teaching English and reading.
Failure is my enemy. – Pundit Hari Prashad
Ms. Sturino English Teacher
Hobbies: My hobbies include travelling the world, cooking and baking – I try at least 3 new recipes a month; fitness and health are passions of mine, and I love to learn. Family and friends are dear to my heart.
The journey of a thousand miles begin with one step. – Lao Tzu
Ms. McCarthy ESL Teacher
Hobbies: I can always be found in one of two places: in line to get coffee or in line at the movies. I make excellent use of my public library card, Art Gallery of Ontario membership, and r/askreddit. I laugh the loudest at British comedies and I am famous for tying my shoes really quickly.
“Give me knowledge or give me death.” - Kurt Vonnegut
Ms. Taadolkhah Farsi Teacher
Hobbies: I adore adventure and camping, but love Mother Nature the most. I think nothing could be better than a day filled with exploring the woods, an evening of good conversation with by loved ones around a campfire, and a night of sleeping in a tent beneath a pitch-black sky filled with bright stars.
Tough times never last, but tough people do. - Robert H. Schuller
Ms. Fu Mandarin Teacher
Hobbies: I play ice hockey and am a long track speed skater. I am also a singer and world traveller. I love reading, writing, math, and acting.
First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do. - Epictetus
Mr. MacDonald French Teacher
Hobbies: Avid baseball fan, aspiring theologian
To have another language is to possess a second soul. – Charlemagne
Ms. Shea French Teacher
Hobbies: When I am not teaching, I am spending time with my kids, travelling, and quilting.
One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world. - Malala Yousafzai
Mr. Berardi Math Teacher
Hobbies: In my free time I enjoy playing/watching hockey, soccer, listening to music, fishing, and spending time with friends and family.
If you don’t sacrifice for what you want. What you want becomes the sacrifice – Jay Shetty
Ms. Bolt Math Teacher
Hobbies: I enjoy curling. I spent my entire winter at the club either playing, coaching, organizing, or watching. Once the weather gets warm, I spend all of my time outside either camping, hiking, or just sitting in the sun.
Just because we can’t find a solution doesn’t mean that there isn’t one. – Andrew Wiles
Ms. Chaudhari Math Teacher
Hobbies: I love travelling and learning about other cultures. I speak 4 languages and have visited 7 countries and counting! I also enjoy jogging, hiking, and kayaking.
Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think. – Albert Einstein
Mr. Currie Math Teacher
Hobbies: I enjoy golfing, reading and watching sports on TV. I have officiated basketball for over 40 years at various levels of competition.
Failing to prepare is preparing to fail. – John Wooden
Ms. Dhillon Math Teacher
Hobbies: As much as I love travel and adventure, I also enjoy simple things like a hot cup of coffee and a great book!
Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.
Mr. Dyck Math Teacher
Hobbies: My hobbies include basketball, biking, mountaineering, travel, hiking, camping, reading, music, and activities in the outdoors.
Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new. – Albert Einstein
Ms. Garcia Math Teacher
Hobbies:
I love to travel, try international cuisines, crochet, and take my dog out on epic adventures (to parks).
People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. – Maya Angelou
Ms. Gupta Math Teacher
Hobbies: Travelling, cooking, painting, and scrapbooking
I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. – Maya Angelou
Ms. Hansen Math Teacher
Hobbies: I love to travel and spent two years living in China and travelling all over Asia at the start of my teaching career. Thailand has been my favourite place so far.
You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. – C.S. Lewis
Mr. Hashmi Math Teacher
Hobbies: I like to play basketball, cricket and hockey. Also, I like to spend quality time with my family.
The harder you work for something, the greater you’ll feel when you achieve it.
Ms. Kennedy Math Teacher
Hobbies: I love to read all kinds of different books, travel (mostly to warm beachy destinations), watch my son play basketball, and do art with my daughter.
The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. – Walt Disney
Mr. Lakhani Math & Sciences Teacher
Hobbies: I am a certified community soccer coach and I enjoy playing tennis. I've also been known to take cooking classes to improve my skills in the kitchen.
Don't be an electron, always stay positive.
Mr. Luu Math Teacher
Hobbies: I love Tiny Home design and builds, travelling, and culinary experiences.
Change your thoughts and you change your world.- Norman Vincent
Ms. Madukayil Math Teacher
Hobbies: I love going on walks outdoors, and travelling.
Students don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care – John C Maxwell
Mr. May Math Teacher
Hobbies: Outside of my love for learning and teaching, I am a full‐time Brazilian jiu‐jitsu athlete, a full‐stack web application developer, and an avid cook who loves learning to prepare various cuisines.
All mathematical truths stemmed from, and can be inarguably justified with the application of logical principles. – D'Amour 1973
Ms. McGee Math Teacher
Hobbies: I enjoy watching many sports and playing some as well. I am an avid 10pin bowler and have recently taken up golf – although it hasn’t taken to me yet. I also enjoy watching TV, Disney, and playing video games, especially Mario Kart. I also love spending time with my family, friends and my child, AKA my dog, Goku.
It's up to you how far you go. If you don't try, you'll never know. – Merlin
Ms. Milburn Math Teacher
Hobbies: I love playing lacrosse, going on walks outdoors and spending time at the cottage.
You have not failed unless you have stopped trying.
Ms. Morrow Math Teacher
Hobbies: In my free time, I enjoy going on adventures with my dog, cottage weekends, binge watching shows on Netflix, country concerts, trying new types of food, snowboarding, and spending time with friends and family.
Life is a math equation. In order to gain the most, you have to know how to convert negatives into positives. — Anonymous
Ms. Reddy Math Teacher
Hobbies: In my free time, I love to play tennis, badminton, listen to music, watch movies and travel as well.
“The future depends on what we do in the present” - Gandhi
Mr. Ryan Math Teacher
Hobbies: I enjoy travelling, canoeing, hiking, basketball and reading a great book.
Sometimes it is the people no one imagines anything of who do the things that no one can imagine.
Ms. Shpit Math/IT Teacher
Hobbies: Math is both my major and my passion. Outside of the classroom, I enjoy running engineering, robotics and math help clubs. In my spare time, hiking, skiing and spending time with friends make my life complete.
Mr. Owuor Physics Teacher
Hobbies: I enjoy watching the news and reading all manner of literature such as novels, biographies etc. I also enjoy learning about new cultures and languages.
"If it is to be, it is up to me" - Unknown
Mr. Sawinski Physics Teacher
Hobbies: I enjoy playing golf and basketball, swimming, and reading.
Do the thing that is hard to do, and the power will come!
Ms. Sridhar Physics Teacher
Hobbies: I enjoy learning and making art and crafts like calligraphy, painting and embroidery. I have 3 dogs and love walking them and spending time with them.
The important thing is to not stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing – Albert Einstein
Ms. Stockwell Physics Teacher
Hobbies: I love doing puzzles and participating in any kind of escape room experience. I also enjoy curling up with a good book, taking the dog for a walk, and spending time with my family and friends.
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. – Nelson Mandela
Ms. Tariq Physics Teacher
Hobbies: Travelling, baking, reading
Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. – Thomas Edison
Ms. Aggarwal Science Teacher
Hobbies: I love animals, traveling and learning new things!
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." - Nelson Mandela
Ms. Colpitts Science Teacher
Hobbies: I enjoy reading, crochet, travelling, and watching movies. I also enjoy spending quality time with my family in the great outdoors.
"Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful." - Joshua J. Marine
Ms. Darku Science Teacher
Hobbies: I love photography, travelling and learning about new cultures, and cooking!
"Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today" - Malcolm X
Ms. Farooq Science Teacher
Hobbies: I enjoy quiet walks in the woods, natural history, photography, learning languages, reading nonfiction literature, and pampering my pets and my backyard birds.
A well-educated mind will always have more questions than answers. – Helen Keller
Ms. Di Sebastiano English Teacher
Hobbies: In addition to being an avid reader, I also love painting, hiking, travelling and most importantly playing with my cat. When I'm not enjoying one of these hobbies you can find me cooking up a storm in the kitchen... mostly Italian cuisine!
There is no living thing that is not afraid when it faces danger. The true courage is in facing danger when you are afraid. - L. Frank Baum
Ms. Livingstone Science Teacher
Hobbies: I like to read, travel, swim, and watch TV. I also am a huge dog lover.
A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor – English Proverb
Ms. Pansar Science Teacher
Hobbies: I love travelling, trying different foods and spending time with my dog!
"The more that you read, the more things you will know; the more that you learn, the more places you'll go" - Dr. Seuss
Mr. Rideout Science Teacher
Hobbies: I love exploring and documenting the natural world around me. You would be amazed with what your are able to find just outside your front door! I also enjoy watching / playing baseball and football. Indoors, I enjoy relaxing with a good video game or anime to watch.
“Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.” – Carl Sagan
Mr. Sanders Science Teacher
Hobbies: Outside of the classroom, I can often be found reading, biking or watching the Toronto Maple Leafs or the Toronto Blue Jays.
Imagination is the source of all human achievement – Ken Robinson
Mr. Tonelli Science Teacher
Hobbies: I love studying the stars, playing board games, and painting in my spare time.
When first things are put first, second things don't diminish, they increase. – C.S. Lewis
Ms. West Science Teacher
Hobbies: I enjoy being outdoors, photography, drawing, painting and making music, as well as fossil hunting, reading and, my deepest passion of all, writing!
It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor is it the more intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change. – Charles Darwin
Ms. Westley Science Teacher
Hobbies: I love playing and watching sports with family and friends, going to concerts, and bingeing Netflix series. I also enjoy spending time at the cottage and exploring new places!
Whether you think you can, or think you can’t, you’re right.
Mr. Calla Social Science Teacher
Hobbies: In my spare time, I enjoy playing video games, as well as watching film and anime.
Young man, you too can become a hero. – My Hero Academia
Ms Carone Social Science Teacher
Hobbies: I enjoy travelling, reading books, watching movies and television as well as taking my dog for walks.
Success belongs to those who dare to achieve it.
Mr. Crestani Social Science Teacher
Hobbies: I like to spend my free time painting, doing some creative writing, or reading gripping genre fiction.
In life, unlike chess, the game continues after checkmate. – Isaac Asimov
Ms. Cuzner Social Science Teacher
Hobbies: I volunteer around the city and love to draw! I also always have a stained glass project on the go.
Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today. – Malcolm X
Ms. Dore Social Science Teacher
Hobbies: When I am not teaching online, I enjoy travelling, reading, cooking, baking cookies, and learning Mandarin.
The expert in anything was once a beginner. – Helen Hayes
Ms. Galli Social Science Teacher
Hobbies: Aside from reading historical fiction books you can find me playing with my dog. When I’m not with my pup, I love travelling, exploring new places, cooking, watching reality TV and learning about new cultures. I’m a huge hockey and football fan and enjoy watching games with friends!
Let your smile change the world, but don’t let the world change your smile. - Anonymous
Ms. MacDonald Social Science Teacher
Hobbies: I play piano and sing in a choir. I also love to read and home school my kids!
Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. – Winston Churchill
Ms. Neale Social Science Teacher
Hobbies: My hobbies include long-distance running, sewing and spending time with my family.
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. – Eleanor Roosevelt
Ms. Singh Social Science Teacher
Hobbies: My hobbies include learning about the world and current events, playing with my dogs, reading comics and playing video games!
The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. – Amelia Earhart
Mr. Spatare Social Science
Hobbies: I enjoy traveling, reading and sports.
Believe there are no limits but the sky – Cervantes
Ms. Velji Social Science Teacher
Hobbies: Baking, watching television, listening to music, and trying new foods! I am also a true animal lover.
When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace – Jimi Hendrix
Mr. Ford Director of Marketing
Hobbies: As a certified Trainer and Coach for Baseball Canada, I have come to realize the importance of putting the needs of others first. In my free time, I love hiking, keeping fit and all outdoor activities.
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. – Nelson Mandela
Ms. Hillary Tutton Office Administrator
Hobbies: Reading, watching tv, writing, listening to music, camping and hiking.
I began to realize how important it was to be an enthusiast in life. He taught me that if you are interested in something, no matter what it is, go at it at full speed ahead. Embrace it with both arms, hug it, love it and above all become passionate about it.
Ms. Sarah Mullins Office Administrator
Hobbies: I’m a huge music fan, so I love going to concerts and checking out live music shows around town whenever I can. In my downtime, I enjoy playing cards or board games with friends and family. I’m also an avid reader and animal lover.
Good things come to those who wait, but better things come to those who go out and get them.
Mr. Lozier Technical Support
Hobbies: I enjoy running, skating, and magic tricks.
Life is the hardest teacher. It gives you the test first, and the lesson afterward.
Mr. Lawson Web Developer
Hobbies: Music, anime, manga, and video games
Haste makes waste