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Administration
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Mr. Gianni Bittante
PrincipalMr. Gianni Bittante
PrincipalMr. Bittante is a graduate of St. Ann’s Academy in Kamloops, and completed is Bachelor of Science and his Bachelor of Education Degrees at the University of British Columbia. He completed his Masters Degree in Leadership and Administration through Gonzaga University. An educator for 33 years, Mr. Bittante has spent time at both the elementary and high school levels of education, as a teacher at Holy Cross High School and as principal of St. Mary’s School in Chilliwack. He presently serves as principal at St. John Brebeuf High School, next door to St. James and St. Ann’s school. His experience ranges from classroom instruction, specializing in sciences and math, to department head to athletic director. He is passionate about guiding students on a journey of intellectual, physical, spiritual, and emotional discovery throughout their school years. He is honoured to be a part of the St. James and St. Ann’s School Communityl
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Miss Sheena Lewis
Vice Principal & Learning Resources CoordinatorMiss Sheena Lewis
Vice Principal & Learning Resources CoordinatorMiss Lewis received her Bachelor of Arts degree at Simon Fraser University and her Bachelor of Education degree at UBC. In addition, Miss Lewis has received specific training in a number of areas including early intervention, assessment, autism, behaviour, learning disabilities, multiple intelligences, and multi-sensory teaching. Miss Lewis has worked both as a classroom teacher and a learning resource specialist first at Brighouse School and then at Queen of All Saints Elementary. For the next 10 years, she worked as an Educational Consultant at the Superintendent’s Office of the CISVA, with a special focus on learning resource, literacy and early intervention. Miss Lewis is a long-term member of the BC Council for Exceptional Children, and has served on the Executive Board for the last 10 years. She joined the staff of St. James & St. Ann’s School in September 2017.
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Mrs. Brigette Wimmer
SecretaryMrs. Brigette Wimmer
SecretaryMrs. Wimmer received her certificate in Bookkeeping and Tax Preparation in 2002. She has over 25 years of experience in accounting and in the financial industry. Mrs. Wimmer has been involved with St. James & St. Ann’s School since its inception in 1985. She first was a volunteer for many years, became a parent at the school in 2011 when her oldest child entered Kindergarten, and now as a member of the staff since August 2018.
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Classroom Teachers
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Mr. Mike Girard
KindergartenMr. Mike Girard
KindergartenMr. Girard studied Education at the University of British Columbia and then went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Waterloo and Bachelor of Education degree from Lakehead University in Thunder Bay. He has been a classroom teacher for twenty-five years, mainly in Catholic Schools in Ontario, B.C., and in the Yukon while working in the missions there. He has had experience teaching students from Kindergarten through to Grade 12 and he has also taught English to international students. Mr. Girard attended both minor and major seminary, while studying Philosophy and Theology. This is his first year as
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Ms. Sophia Bouwman
Grade 1Ms. Sophia Bouwman
Grade 1Ms. Bouwman received her Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education from Trinity Western University, specializing in Human Kinetics and Catholic Studies. She loves being a part of the St. James and St. Ann’s school community!
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Mrs. Rita Wakely
Grade 1/2 & 7 TeacherMrs. Rita Wakely
Grade 1/2 & 7 TeacherMrs. Wakely received her Bachelor of Education degree from the University of British Columbia. Mrs. Wakely has taught a variety of grades from Kindergarten to Grade 10 in such locations as Prince Rupert, Nanaimo and Abbotsford. Mrs. Wakely has gained a wealth of experience in her more than 25 years of teaching. Mrs. Wakely has completed the Google For Education Fundamentals Training.
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Mrs. Tara Gaudet
Grade 1 & 2 TeacherMrs. Tara Gaudet
Grade 1 & 2 TeacherMrs. Tara Gaudet received her Bachelor of Music – Major in Oboe Performance and Education from the University of Victoria. In addition she studied musical theatre at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario. Prior to St. James she taught in the Integrated Fine Arts School for Abbotsford School District as a music teacher and Grade One classroom teacher. Mrs Gaudet has been teaching at St. James Elementary for 6 years and thoroughly enjoys being a part of this community. Mrs. Gaudet has her Orton Gillingham classroom certification.
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Ms. Jessie Papaianni
Grade 3 TeacherMs. Jessie Papaianni
Grade 3 TeacherMs. Papaianni received her Bachelor of Arts and Education Degree from the University of Alberta. She has been working in learning services and different classrooms in K through 7, in CISVA schools since 2021. Prior to that, Ms. Papaianni had 6 successful years of tutoring and teaching up to Grade 12. She is happy to join our community and is looking forward to the best year yet!
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Mr. Michael Sorley
Grade 3, French & ADSTMr. Michael Sorley
Grade 3, French & ADSTMr. Sorley received his Bachelor of Education from Simon Fraser University and a Bachelor of Arts from Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, California. Prior to teaching, Mr. Sorley worked for 11 years as an Educational Assistant in the CISVA. He has been teaching at St. James and St. Ann’s School since 2020. He is grateful to be a part of this wonderful community and is excited to be teaching French and Applied Design, Skills and Technologies (ADST). Mr. Sorley is also teaching Grade 3 on Mondays and Tuesdays this year.
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Mrs. Laura Hunger
Grade 4 TeacherMrs. Laura Hunger
Grade 4 TeacherMrs. Hunger received both her Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degrees from the University of British Columbia. Mrs. Hunger has been teaching at St. James & St. Ann’s School since 1998, and during that time she has taught Grades 2, 3 and 4, as well as Grade 1 French. Mrs. Hunger has completed the Google For Education Fundamentals Training and is an OG Classroom Educator.
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Mrs. Zuzana Lavrikova
Grade 5 TeacherMrs. Zuzana Lavrikova
Grade 5 TeacherMrs. Lavrikova earned her Master’s degree in Education from John Amos Comenius University in Slovakia and furthered her studies in Sheffield, England. With 26 years of teaching experience across grades 1 to 10, she has had a diverse and extensive career. Within CISVA, she began her journey at St. John Brebeuf and later taught Grade 6 at St. James before transitioning to her current role as a Grade 5 teacher. Mrs. Lavrikova has also completed the Google for Education Fundamentals Training, enhancing her skills in integrating technology into the classroom.
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Mrs. Lauren Schwagele
Grade 6 TeacherMrs. Lauren Schwagele
Grade 6 TeacherMrs. Schwagele earned her Bachelor of Music with a focus on Vocal Performance and Education from Kwantlen University, followed by a Bachelor of Education from the University of British Columbia. With five years of experience teaching in the Catholic School System and two years as an Educational Assistant prior to that, she is thrilled to return to teaching Grade Six!
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Mrs. Christy Dos Santos
Grade 7 TeacherMrs. Christy Dos Santos
Grade 7 TeacherMrs. Christy Dos Santos received her Bachelor of Education from UBC and her Masters in Educational Leadership from Trinity Western University. She has taught students from Grades Kindergarten to Grade 11 and she loves the community here at St. James School. Mrs. Dos Santos loves the learning and the fun that happens in the Grade 7 classroom and she cherishes all of the joy that comes from being a part of this school community.
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Specialist Teachers
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Mrs. Rebecca Baker
Physical EducationMrs. Rebecca Baker
Physical EducationMrs. Baker received her Bachelor of Kinesiology with a minor in Biology from University College of the Fraser Valley and her Bachelor of Education from Simon Fraser University. She has taught Physical Education and Science to grades 8-12 at St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School, as well as, Physical Education to Grades K-7 at St. James & St. Ann’s Elementary. After taking a break from teaching to stay at home with her children, Mrs. Baker is excited to be back teaching Physical Education at St. James and St. Ann’s school.
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Mr. Michael Sorley
Grade 3, French & ADSTMr. Michael Sorley
Grade 3, French & ADSTMr. Sorley received his Bachelor of Education from Simon Fraser University and a Bachelor of Arts from Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, California. Prior to teaching, Mr. Sorley worked for 11 years as an Educational Assistant in the CISVA. He has been teaching at St. James and St. Ann’s School since 2020. He is grateful to be a part of this wonderful community and is excited to be teaching French and Applied Design, Skills and Technologies (ADST). Mr. Sorley is also teaching Grade 3 on Mondays and Tuesdays this year.
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Learning Resources Department
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Miss Sheena Lewis
Vice Principal & Learning Resources CoordinatorMiss Sheena Lewis
Vice Principal & Learning Resources CoordinatorMiss Lewis received her Bachelor of Arts degree at Simon Fraser University and her Bachelor of Education degree at UBC. In addition, Miss Lewis has received specific training in a number of areas including early intervention, assessment, autism, behaviour, learning disabilities, multiple intelligences, and multi-sensory teaching. Miss Lewis has worked both as a classroom teacher and a learning resource specialist first at Brighouse School and then at Queen of All Saints Elementary. For the next 10 years, she worked as an Educational Consultant at the Superintendent’s Office of the CISVA, with a special focus on learning resource, literacy and early intervention. Miss Lewis is a long-term member of the BC Council for Exceptional Children, and has served on the Executive Board for the last 10 years. She joined the staff of St. James & St. Ann’s School in September 2017.
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Mrs. Larissa Cobo
Learning Resources TeacherMrs. Larissa Cobo
Learning Resources TeacherMrs. Cobo received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Latin American Studies, before moving on to receive her Bachelor of Education at UBC. She then went on to complete an integrated Diploma at UBC with a focus on teaching Learning Resource and English Language Learning (ELL). Mrs. Cobo has taught both Learning Resource and ELL in elementary, as well as high school settings while in the Burnaby School District for several years. She is very excited to be part of the educational team at St. James & St. Ann’s School, after deciding to join the CISVA.
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Mrs. Marie Doyle
Learning Resource TeacherMrs. Marie Doyle
Learning Resource TeacherMrs. Doyle received her Bachelor of Education degree from the University of British Columbia. She has taught for 25 years at St. James & St. Ann’s School. As an experienced teacher, Mrs. Doyle has taught a variety of grades from Kindergarten to Grade 3. Mrs. Doyle has completed the Google For Education Fundamentals Training and is an OG Classroom Educator.
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Special Education Assistants
At St. James & St. Ann’s School we are blessed to have a number of Educational Assistants (EAs) who work to support students to meet their full potential. Whether working one-on-one with a student, with a small group, or helping to support students in a class, the EAs are an integral part of the educational team at our school. Under the direction of the Learning Resources Coordinator, and working with the teachers, the EAs enable students to meet curricular goals in a variety of creative ways, and help students acquire life skills as they move on in the grades and towards independence.
