Mme. Tomaselli in front of the mandala in her classroom. Photo by Eddie G.
Mme. Tomaselli has been a teacher for twenty years, during which she spent two years teaching at Assumption High School, one in the Greater Toronto Area, and seventeen (and counting) as a St. Joseph’s Laser. She says that there are three things that inspired her to be a teacher: her love of learning, her love of the French language, and her ability to help others to do better in their classes.
Mme. Tomaselli is the Department Head of Modern Languages, runs the Yoga Club in Room 201 (schedule to be announced soon), and is part of the Europe Team, meaning she helps to organize the amazing trips to various European countries every year. This semester, she is also teaching Grade 11 French Immersion World Religion and Grade 12 French Immersion Religion.
Mme. Tomaselli is a big believer in adapting her teaching style and technique in order to best benefit her students. She is also is a yoga enthusiast. This year she has accomplished a long-time goal of combining her two passions–teaching and yoga–by teaching a Yoga Class with the Life Skill students during second period. Also, in her first period class, her students are given the option to sit on the floor on a yoga mat, sit at a desk or stand at a desk during class. Most students opt to sit on yoga mats and are able to stretch and practice taking a few mindful meditative moments throughout the lesson. She strongly believes that yoga helps you take care of your mind, heart, and spirit and that “every lesson you learn on the mat can be applied to your life off of the mat”. Yoga has played an important role in Mme. Tomaselli’s life and she encourages students to use it as a tool to help them find balance and peace in their lives, especially during the stressful school year.
In the future, Mme. Tomaselli wishes to have yoga and mindful meditation classes available to all St. Joes’ students. By doing so, she hopes to “provide a peaceful space in the school where those seeking to refocus and regain some energy could come on a regular basis.”
When asked if she had any advice for students about studying and staying on top of their classes, Mme. Tomaselli responded, “Learn how to breathe properly and set realistic goals for yourself every day that you can achieve.” She believes that when you achieve those goals you build your confidence, and as you build your confidence, you will feel better about yourself. Overall, when you gain trust in yourself, learning will become easier. For those who may be considering pursuing a career in teaching, Mme. Tomaselli suggests to teach to the heart as well as the mind, believe in your purpose, and share your passion and joys with your students. She adds that learning how to breathe properly can also be very beneficial.
Make sure you say “Bonjour!” to Mme. Tomaselli next time you see her in the hallways!