Seoul Foreign School (July 2008 - June 2015)
Nina Sabado, student
Thank you so much for the past two and a half years. Where do I even begin? First, IB English. Not only did I learn how to PETER, but I've learned to covet gold stars and those nods during discussions and presentations. But I've also gotten to know you more than just through school. I'll always remember my hilarious amazing teacher with a thing for accents, an enthusiasm that made mine seem bland, and a love for Star Trek.
Sean Kim, student
Thank you so much for everything you have done for me these past two years. It was definitely a pleasure and a blessing to be able to call you my teacher. I've said this before, but I really don't think I will be part of a class like IBH English with the privilege of learning from someone like you ever again. You have provided so much of what I consider to be special and valuable, helped me to learn about and appreciate not only English literature, but encouraged me to think about my life. For that I am forever grateful.
Leah Chung, student
As a past student of hers, I can honestly say Ms. Wiebusch was the best at her job. Every class she taught was well-prepared and there was never a time when I thought I was wasting time. She also knows how to listen. She was the rare teacher who scheduled time within the curriculum to hear back from her students about improvements in her teaching and coursework. The feedback was always tended to. Any educational institution should be grateful to have someone as brilliant and diligent as Ms. Wiebusch on the team.
Natalya Jenney, student
Catherine Wiebusch was my IBS English teacher at Seoul Foreign School. Ms. Wiebusch redefines what every teacher should aspire to be like. She was incredibly strict, she held all of her students to the highest standards, always pushing us to be the best we could be, and would only give us the credit we deserved. She was incredibly knowledgable as a teacher and was always available to give me extra assistance whenever I needed it. To this day Ms. Wiebusch is still the teacher I refer to as having been my "favorite" teacher, even three years into college, because I came out more skilled, intelligent, and all around educated after having taken her class. If it were up to me today I would take her class again knowing that I still have so much to learn from her. Anyone who takes a class from her should expect to work their hardest, get excited to get engaged with your education, and expect one of the best educations of a lifetime. Anyone to have her as a teacher should consider themselves extraordinarily lucky.
Elisa dos Santos, student
It is not every teacher that is capable of being a good instructor and at the same time having a great impact on his/her students even after they graduate high school. However, Catherine Wiebusch is that teacher. I had the pleasure of being her student for two years in IBS English at Seoul Foreign School. Ms. Wiebusch is a very approachable teacher and cares deeply about her students. Besides demonstrating great knowledge in English literature, Ms. Wiebusch constantly makes sure all of her students are truly learning and engaging with the material.
I had a great learning experience with Ms. Wiebusch because her style of teaching is different from any other teachers that I’ve had, even in college. She always expects the best from her students and challenges them to learn beyond the classroom material. As an English teacher she encourages student participation through discussion groups, presentations, and group projects. She encourages critical thinking and deep engagement with the material through exposing her students to the text in a variety of ways, such as quizzes, vocabulary lessons, step-by-step analysis of the text, and many creative group activities. Those activities help students approach the text from different angles, which makes the learning process more effective.
All those aspects have helped me learn and grow as a student, and they’ve opened my mind to deeply analyze literary works. Even after graduating high school, I apply the techniques that I’ve learned in her class. Even though the material was a little difficult, her energetic personality, helpfulness, and passion for what she does made it that much more fun to learn in class!
Nina Sabado, student
Thank you so much for the past two and a half years. Where do I even begin? First, IB English. Not only did I learn how to PETER, but I've learned to covet gold stars and those nods during discussions and presentations. But I've also gotten to know you more than just through school. I'll always remember my hilarious amazing teacher with a thing for accents, an enthusiasm that made mine seem bland, and a love for Star Trek.
Sean Kim, student
Thank you so much for everything you have done for me these past two years. It was definitely a pleasure and a blessing to be able to call you my teacher. I've said this before, but I really don't think I will be part of a class like IBH English with the privilege of learning from someone like you ever again. You have provided so much of what I consider to be special and valuable, helped me to learn about and appreciate not only English literature, but encouraged me to think about my life. For that I am forever grateful.
Leah Chung, student
As a past student of hers, I can honestly say Ms. Wiebusch was the best at her job. Every class she taught was well-prepared and there was never a time when I thought I was wasting time. She also knows how to listen. She was the rare teacher who scheduled time within the curriculum to hear back from her students about improvements in her teaching and coursework. The feedback was always tended to. Any educational institution should be grateful to have someone as brilliant and diligent as Ms. Wiebusch on the team.
Natalya Jenney, student
Catherine Wiebusch was my IBS English teacher at Seoul Foreign School. Ms. Wiebusch redefines what every teacher should aspire to be like. She was incredibly strict, she held all of her students to the highest standards, always pushing us to be the best we could be, and would only give us the credit we deserved. She was incredibly knowledgable as a teacher and was always available to give me extra assistance whenever I needed it. To this day Ms. Wiebusch is still the teacher I refer to as having been my "favorite" teacher, even three years into college, because I came out more skilled, intelligent, and all around educated after having taken her class. If it were up to me today I would take her class again knowing that I still have so much to learn from her. Anyone who takes a class from her should expect to work their hardest, get excited to get engaged with your education, and expect one of the best educations of a lifetime. Anyone to have her as a teacher should consider themselves extraordinarily lucky.
Elisa dos Santos, student
It is not every teacher that is capable of being a good instructor and at the same time having a great impact on his/her students even after they graduate high school. However, Catherine Wiebusch is that teacher. I had the pleasure of being her student for two years in IBS English at Seoul Foreign School. Ms. Wiebusch is a very approachable teacher and cares deeply about her students. Besides demonstrating great knowledge in English literature, Ms. Wiebusch constantly makes sure all of her students are truly learning and engaging with the material.
I had a great learning experience with Ms. Wiebusch because her style of teaching is different from any other teachers that I’ve had, even in college. She always expects the best from her students and challenges them to learn beyond the classroom material. As an English teacher she encourages student participation through discussion groups, presentations, and group projects. She encourages critical thinking and deep engagement with the material through exposing her students to the text in a variety of ways, such as quizzes, vocabulary lessons, step-by-step analysis of the text, and many creative group activities. Those activities help students approach the text from different angles, which makes the learning process more effective.
All those aspects have helped me learn and grow as a student, and they’ve opened my mind to deeply analyze literary works. Even after graduating high school, I apply the techniques that I’ve learned in her class. Even though the material was a little difficult, her energetic personality, helpfulness, and passion for what she does made it that much more fun to learn in class!
St Peters Lutheran College (January 2007 - July 2008)
Stephen Rudolph, Head of School
Cathi's commitment goes well beyond the classroom and her daily duties. She has, with her husband, given up extensive holiday periods to join a self-funded Lutheran Teacher Service Trip to Nepal, organised and gathered various donations for Bhutanese refugees and attended Professional Conferences. Her leadership, as Teacher in Charge of IB English, has been marked by intelligent insight, excellent organization and positive direction.
Jennifer Winn, IB Coordinator
Cathi has an excellent understanding of different pedagogical approaches to the teaching of English. She exhibits a real enthusiasm for teaching her subject and engaging students in the learning process. Cathi has shown resourcefulness and thoroughness in the development of curriculum materials and willingly shares these with others . . . In addition, Cathi is a confident person being able to effectively communicate her ideas and views to other teachers and administrators. She is extremely organised, reliable and computer literate. Cathi can work independently and is able to follow through to ensure that the job gets done. She accomplishes these tasks with great initiative and with a very positive attitude.
Heather Bremner, Parent
I am so sorry to hear that you are leaving SPLC. You are one of the finest teachers I have had the pleasure and good grace to meet and I am so grateful that you have been the guide for Katie's IB English course. Katie had always considered English literature to be one of her weakest subjects. You, however, have changed that perception, changed it permanently, and although literature may never be her strongest subject, you have opened her heart and mind to an appreciation that will last forever. This is such an invaluable gift, Cathi. Your quality of teaching and insight is so rare, so our deepest thanks for being Katie's teacher at SPLC in her final years.
Hong Kong International School (July 1999 - July 2006)
Dr Greg Sawyer, High School Principal
Cathi is also self-reflective. A life-long learner is continuously assessing personal strengths and growth areas. Cathi displays that kind of reflection. She takes times to reflect on student activities, entire lessons and units to see where she could alter her teaching to enhance student learning. She is not the type of teacher who teaches a unit and so quickly moves on that learning from the learning experience is lost. She uses these self-reflections to direct personal learning in her subject matter and in the art of teaching.
Natalie Broderick, Director Student Services
Cathi is a passionate educator who worked tirelessly to understand and address the learning needs of students. She was particularly interested in providing challenging educational experiences for our most capable (gifted) students and acted as coordinator of our gifted and talented services in the High School. Cathi was instrumental in supporting teachers in differentiating curriculum demands to deepen and extend opportunities for high achieving students helping to make Hong Kong International School one of the premier schools in Asia. She has a strong knowledge base in gifted education combined with practical experience that would be an asset to any school.
Mary Kay Hoffman, Associate Principal for Student Life; Humanities Teacher
I had the pleasure of working alongside Cathi in the Humanities department. She is a passionate educator who puts student learning at the core of her practice. She knows her students and how to challenge them to do their best and succeed. She builds relationships and provides them with energy to be curious about the subject they are learning. I would work with Cathi in any capacity--her energy is infectious and her passion is contagious. She is a top educator with a unique ability to engage all surrounding her: students, colleagues, and parents.
Vijendran Sathyaraj, Humanities Department Chair
Ms Wiebusch is the most affable of colleagues, always willing to talk through issues of importance with any in her department. She is a close friend and respected colleague to those who work with her. She has also provided admirable leadership in curricular areas, particularly in developing our program in the area of Sophomore English. Ms Wiebusch is (sic) also not been content to teach the same courses each year but has always sought challenge over comfort and complacence.
Susan Crossley, Humanities Teacher and ELL Coordinator
Cathi has a deep understanding of learning and the development of literacy skills. Process for her is as important as product, questions as important as answers. She enjoys seeing students explore and discover, question and challenge. She helps them to persist, to know success, to achieve their potential. Students respond warmly to her; they like her both as a teacher and a person. She works one-on-one with students in our Language Centre both during and after school and is one of the teachers students most frequently seek out for a response to their work.
Gaurav Jhunjhnuwala, student
Catherine is one of the best teachers under whose tutelage I have had the privilege of studying. Her deep knowledge, and interdisciplinary style of teaching ensure that her students not only improve their language skills, but also develop critical thinking and analytical skills. The skills I developed through her teaching continue to shape my thinking and decision making processes in my personal and professional lives to date.
Immanuel College, Adelaide (January 1985 - April 1993)
Valerie Volk, Head of English; Affiliate Director (Australia), Future Problem Solving Program International
Catherine was an outstanding member of my English Department at Immanuel College for a number of years. She was a bright and innovative teacher, who showed initiative and enterprise in course development, and whose input into the department was stimulating and valuable. She was a highly regarded teacher, who related well to students and staff.
Greg Ladner, Hawker Houseleader and Teacher
Catherine is an outstanding educator who embraces best practises that inspire students under her care to learn and achieve to their potential. A strength is Catherine's level of organisation and attention to detail with all aspects of her teaching. She thrives in collaborative settings and enjoys the challenge of creating innovative learning experiences for her students.
Ron Pippett, Teacher
Cathi worked as an English and German teacher at Immanuel College during the late 1980s and early 1990s. She was a very talented, enthusiastic and highly professional educator who gained the utmost respect from staff and students in her care. Cathi displayed considerable leadership skills and offered tremendous support and encouragement to new colleagues at Immanuel.
Stephen Rudolph, Head of School
Cathi's commitment goes well beyond the classroom and her daily duties. She has, with her husband, given up extensive holiday periods to join a self-funded Lutheran Teacher Service Trip to Nepal, organised and gathered various donations for Bhutanese refugees and attended Professional Conferences. Her leadership, as Teacher in Charge of IB English, has been marked by intelligent insight, excellent organization and positive direction.
Jennifer Winn, IB Coordinator
Cathi has an excellent understanding of different pedagogical approaches to the teaching of English. She exhibits a real enthusiasm for teaching her subject and engaging students in the learning process. Cathi has shown resourcefulness and thoroughness in the development of curriculum materials and willingly shares these with others . . . In addition, Cathi is a confident person being able to effectively communicate her ideas and views to other teachers and administrators. She is extremely organised, reliable and computer literate. Cathi can work independently and is able to follow through to ensure that the job gets done. She accomplishes these tasks with great initiative and with a very positive attitude.
Heather Bremner, Parent
I am so sorry to hear that you are leaving SPLC. You are one of the finest teachers I have had the pleasure and good grace to meet and I am so grateful that you have been the guide for Katie's IB English course. Katie had always considered English literature to be one of her weakest subjects. You, however, have changed that perception, changed it permanently, and although literature may never be her strongest subject, you have opened her heart and mind to an appreciation that will last forever. This is such an invaluable gift, Cathi. Your quality of teaching and insight is so rare, so our deepest thanks for being Katie's teacher at SPLC in her final years.
Hong Kong International School (July 1999 - July 2006)
Dr Greg Sawyer, High School Principal
Cathi is also self-reflective. A life-long learner is continuously assessing personal strengths and growth areas. Cathi displays that kind of reflection. She takes times to reflect on student activities, entire lessons and units to see where she could alter her teaching to enhance student learning. She is not the type of teacher who teaches a unit and so quickly moves on that learning from the learning experience is lost. She uses these self-reflections to direct personal learning in her subject matter and in the art of teaching.
Natalie Broderick, Director Student Services
Cathi is a passionate educator who worked tirelessly to understand and address the learning needs of students. She was particularly interested in providing challenging educational experiences for our most capable (gifted) students and acted as coordinator of our gifted and talented services in the High School. Cathi was instrumental in supporting teachers in differentiating curriculum demands to deepen and extend opportunities for high achieving students helping to make Hong Kong International School one of the premier schools in Asia. She has a strong knowledge base in gifted education combined with practical experience that would be an asset to any school.
Mary Kay Hoffman, Associate Principal for Student Life; Humanities Teacher
I had the pleasure of working alongside Cathi in the Humanities department. She is a passionate educator who puts student learning at the core of her practice. She knows her students and how to challenge them to do their best and succeed. She builds relationships and provides them with energy to be curious about the subject they are learning. I would work with Cathi in any capacity--her energy is infectious and her passion is contagious. She is a top educator with a unique ability to engage all surrounding her: students, colleagues, and parents.
Vijendran Sathyaraj, Humanities Department Chair
Ms Wiebusch is the most affable of colleagues, always willing to talk through issues of importance with any in her department. She is a close friend and respected colleague to those who work with her. She has also provided admirable leadership in curricular areas, particularly in developing our program in the area of Sophomore English. Ms Wiebusch is (sic) also not been content to teach the same courses each year but has always sought challenge over comfort and complacence.
Susan Crossley, Humanities Teacher and ELL Coordinator
Cathi has a deep understanding of learning and the development of literacy skills. Process for her is as important as product, questions as important as answers. She enjoys seeing students explore and discover, question and challenge. She helps them to persist, to know success, to achieve their potential. Students respond warmly to her; they like her both as a teacher and a person. She works one-on-one with students in our Language Centre both during and after school and is one of the teachers students most frequently seek out for a response to their work.
Gaurav Jhunjhnuwala, student
Catherine is one of the best teachers under whose tutelage I have had the privilege of studying. Her deep knowledge, and interdisciplinary style of teaching ensure that her students not only improve their language skills, but also develop critical thinking and analytical skills. The skills I developed through her teaching continue to shape my thinking and decision making processes in my personal and professional lives to date.
Immanuel College, Adelaide (January 1985 - April 1993)
Valerie Volk, Head of English; Affiliate Director (Australia), Future Problem Solving Program International
Catherine was an outstanding member of my English Department at Immanuel College for a number of years. She was a bright and innovative teacher, who showed initiative and enterprise in course development, and whose input into the department was stimulating and valuable. She was a highly regarded teacher, who related well to students and staff.
Greg Ladner, Hawker Houseleader and Teacher
Catherine is an outstanding educator who embraces best practises that inspire students under her care to learn and achieve to their potential. A strength is Catherine's level of organisation and attention to detail with all aspects of her teaching. She thrives in collaborative settings and enjoys the challenge of creating innovative learning experiences for her students.
Ron Pippett, Teacher
Cathi worked as an English and German teacher at Immanuel College during the late 1980s and early 1990s. She was a very talented, enthusiastic and highly professional educator who gained the utmost respect from staff and students in her care. Cathi displayed considerable leadership skills and offered tremendous support and encouragement to new colleagues at Immanuel.