Geneva Winterink

Middle School Physical & Health Education Teacher
How do you continue learning in your life? What is your professional passion?
I like to look for new opportunities and experiences. This year I took on the role of faculty advisor for diversity and inclusion. This has challenged me to do more research to better my knowledge. I joined Cohort 21 last year which gave me the opportunity to share and learn from the experience of others in the same field. My professional passion is helping students in gym class discover something that they are passionate about. I enjoy helping to instill confidence in my students so that they feel like they can participate in any sport at a recreational level. I am also passionate about diversity and inclusivity. My hope for the future would be that everyone feels confident and comfortable in their own bodies. 

What is one of your favourite interactions with students?
My favorite interactions with students usually happen while coaching. I have been very blessed to coach teams at CDS that demonstrate a true team culture. My teams are always positive and supportive. Seeing the stronger athletes step up to lead their teammates and encourage them to be the best they can be are usually my favourite moments.

Favourite Thing about Working at CDS:
My favourite thing about working at CDS is for sure the people. My colleagues are all extremely supportive and positive. Everyone here works very hard and I think that helps keep our community strong. When you are staying after school to coach and know that your colleagues are doing the same it really keeps the community strong. Everyone at CDS is willing to help if you need it and we all share the load. I feel very blessed to have such caring and thoughtful administrators as well. It is an amazing feeling to feel like you are working with your leaders and not necessarily for them. The CDS community truly feels like a team.

Something You’ve Crossed off your Bucket List:
My bucket list is still very long, but completing the four-day trek through the mountains of Peru in 2020 was definitely one. I had always wanted to complete an outdoor expedition like that. It was an amazing challenge personally, but it was also incredible to see the students on that trip push themselves and work together to complete the trek.

Other than CDS, I support …
Other than CDS, I coach a competitive rep soccer team in Oshawa. My girls are U18 level this year, but I have coached more than half of them since they were 8-years-old. I played for the Oshawa Kicks growing up so it has been an amazing experience giving back to this club and seeing these girls grow into flourishing athletes. Along with coaching, I am also closely connected with a local charity called Their Opportunity. This charity sponsors children who cannot afford to play sports. I first started working with this charity 10 years ago when I decided to bike across Canada to raise money for them. Since then the charity has helped support thousands of players in Durham region, including some of the players on the team I coach.

Hometown: Oshawa, ON

Joined CDS in: January 2015

Education: B.Sc. in Exercise Science from High Point University in North Carolina, and B.Ed. from Ontario Tech University (formerly UOIT)
Back

School Information

13415 Dufferin Street King, Ontario L7B 1K5
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.