Grade 1
Samurdhi Rupasinghe
Grade 1 Teacher
Samurdhi Rupasinghe
designation
Grade 1 Teacher
education
bio
Samurdhi earned her Degree in Social Studies from the Open University, Sri Lanka and also has a Diploma in Teaching Early childhood and Primary Education which involved more than 6 years of studying, observing and teaching students from different age groups. It also involved various methods of teaching.
Samurdhi has eight years of experience as a Primary school teacher and also as an English Language Teacher in Sri Lanka.
She is a passionate teacher who believes that teaching and learning should be a joyful experiences in a friendly environment that encourages lifelong learners. She values individuality and the balanced development of physical, mental, emotional and social skills in students.
Samurdhi believes in differentiated learning techniques for each child in order to bring out their individual capabilities. She finds the OWIS community and the vibrant school atmosphere allow students and staff to grow in many aspects. She loves being a part of the OWIS family as she admires the school’s impact on kindness.
When Samurdhi is not engaged in teaching, she enjoys her time as a volunteer, loves nature and healthy food and takes trips with her husband. She also loves movies which are based on books.
Syahira Chishty
Grade 1 Teacher
Syahira Chishty
designation
Grade 1 Teacher
education
bio
Born and raised in Singapore, Syahira studied at the University at Buffalo (SIM) where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Communication. She has also completed her PGCE from the University of Sunderland. She has worked in international schools in the United Arab Emirates for 3 years.
As an educator, her philosophy is to make learning come to life. She believes children learn best when they are actively engaged and involved through real-life experiences and a hands-on approach.
Syahira was inspired to teach by her own mother, who is also a teacher. She understands that each child learns at a different pace and it is important to cater to their needs and abilities in order for them to reach their highest potential. She looks forward to working with the diverse community of teachers and students at OWIS.
She strongly believes that teachers should demonstrate kindness by being good role models to their students. She defines herself as a “Teacher by day, foodie by night!” She enjoys trying new cuisines from all around the world, loves to stay active and drink LOTS of coffee!
Sue Lynn Tan
Grade 1 Teacher, OWIS Suntec
Sue Lynn Tan
designation
Grade 1 Teacher, OWIS Suntec
education
bio
Sue Lynn is originally from Malaysia. She has over 5 years of teaching experience in an IB International School. She first started teaching in Malaysia before moving to Singapore. She has taught in Uplands International School of Penang before moving to Fairview International School in Kuala Lumpur. She has worked in a variety of settings with children aged 5-12 years. Here at OWIS, She is the homeroom teacher for Grade 1 as well as teaching EAL (English as an Additional Language).
[Course & Subjects]
International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program - Early Childhood 1 to Grade 5 : Science, Language, Arts, Mathematics, Personal Social and Physical Education and Social Studies.
Julie Moran
Grade 1 Bilingual Teacher
Julie Moran
designation
Grade 1 Bilingual Teacher
education
bio
Julie is originally from China and has been working as a teacher for more than 7 years. She has a BA in English Linguistics and Literature from the Northeast Normal University and a Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics from NIE, Nanyang Technological University. She is an active participant in IB workshops and discussions regarding curriculum development, teaching methods and IB language acquisition (Chinese) professional training. Staying abreast with evolving teaching methodologies associated with languages is very important to her.
Julie is happy to have received the Outstanding Volunteer teacher award from China MOE as well as the Creative Teacher Award and Popular Teacher Award from Canada Pattinson School.
She has a steadfast belief that her job as a teacher is to help her students be prepared for anything in life. As a 21st century educator, she believes the teacher’s role is to guide learners to think critically and creatively. Her passion for teaching Chinese as an international language stems from offering students the chance to open their minds to new cultures and backgrounds. Having had the opportunity to work with students from various cultural backgrounds and different international curricula, she wishes to instill a truly international mindset in her students.
Julie is an outgoing person who enjoys traveling, food, jokes, poster designing and dragon boating! She has also been an active volunteer for associations taking care of stray dogs in Singapore.
Manpreet Kaur
Grade 1 Teacher
Manpreet Kaur
designation
Grade 1 Teacher
education
bio
Manpreet hails from India and has extensive experience working with young children. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Arts from Delhi University, a Diploma in Montessori Method of Education from Modern Montessori International in London and PostGraduate Certificate in Education from the University of Sunderland in the United Kingdom.
Manpreet believes that a teacher’s job extends beyond teaching and that teachers play an important role in nurturing students with important life skills that enables them to deal effectively with challenges in everyday life. For her, teaching is more than just imparting knowledge to students; inculcating students with values that support them to achieve life goals is even more important.
Manpreet enjoys reading, listening to music, meditation and trekking with her family. She and her husband are proud parents to their young daughter. She feels that trekking is their family bonding time and at the same time they learn to adapt to various natural conditions. Manpreet is excited to be a part of the OWIS family!
Ann Patteri
Grade 1 Teacher
Ann Patteri
designation
Grade 1 Teacher
education
bio
Ann moved around a lot when she was young, staying in India and the US before settling down in the sunny island of Singapore, which she is happy to call home. Ann has a Bachelor of Arts (English) degree from University of London, Goldsmiths College and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from the University of Nottingham.
Ann firmly believes that children learn best when they are happy and feel accepted. She aims to create a classroom environment that allows children to feel safe to take risks and grow into their potential. She believes in the power of books and performance and incorporates both into her class teaching.
Ann looks forward to teaching children of various nationalities at OWIS and has been inspired by her teachers at school, who never gave up on her.
Ann enjoys watching movies, going out with her friends and tasting different cuisines in her spare time.
Alethea Luo Jiayi
Grade 1 Teacher, OWIS Suntec
Alethea Luo Jiayi
designation
Grade 1 Teacher, OWIS Suntec
education
bio
Alethea Luo Jiayi grew up and studied in Singapore with her parents, two brothers and two dogs. She has a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Leadership and a Bachelor of Science in Early Education from Wheelock College.
Alethea was inspired to become a teacher when she became an assistant teacher in a voluntary organisation. After four years, she discovered that teaching and working with children was her passion.
As a teacher, Alethea believes that children learn best when they feel happy and are active participants in their learning. She strives to provide a warm and engaging environment for her students, so they can feel confident and safe to explore the world freely. In addition, she hopes to instil a sense of love, respect and kindness in every student in her classroom. Alethea does this by modelling these values for her students.
At OWIS, she's looking forward to implementing the IB PYP curriculum, getting to know her colleagues and having fun learning with her new batch of children.
In her free time, she volunteers with animal welfare organisations that rescue dogs.
Neha Kaprani
Grade 1 Teacher, Grade 1 Coordinator
Neha Kaprani
designation
Grade 1 Teacher, Grade 1 Coordinator
education
bio
Neha Kaprani has earned her BA honours in Sociology and ECCEd from ORT India (London). She is currently pursuing a Masters in International Education from the UK.
She has over 18 years of experience in the field of education. With her knowledge of the IB, she was promoted to the role of PYP Coordinator in her previous school, where she worked for 10 years.
Neha is proud of her profession and strives to be a motivated, passionate, proactive teacher. She enjoys developing and implementing lucid methods of teaching that encourage curiosity and interest in students, as well as self-resilience and confidence.
She is looking forward to building her relationships with her students, parents and colleagues at OWIS. She works best in collaboration with others and looks forward to sharing great ideas and learning new and innovative skills from her colleagues at OWIS.
Neha enjoys reading, listening to music, and spending time with her family in her free time.
Grade 2
Azura Aziz
Grade 2 Teacher
Azura Aziz
designation
Grade 2 Teacher
education
bio
Azura Aziz was born in Singapore and has been working in international schools since 2010. She started teaching while volunteering during her undergraduate days, and she has enjoyed it ever since.
Azura graduated from SIM-UOL with a Bachelors in Banking and Finance. After working as an assistant teacher for some time, she decided to equip herself further and move on to being a classroom teacher. She earned a Diploma in Education (Special Needs) from the College of Allied Educators and a Postgraduate Diploma in Pre and Primary Teacher Training from the Asian College of Teachers.
Azura believes children learn best when they are given the agency to direct their own learning. They excel in a positive and nurturing environment where they are not afraid to try and make mistakes. In the classroom, teachers act as facilitators to ensure that each child is heard and included in the learning process. She also believes that the most important lesson in a child's learning journey is about empathy and compassion.
At OWIS, she is looking forward to meeting people from diverse backgrounds and learning about their cultures and traditions. In her free time, she loves to drink coffee, fly kites and spend time with loved ones.
Angeline Swee
Grade 2 Teacher, PS CAS Coordinator
Angeline Swee
designation
Grade 2 Teacher, PS CAS Coordinator
education
bio
Angeline has over 20 years of teaching experience in both local and international educational institutions. She is a Singapore trained teacher in both local and international schools in Singapore. She has also taught in International schools in Australia, Indonesia and Thailand. Angeline has experience teaching the Singapore, British, and Australian Curricula, and has taught students from Year 1 to 12 with a broad spectrum of learning abilities and needs. Previously, she had taught IELTS, IGCSE and WACE programme to students from diverse backgrounds to prepare them for their further studies to Australia, Canada, the UK and US.
Angeline completed her Masters of Education with the National Institute of Education (Singapore) and has been keeping up with the latest development in education. Working in different countries has allowed her to interact extensively with learners from diverse backgrounds.
Angeline is happy to be teaching at OWIS which encourages teachers to enhance students' learning experience and give them a strong foundation of learning to reach their full potential.
Angeline is a firm believer in holistic education and inculcating good values. She wants her students to be independent learners, problem solvers and critical thinkers with integrity and kindness to make a difference in the world.
Devika Bhutani
Grade 2 Teacher
Devika Bhutani
designation
Grade 2 Teacher
education
bio
Devika started off in advertising in India, but was drawn to a career in teaching after finding joy in being actively involved in her daughters' educational journeys. She holds a Master's Degree in International Education with a specialisation in PYP from the University of Melbourne, a Postgraduate Certificate in the IB Primary Years Programme and a Cambridge International Certificate in Teaching and Learning.
Having taught children from Nursery to Year 5 in International schools in India and Singapore, her style of teaching is an amalgamation of the different curricula she has been part of, including both the Cambridge Primary and the PYP.
As a teacher, Devika understands that every child has a unique learning journey and she cherishes being a part of this both as a facilitator and observer. It also gives her immense pleasure to interact with students of different age groups and cultural backgrounds to share their enthusiasm. She believes that 'when one teaches, two learn’.
She is excited to be a part of such a dedicated, competent team at OWIS and to contribute towards the holistic growth of her students. The teaching and learning environment generated by the PYP at OWIS provides numerous opportunities for creativity, initiative and personal growth.
Devika likes spending time with her daughters outside of school. She also enjoys experimenting and making her own creations through cooking, baking, sketching and painting.
Fiona Watson
Grade 2 Teacher, Grade 2 Coordinator
Fiona Watson
designation
Grade 2 Teacher, Grade 2 Coordinator
education
bio
Fiona who is originally from Northern Ireland graduated from University of Brighton with a BA (Hons) in Physical Education with QTS. She has been working as an educator for the last 20 years and has taught across various subjects at all age levels, from Early Childhood through to Post 16, in both England and Northern Ireland.
Upon moving to Singapore, 8 years ago, Fiona has been teaching primary level in an international setting. She is currently developing her teaching career by undertaking a Diploma in Special and Inclusive Education.
Fiona is passionate about inclusive education and believes that every child belongs in a classroom community learning alongside each other and can benefit from an individualised approach to learning.
Fiona has 2 young daughters who keep her very busy! Fiona enjoys reading, travelling with her family and has a love of sport.
Michelle Kang Jun Ling
Grade 2 Teacher, OWIS Suntec
Michelle Kang Jun Ling
designation
Grade 2 Teacher, OWIS Suntec
education
bio
Michelle is a native of Singapore with a Bachelor of Arts (English and Cultural Studies/Linguistics) and a Master of Teaching (Primary). She has been teaching in Singapore for the past two years and, prior to that, taught in Korea and Australia, where she was trained in the Australian Curriculum.
Though her teaching style is ever-evolving, Michelle believes that education should be student-led. As a teacher, she believes it is her responsibility to offer students the opportunity to explore topics in a hands-on way, both in and outdoors.
Michelle firmly believes in teaching children to be global citizens who consider their actions and how these actions impact the world around us. She hopes to nurture resilient and compassionate leaders who think for themselves and have a lifelong love of learning.
At OWIS, Michelle is excited to get to know her students, watch them grow and make connections. She's also looking forward to collaborating with fellow staff members and contributing to school events. She came to OWIS because of the kindness and compassion demonstrated by the staff and administration. These values are the foundation upon which all other values are built. Students describe her as hardworking, reflective and creative.
In her spare time, Michelle enjoys reading, listening to music and collecting minerals.
Grade 3
Munmun Ray
Grade 3 Teacher
Munmun Ray
designation
Grade 3 Teacher
education
bio
Munmun is from Puri, India. She has a Master’s Degree in Accounting from Utkal University, India, and a Master’s Degree in Education from Monash University, Singapore. Her love for learning led her to start teaching in 2011.
Munmun firmly believes that teaching should be fun and learner-centric. She strives to nurture her students’ interest in learning by promoting their creative thinking and stirring up their natural curiosity.
At OWIS, she looks forward to creating a learning environment that is engaging, challenging and caters to the need and potential of each student. She brings her fun-loving, hardworking and creative nature to every class.
Having relocated from the USA six years ago, Munmun lives with her husband and daughter in Singapore. In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis, biking and kayaking.
Grace Altarejos
Grade 3 Teacher
Grace Altarejos
designation
Grade 3 Teacher
education
bio
Grace is from the Philippines. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in Education from De La Salle University and a Master's Degree in Literacy Education from University College London.
Grace has been teaching for nearly 9 years, focusing on both the early and primary years. She has experience with various globally-recognised curricula in international schools in the Philippines, England, Japan and now, Singapore.
Her vision as an educator is to provide students with confidence in their abilities and lifelong skills that will nurture and inspire them towards achieving their individual potential. She believes in encouraging them to make a difference in their own way.
Grace strongly identifies with the OWIS philosophy of being kind and understanding. She feels kindness is best taught by committed adults who consciously ingrain lessons on kindness in every activity and interaction the child experiences.
At OWIS, Grace is looking forward to productive discussions with like-minded educators who share the same vision of promoting meaningful learning. She is also eager to learn new things from her students. In her free time, Grace enjoys having a good meal and spending time with loved ones.
Vidhi Mamtani
Grade 3 Teacher
Vidhi Mamtani
designation
Grade 3 Teacher
education
bio
Originally from India, Vidhi holds a Bachelor's degree in Education and she has also completed her Postgraduate Studies in Human Development and Childhood Studies. Further, she has a Specialist Diploma in Specific Learning Differences from the Dyslexia Association of Singapore and she has also pursued a course on Disability Inclusion in Education from the University of Cape Town. Her diverse teaching experience spans more than nine years across various schools in India and Singapore.
Vidhi sincerely believes diversity in the classroom should be respected and valued. She aims to provide creative and stimulating experiences to help learners shine in their own unique way and achieve their true potential. In her classroom, students are nurtured to grow into independent and confident individuals.
Vidhi chose OWIS because diversity is very important to her. At OWIS, students and teachers come from all over the world, representing many cultures and countries.
Vidhi enjoys playing golf over the weekends. She also loves to travel to different countries so that she can explore their culture and traditions.
Rachel Holmes
Grade 3 Teacher, Literacy Coordinator
Rachel Holmes
designation
Grade 3 Teacher, Literacy Coordinator
education
bio
Rachel holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in English and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education in Primary Teaching. She is experienced with meeting the diverse needs of students in her care.
Originally from the UK, Rachel has been teaching for thirteen years. For nine years, she taught the British curriculum in UK schools which included six years as Head of department. She has also taught international students in Russia and Malaysia.
As a classroom educator, Rachel encourages independent learning and fosters an environment to facilitate this. She enjoys creating resources and activities which enhances students' deep understanding of concepts. She is dedicated to ensuring that students are enthusiastic about their learning and try their best. Rachel finds that becoming a teacher at OWIS is an amazing opportunity for her to join with other staff and pupils to create a wonderfully diverse and friendly school community.
Rachel is a mother of one which takes up most of her time! When she gets a moment, she enjoys reading contemporary and classic literature, drawing, painting and using mixed-media. She also enjoys visiting new places, and meeting new people.
Irum Shah
Grade 3 Teacher
Irum Shah
designation
Grade 3 Teacher
education
bio
Irum is originally from India and moved to Singapore in 2017 from Shanghai, where she lived for 10 years. Irum has a Master’s Degree in Education and a Bachelor’s degree in Science from the University of Kashmir, India.
She also holds a Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education from the Institute of International Teachers Training, India. She has a TEFL certification from Jioa Tong University, Shanghai, China and a diploma in Intensive Chinese Language course from Shanghai Maritime University, China.
Irum believes that children are very resourceful and her job as a teacher is to facilitate their learning by allowing them to follow their curiosity and enquiring nature. She believes in giving her students a voice and ownership of their learning. She strives to create a learning environment for students where they build critical thinking and cognitive skills, make connections, reflect and achieve their personal and social goals.
Coming from a family of educators, Irum’s mother inspired her to be a teacher. As the Head of High school, Irum’s mother taught her to always practice kindness and be a lifelong learner. Irum believes that teachers have the power to change the world by creating responsible global citizens.
Irum has three beautiful daughters and enjoys reading, travelling and photography.
Ekta Sabharwal
Grade 3 Teacher, Grade 3 Coordinator
Ekta Sabharwal
designation
Grade 3 Teacher, Grade 3 Coordinator
education
bio
Ekta holds a Bachelor's Degree in Arts and Education from India, an International Educator's Certificate for IB Qualification from University of Windsor in Canada and is currently pursuing an English Diploma from London Teacher Training College.
Ekta has been teaching for more than 16 years and has taught at various international schools in Singapore for the last 9 years.
Ekta firmly believes that teaching is a learning journey and teachers who demonstrate curiosity, generosity and reflective thinking encourage students to achieve their goals. She strives to motivate students in ascertaining their inner strengths and discovering what truly inspires them. She encourages students to learn more actively and independently by nurturing a curiosity that goes beyond the formal curriculum, and a love for learning that stays with them through life.
Ekta is excited to be a part of OWIS family. She likes the culture of kindness within the school and feels that small acts of kindness can change the world. She strongly believes in inquiry as a leading pedagogical approach here which helps students understand how they learn best so that they become lifelong learners.
Ekta enjoys cooking new recipes and spending time with her family and friends. She also loves dancing and listening to music.
Anina Joseph
Grade 3 Teacher
Anina Joseph
designation
Grade 3 Teacher
education
bio
Anina holds a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Delhi University, India. She spent most of her life in Delhi with her family and taught in a primary school there for more than three years.
Anina believes that each child brings unique strengths and has varied learning styles. This helps each one of them to thrive and grow in different ways. It is her desire to create a learning environment where students are free to share their ideas, express their views and take risks, so they can meet their full potential.
As a child, Anina felt her traditional schooling did not provide the resources for her to grow as an individual. So, she decided to become a teacher to enable the changes she would like to see in education. In her time at OWIS, she looks forward to practising teaching where she can make a difference in the lives of children.
In her free time, Anina loves to make art, take care of the garden and spend time with family.
Grade 4
Buvaneswari Chitty (Buna)
Grade 4 Teacher
Buvaneswari Chitty (Buna)
designation
Grade 4 Teacher
education
bio
Buna is from Singapore. She graduated from Temasek Polytechnic in Electronic Engineering and then received her Diploma in Education with Merit from the National Institute of Education. She has been professionally involved in primary education for about twelve years. Her philosophy of education is that when learning is made fun and exciting, students retain information better because the process is enjoyable and memorable.
Buna always wanted an opportunity to make a positive difference, and she has found that opportunity in teaching. When students or parents tell her how much they appreciate what she's done, she feels great happiness. While working at OWIS, it's her goal to positively impact her students and help them engage in lifelong learning through creative and engaging lessons.
She says that every day of her teaching career has been memorable. However, when asked to remember a particularly memorable teaching moment, Buna recalls a time when a student gifted her a pen and said she was the reason that he could write well.
Buna has a special love for antiques and flea markets. In her free time, she enjoys refurbishing antique furnishings and giving them a new lease of life. Her other hobbies include beading, painting and gardening.
Mallika Sinha
Grade 4 Teacher
Mallika Sinha
designation
Grade 4 Teacher
education
bio
Mallika is from India. After pursuing degrees in Mathematics and Economics and embarking on a corporate career, she quickly realised her passion lay in empowerment of children and continuous learning. She switched to teaching and, at the same time, earned her relevant university qualifications in the field of education.
She now has over eight years of experience in teaching students in the Primary Grades. She believes it is her mission to help children experience new things, keeping in mind that they are on the path of becoming experts. Her priority is to create a safe, fun-filled, positive and collaborative classroom environment where students are welcomed at the door with a smile.
In her time at OWIS, she looks forward to being a part of the dynamic and inspiring team who work towards the school’s mission of creating inquiring, compassionate and reflective lifelong learners who respect all cultures and care for the world. In her free time, she enjoys singing and she is a trained Indian classical dancer.
Preeti Shetty
Grade 4 Teacher
Preeti Shetty
designation
Grade 4 Teacher
education
bio
Preeti is originally from India, and she was born and brought up in the City of Dreams, Mumbai. Singapore has been her home for 12 years now. She holds a Bachelors in Education and a Masters in Science in Zoology, specialising in Animal Physiology. She has taught both kindergarten and primary school levels in Singapore.
Preeti's teaching philosophy is to make learning relevant and relatable. She truly believes that learning becomes more enjoyable when theory becomes one with real life. Preeti believes that children are the nucleus of our society. They are our future, and they deserve to be treated with kindness, empathy, a lot of care and with the utmost respect.
At OWIS, Preeti looks forward to forging a strong bond with the children and her colleagues. The school’s philosophy of kindness aligns well with her own, so she knows that she is in the right place.
In her free time, she loves to read, bake and crochet.
Rebecca Petersen
Grade 4 Teacher
Rebecca Petersen
designation
Grade 4 Teacher
education
bio
Rebecca hails from the USA. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Business Finance, a Teaching Certificate and a Master's Degree in Education with a research emphasis. She also earned a TEFL 5 Diploma to position herself to help young English language learners better. She has been teaching in Singapore for four-and-a-half years.
Rebecca loves children and firmly believes that every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential. She has worked with children who were removed from traditional education systems because they were failing academically and socially, only to have them reintegrate as excellent academic students with strong social skills.
When asked what inspired her to become a teacher, Rebecca says there are few things she likes more than learning, growing and developing in new ways and seeing others do the same. Rebecca looks forward to spending each day in a classroom full of curious, energetic and happy students at OWIS.
Rebecca believes that kindness is best taught by example. She has five children, one of whom is in her last year of the IB DP. In her free time, Rebecca enjoys learning new things, engaging in outdoor activities and playing the piano.
Serinder Kaur
Grade 4 Teacher, Grade 4 Coordinator
Serinder Kaur
designation
Grade 4 Teacher, Grade 4 Coordinator
education
bio
Serinder graduated from Nanyang Technological University with a Bachelor of Science in Education with Mathematics Specialisation. She has taught in MOE schools for over 13 years. Serinder has taken on a variety of leadership and coordination roles during her teaching career, which included organising a variety of activities for a large number of students.
Serinder views teaching as an invaluable profession. Building positive and constructive relationships with students is one of the key reasons why she chose to teach. She feels these are the kind of relationships that can effectively change a life and bring the most out of an individual. She believes her role as a teacher is not only as an educator but also as a guide and mentor for her students.
Serinder is happy to be a part of the OWIS family and always looks forward to learning from her colleagues.
Travelling is one of Serinder’s favourite pastime. She enjoys travelling with her family and has so far travelled to Europe, Australia and many parts of Asia. Time with family is important to Serinder. She and her husband are proud parents of two young boys.
Nurita Samanta Mondal
Grade 4 Teacher
Nurita Samanta Mondal
designation
Grade 4 Teacher
education
bio
Nurita Samanta hails from Kolkata, known as the City of Joy, in India. She earned her Bachelor and Master of Education degrees under the canopy of Pune University. Currently, she is pursuing the IB PYP Educator Certification Programme from the University of Windsor, Canada.
Since 2010 when she started her career as an educator, her teaching approach has been to ensure that all learners are seen, valued, and heard in her classroom. She accepts students for who they are, so they feel safe to make mistakes — because after all, mistakes are how we all learn. At the end of the day, they should be able to choose wisely and let their curiosity direct their learning.
Her former pupils describe her as someone who is creative, passionate, and jovial, and she aims to bring all these personal qualities to her teaching style at OWIS to make learning engaging for all the students. In her free time, Nurita enjoys de-stressing through cooking, art and craft.
Grade 5
Susmita Bhattacharyya
Grade 5 Teacher
Susmita Bhattacharyya
designation
Grade 5 Teacher
education
bio
Susmita is from Kolkata, the City of Joy, in India. She has Bachelor of Education and Master of Science degrees from Calcutta University, and she graduated top of the class in the latter. She is a pioneer advocate for environmental education and received the CIN teacher merit award in 2020 from National Park Board, Singapore.
Susmita believes that teaching is a two-way process. Teachers learn from their students just as students learn from their teachers. All students are unique, and everyone learns in their own different way, so she tries to cater to the needs of every child. Susmita encourages students to become self-directed learners while instilling values such as perseverance, self-discipline, respect, kindness and resilience.
As a teacher, Susmita likes being able to influence the lives of young children in ways that can leave a positive and permanent impact on them. At OWIS, she looks forward to creating a fun-filled, comfortable and inclusive classroom in which students feel free to interact, question and satisfy their curiosity.
In her free time, Susmita enjoys painting, trying out new cuisines, curling up with a good book and spending time with her children.
Amrita Bakhtani
Grade 5 Teacher, Grade 5 Coordinator
Amrita Bakhtani
designation
Grade 5 Teacher, Grade 5 Coordinator
education
bio
Amrita is originally from Jakarta, Indonesia. She started her career as an auditor but found joy in teaching instead. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting and a Postgraduate Degree in Education from the University of Nottingham. She also has a TQUK Level 5 Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language from the London Teacher Training College.
Amrita is passionate about educating students in a safe, kind and caring environment. Her aim is to help students excel at being competent communicators and outstanding leaders. She believes that every child has a unique way of learning, and it is the job of teachers to help students explore their talent and present opportunities for them to excel.
Amrita was inspired to teach by her mother, who is also a teacher. Just like her, Amrita wants to have a positive and inspiring impact on children’s lives. At OWIS, she looks forward to being a part of a kind and caring environment, and modelling these school values for students.
In her free time, Amrita enjoys exploring new places around Singapore, playing badminton and a good cup of coffee.
Preema Thomas
Grade 5 Teacher
Preema Thomas
designation
Grade 5 Teacher
education
bio
Preema holds a Bachelor’s degree both in Commerce and Education, and a Master’s degree in English Literature from the Jiwaji University, India. She started her teaching career in 1994. Over the course of her teaching career, Preema has taught in India for 10 years, and in IB schools in Indonesia and Tanzania for over 6 years. She has also attended many IB-PYP workshops.
Preema always had a passion for teaching, as she believes that education is the key to success. She tailors her lessons to ensure that all her students achieve their potential and are able to become well-rounded individuals.
Learning is a life-long journey and Preema believes she always learns something new from every group of students she teaches. She strongly believes in the value of outdoor and inquiry-based learning. For her, all children are unique and special in their own way and each one of them has unique strengths and varied learning styles. Preema actively encourages students to believe in themselves and realise their potential to achieve personal excellence in all aspects of their life.
Preema spends most of her time with her family, listening to music, watching football with her teenage son and loves to explore new dining experiences in Singapore.
Sakshi Singh
Grade 5 Teacher
Sakshi Singh
designation
Grade 5 Teacher
education
bio
Sakshi was born and raised in the city of Chandigarh in India. She holds Bachelor's Degrees in Arts and Education from India. She also has a Certificate in Speech and Drama from Singapore.
It is Sakshi's belief that learning should be purposeful, engaging and enjoyable. In the classroom, she believes that collaborative and student-centred learning can inspire students to become passionate, lifelong learners. She facilitates this empowering learning environment by creating a positive classroom culture built on trust, compassion and respect.
Sakshi loves being a teacher because it provides an opportunity to learn about the world, specifically the world of her students. She loves having conversations with students, getting to know what their day-to-day life looks like, and what they think about the current issues that are happening. She also loves being inspired by other educators.
At OWIS, she looks forward to working with young children and creating unforgettable memories with her class. This includes reading stories together, creating art, learning through play, and many more activities.
Sakshi enjoys long nature walks, cooking, cycling, and eating at her favourite restaurants in Singapore in her free time.
Mathiarasi Maslamani
Grade 5 Teacher
Mathiarasi Maslamani
designation
Grade 5 Teacher
education
bio
Mathiarasi is a born-and-bred Singaporean, used to the sunny weather and sudden, thundery showers. She has a double degree in English and English Literature and a Masters in Applied Linguistics. With more than ten years of teaching experience and seven in an international environment, she continuously seeks to hone her teaching craft to bring it to the next level.
Mathiarasi always loved to learn new things and understand how the world works, and this drove her to become a teacher. She believes that education is the best empowerment anyone can have, and she aims to teach this truth to her students.
She believes education rooted in kindness and integrity is an enhancing, self-realising and creative experience for her students. She seeks to deliver this kind of educational experience in all her classes at OWIS. She also looks forward to being part of exciting school events.
In her free time, Mathiarasi loves reading books, interacting with nature and going to the theatre. She also enjoys playing board games.
Karen Brooks
Grade 5 Teacher, Mathematics Coordinator (Primary)
Karen Brooks
designation
Grade 5 Teacher, Mathematics Coordinator (Primary)
education
bio
Karen is Australian-born and has a total of 24 years of teaching experience across Australia, Scotland and Singapore. She holds a degree in Bachelor of Arts in Education from Edith Cowan University and a TESOL Certification from Aberdeen College. She also holds a BA in Primary Education.
Karen's main focus as an international educator is to:
- Develop students to think beyond their current situation and be internationally minded people
- Instill in pupils an ownership of a deeply rooted set of profiles and attributes; so that this becomes their foundation for all future endeavours
Karen strives to unlock the hidden potential within each child, and to mould him/her into one who can contribute back to their global and immediate society.
Looking at how OWIS started and has grown, Karen believes the school and her share the same philosophy of educating young minds - by ensuring every kid gets the best out of their education path.
Karen plays tennis, dives and travels extensively. She also enjoys lamb chops and curry!
Ding Yuanxin (Louise)
Grade 5 Teacher
Ding Yuanxin (Louise)
designation
Grade 5 Teacher
education
bio
Louise is a native of Singapore. She earned her Master of Teaching degree from Monash University. She has worked with Australian, Victorian and Singapore curricula in Australia and Singapore for more than a decade.
Louise is passionate about teaching, learning and the inclusion of all students. She believes curriculum should be built upon the student’s abilities, strengths, interests, culture and language background.
Louise chose OWIS because she strives to promote children’s agency and autonomy. At OWIS, children are given opportunities to make choices and take risks. That, combined with OWIS’s focus on building and nurturing trusting relationships with students, is entirely in line with Louise's educational philosophies. She strongly believes in inquiry-based learning and that students are the centre of teaching and learning. Students and coworkers describe Louise as engaging, innovative and fun.
In her spare time, Louise enjoys swimming, yoga and hiking.