Helena Champion has been an active member of the Maryvale community since 2007. She has served on the Curriculum Committee since 2008, was a member of the Board of Directors for three years, and has been Principal since 2013. Mrs. Champion has an Honours BA in Spanish and German Literature from Dalhousie University and the University of King’s College, where she completed the Foundation Year Program on the great works of Western Civilization. For many years she worked with young single mothers and their children at Youville Centre, and served on the boards of Action Life Ottawa and JMJ Children’s Fund of Canada. Mrs. Champion is a member of St. Clement Parish. She and her husband have two children, both of whom are Maryvale graduates. The family loves going on pilgrimage and participates annually in the walking pilgrimage to Notre Dame du Cap.
Amy Lau has a Masters of Science in Biochemistry and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Ottawa. After several years of teaching high school, she decided to stay at home full-time to raise her growing family. As a new Catholic convert, she and her husband became active in their parish council and adult faith education. They were also seeking an authentic and solid Catholic education for their children. They discovered Maryvale Academy in its second year of operation and have been involved ever since. All their children have attended Maryvale Academy and they feel greatly blessed to be part of this wonderful school. As one who is passionate about Catholic education and forming the hearts and minds of children, Mrs. Lau helped launch and implement the Kindergarten program in the early days, and is delighted to be the Kindergarten Homeroom Teacher since 2016.
Katherine Clark has a B.A in Child Studies, a Bachelor of Education from Ottawa University, and an Early Childhood Education Diploma. She is the mother of seven children, six of whom are current Maryvale students. Mrs. Clark and her family enjoy spending time outdoors and going on all kinds of adventures together. They are members of St. Mary’s Parish. Mrs. Clark joined the Maryvale team this year and is excited to be teaching in the Kindergarten classroom.
Marianne Van Meerbergen has an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in History and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Ottawa. She is an Ontario Certified Teacher. She grew up in Ottawa and is now living in Perth, Ontario with her husband. She loves to travel and spend time with her large extended family. Mrs. Van Meerbergen currently team teaches the English part of the Grade 1/2 Bilingual Program and teaches Kindergarten Religion, Music, Recitation, Art, French and Natural Science.
Madeline Dawson graduated from the University of St. Michael’s College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Christianity & Culture. In her time there she quite enjoyed participating in campus ministry and being a member of the Schola Cantorum. A year later, she completed a Bachelor of Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto. Having experienced the gift of Catholic independent education in her adolescence, and having been blessed to teach previously at a Catholic independent school in Toronto, she is grateful to be team-teaching the Grade 1/2 class this year with Mrs. Van Meerbergen, and to be teaching Grade 5/6 Science. Madeline is a parishioner of St. Patrick Basilica. Her hobbies include singing in choirs, bicycling, and enjoying nature.
Michael Thompson has a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinanthropology from the University of Ottawa, and a Bachelor of Education from Nipissing University. Mr. Thompson also has formal religious instruction and earned a Certificate in Philosophy from the Dominican University College. He taught in the Ottawa Catholic School Board for several years and coached soccer and basketball. Mr. Thompson has been teaching at Maryvale since it opened its doors to students in September 2005. He is the Grade 3/4 Homeroom teacher and the school Phys Ed teacher.
Sophie Sherrer was born and raised in Ottawa. She obtained a Bachelor of International Studies and Modern Languages with honours from the University of Ottawa, and studied Anatomy and Physiology at Algonquin College. She had the opportunity to do an international exchange in South Korea for a year where she studied Korean language and South East Asian culture. Miss Sherrer loves making bread, quilting, studying the faith, and playing sports in her free time. She attends St. Clement parish and loves the reverent liturgy there.
Mikaela Dickison grew up in a loving family of six in Kingston, ON. She earned a Bachelor of Commerce with a Certificate in Social Impact from Queen’s University, where she was an active member of the Newman House Catholic Chaplaincy. Ms. Dickison completed her Master of Arts in Theology and Christian Ministry at Franciscan University of Steubenville, OH. Throughout her undergraduate and graduate studies, Ms. Dickison was joyfully involved in ministry with children, youth, and young adults. She is grateful for the opportunity to have participated in mission trips to Tanzania, Honduras, and Belize. It was through Franciscan University’s teaching mission in Belize that she realized her desire to support authentic Catholic education. She was delighted to discover Maryvale’s holistic, Christ-centred classical education and quickly felt at home in this welcoming community. Ms. Dickison is humbled by the gift of learning and growing with her Grade 7/8 students as they all strive to become Saints together.
Anastasiia Cherygova completed a Bachelor of Social Sciences with French Immersion and a Master of Arts from the School of Political Studies in the University of Ottawa. For several years she served as a librarian in Dominican University College, and taught history and public speaking in the homeschooling co-op of Augustine College. Her professional experiences also include communications, research, and manuscript preparation with the Faculties of History and Law of the University of Ottawa, and the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages. She has published academic and analytical articles about the questions of secularism, urbanism, and political thought. Mlle Cherygova was received into the Catholic Church in 2018 by Archbishop Terrence Prendergast SJ. She has dedicated much of her academic and professional efforts to exploring the position of the Church in the modern state, and how it is possible to be faithful and steadfast no matter how hostile the world. Apart from her work, Mlle Cherygova is an avid pen and ink artist, keen on reading, travelling, and making new friends. She currently teaches French in the Grade 2 Bilingual Program and Grade 5/6 Core French.
Cosmin Dina was born and raised in Romania. As a teenager he moved to Montreal with his mother, where he learned French as a third language. He earned a Masters degree in Literature from the Université de Montréal. M. Dina worked for the Archdiocese of Montreal for several years before starting to teach. A father of four, he is now living in the national capital region with his wonderful wife. He is passionate about science, philosophy and theology and enjoys playing electric guitar. M. Dina is excited to be French teacher for the Grade 3/4 Bilingual Program and Core French teacher for grades 7 and 8.
Anna-Maria Neusy is proud to be from Canada’s capital city and is grateful for its wonderful Catholic community. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, with a French as a Second Language designation, from the University of Ottawa. Mlle Neusy was a ballet dancer for many years and completed her Royal Academy of Dance Advanced I examination. She enjoys teaching dance to her students when the opportunity arises. She also loves travelling and has discovered her family’s heritage in Nicaragua, France, and Switzerland. Her interest in Christian history and traditions was the motivation for subsequent travels to England, Portugal, Czechia, Poland, Austria, and Germany. Mlle Neusy is delighted to be the French teacher in the Grade 1 Bilingual Program this year and is thankful for the unique opportunity to support authentic Catholic education.
Honorata Walus-Retel was born and raised in Poland, where she obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Actuarial Math from the University of Bialystok (formerly the University of Warsaw) and a Master’s degree in Math, with a teacher qualification specializing in gifted children and children with special needs. She had the opportunity to study for one term at Concordia University in Montreal. Mrs. Retel gained teaching experience in Poland as a homeroom teacher, math teacher, support teacher for handicapped children, and as a private tutor. In 2005 she and her husband moved to Edinburgh, Scotland, where she worked as an administrative and accounts assistant. At the birth of their first child she became a full-time mom, engaging herself in school life and parish life. After moving to Ottawa in 2017 they were blessed to learn about Maryvale Academy, where they
enrolled their three children. After working as parish secretary at churches in the Archdiocese, Mrs. Retel returned to her teaching vocation and is enjoying teaching grades 5 to 8 Math at Maryvale. She is dedicated to serving others and the Lord. The Retel family attends St. Clement’s Parish.
enrolled their three children. After working as parish secretary at churches in the Archdiocese, Mrs. Retel returned to her teaching vocation and is enjoying teaching grades 5 to 8 Math at Maryvale. She is dedicated to serving others and the Lord. The Retel family attends St. Clement’s Parish.
Monika Jezierska-Jahn has a Bachelor of Catholic Studies from Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College and a diploma in Illustration and Concept Art from Algonquin College. Growing up with six siblings in southern Ontario, she loves being around children and especially enjoys doing creative projects with them. Drawing and painting are her favourite past times, but she also likes gardening, sewing, and reading. She and her husband enjoy Polish folk dancing and spending time with their many nieces and nephews. Mrs. Jezierska-Jahn has been teaching at Maryvale since 2021 and is currently the grades 3 to 8 Art teacher.
Jeffrey Moellman is originally from Independence, Kentucky. He earned a Bachelor of Music in Organ Performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting at Kent State University. Mr Moellman has held full-time Director of Music positions in Catholic churches in Ohio, Orillia, and at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Kingston. He has served as a staff accompanist at Queen’s University’s DAN School of Drama and Music, and as interim faculty at Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy. Mr. Moellman was one of five conductors from across North America selected for the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir’s 2014 Emerging Conductors Program. Together with his wife, Mr. Moellman founded Chamber Music Orillia (CMO), which grew to include a 32-voice Youth Choir and 46-voice adult Chamber Choir. Mr. Moellman was the recipient of the Orillia and District Arts Council’s 2015 Educating in the Arts Award in recognition of his community outreach and educational achievements. To foster an appreciation for sacred music in liturgical and concert settings in Kingston, he and his wife have founded Trinitas, which includes adult and youth choirs, a Sacred Arts Camp, educational opportunities, and outreach programming. Mr. Moellman lives in Kingston with his wife and their 6 children.
Sheila Magnus has a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Development and a post graduate diploma in International Project Management, as well as certifications in volunteer management and communications. With experience in charitable services and nonprofit administration, Sheila has over 20 years working with organizations to maximize their impact in the community. During her time working in the nonprofit sector, Sheila created and implemented strategic plans, optimized granting processes and developed volunteer resources to support the organizations she worked with. She also worked closely with large corporate donors to ensure their funds were effectively utilized. After returning to Ottawa to raise her young family, Sheila started a part-time consulting company to support organizations through change management and organizational effectiveness. She is excited to be part of the team at Maryvale Academy to further the mission of the school. Sheila and her family are members of St. Maurice Parish, where they enjoy the active Family Ministry
Christa Do is from Combermere, Ontario. Her family’s close association with Madonna House over the years has shaped her spirituality. She attended Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College before completing her BA in Theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville. She also holds a Master’s in Catholic Studies from Franciscan. Mrs. Do is a Registered Early Childhood Educator and has over seven years of experience teaching Pre-Kindergarten children. Her professional interests align in Maryvale’s deep, faith-filled environment. She enjoys playing sports, board games, and paddleboarding, as well as crocheting baby blankets and spending time with friends and family. Mrs. Do is a member of St. George’s Parish in Ottawa where she and her husband actively participate in ministry.
Marc McGrath worked for many years as a school custodian and has been the volunteer custodian at Maryvale Academy since 2006.