Welcome to New Staff

Hi, my name is Chanel and I teach Secondary English across Years 7, 10 and 11 here at Christway.

This year feels a little bit like standing at the edge of something new — new country, new curriculum, new classrooms — and I’m genuinely excited by the challenge of it. I’ve come from South Africa with my husband and our very spoiled dog, Joey, and I don’t take lightly the sense that God has called us here for a reason. My hope is that in the middle of essays, novels and the occasional grammar battle, I can help students grow in confidence, curiosity and kindness — and that the process shapes me into a better teacher too.

Before arriving at Christway, I taught English at a secondary school in South Africa for six years - a place I really came to love and cherish. It was not easy to move our lives across the seas but I'm so grateful for the many opportunities God has granted us. My academic path didn’t start in teaching — I began with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Media Studies — but I found my way into education through a postgraduate qualification and never looked back. English, for me, is more than a subject. It’s stories, voice, identity, and the moment a student realises that their thoughts have value. That moment never gets old.

Outside the classroom, I’m happiest near the ocean, on a tennis court, or trying to convince myself that yoga counts as relaxation. I love being active — hiking, dancing, social sport — not because I’m particularly good at any of it, but because I enjoy the movement and the people. Weekends usually involve family time, good food (especially Asian cuisine), and finding new places to explore. Just as passionately, I enjoy reading or crafting anything really.

What I’m most looking forward to this year is seeing students flourish — not just academically, but as people. I want my classroom to be a place marked by compassion, empathy and high expectations, where students feel known and challenged at the same time. I really look forward to seeing what The Lord has in store either for me or through me here at Christway.