Hi, my name is Sabine Andersen, or "Mrs. Bee" to the children.
My preschool serves as preparation for elementary school, so starting with a formal name is one step towards getting used to school rules.
The name Mrs. Bee is a bit of an in-between: the formal title “Mrs.” as preparation for school, and my less formal nickname “Bee” to maintain some closeness when they need physical or emotional support, as they are still in a critical stage of social-emotional development.
To avoid confusion for your children, it is helpful for you to also speak about me and call me Mrs. Bee in front of them.
A Bit More About Me
I grew up on my parents’ farm in North Frisia, Germany, by the North Sea. We had cows, a few pigs, chickens, ducks, cats, and dogs. The farm itself was surrounded by forests and fields.
When we were still in Germany, my husband was a farmer with a mixed dairy, pig, and grain farm close to the Baltic Sea.
Having lived so close to the ocean, it’s no wonder that I love the wind, storms, and sea. I even love the rain, especially when it is warm in the summer. I also love animals, flowers, and trees. In short, I love nature! Being in Alberta now, I also really like that there is so much sunshine here, which is something living by the ocean where we lived in Germany definitely lacks! Being outdoors is essential for me – a daily must!
I like biking, hiking, kayaking, birding, to walk our three dogs, drawing, singing, playing piano (though I am very much a beginner), taking pictures, dancing, doing art and crafts, reading, and writing.
I was an elementary school teacher and I loved my work! Working with and being together with children is a huge highlight to me. I taught math, German language arts, science, art, Christian religion, and music (I am not a music teacher, but at the school I worked there was no music teacher, so I taught it there and enjoyed it tremendously!) I taught different grades, including grade one, so I know how to teach children how to read and write. Of all the subjects I taught though, science was my favorite! Whenever I got the chance, I did things outdoors with my students. A very memorable experience for my students and me was when we went to a forest for a field trip and played nature experience games and looked closely at insects, spiders, and plants.
In 2011 we, my spouse and our twin sons, moved from Germany to Canada. I homeschooled our sons for five years before both started online school in grade 8.
In August of 2023 I completed a child care first aid certificate and I will refresh these skills every three years. I can show you both my child care first aid certificate and criminal record when you come to visit. I can’t wait to meet you and your child!
I have included three references below from two of my friends and a principal from my time teaching in Germany:
