Sophie Elhalwi

11621 Laurier Avenue, Montreal, QC. H1G4A8 | 514-992-7431

selhalwi@emsb.qc.ca | sophieelhalwiportfolio.weebly.com

WORK EXPERIENCE
2020–present Social Affairs School (141) Homeroom Teacher
Philip E. Layton School

2019–2020 Social Affairs School (141) FSL & Resource Teacher

Philip E. Layton School

2018-2019 Social Affairs School (141) FSL & Resource Teacher

Philip E. Layton School
– Developed a unit on the Winter Olympics in South Korea and integrated my
personal experience as an attendee of the games into the lesson plans

2017–2018 Social Affairs School (141) FSL & Resource Teacher

Mackay Centre School
– Participated in ASL social events organized by members of the Deaf community

2016–2017 French Second Language Homeroom Teacher

Honoré Mercier Elementary School

2016 Inner City School Resource Teacher

St. Gabriel Elementary (April–June)

2015–2016 Homebound Tutoring

Cancer patient’s home

2014–2016 Social Affairs School (141) Substitute Teacher

St. Raphael, Mackay Centre School & Philip E. Layton Schools

2015–2016 Social Affairs School (141) Internship

Mortimer B. Davis Jewish General Hospital

2014–2015 Work Oriented Training Program Internship

Champlain College Saint-Lambert

2014 French Second Language Homeroom Teacher

Honoré Mercier Elementary School (April–June)

LANGUAGES
English, French Native speaker, Fluent in written and spoken

Italian Native speaker, Intermediate in written and spoken

American Sign Language Professional working proficiency

Unified English Braille Professional working proficiency

Spanish Intermediate in written and spoken

 Sophie Elhalwi
11621 Laurier Avenue, Montreal, QC. H1G4A8 | 514-992-7431
selhalwi@emsb.qc.ca | sophieelhalwiportfolio.weebly.com

EDUCATION
2014–2016 Master of Education in Educational Psychology – Inclusive
McGill University
– Recipient of the Dr. John A. Bryant Memorial Award awarded to graduates who
participated in meaningful work with students who have developmental disabilities in
school and society.

2010–2014 Bachelor of Arts: Kindergarten and Elementary Education

McGill University
– Invitation to join Golden Key International Honor Society, extended only to
individuals scoring in the top 15% of the class.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
2020 Unified English Braille Certificate
Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children
– Uncontracted and contracted braille code, the basics of reading and writing Unified
English Braille, alphabet, punctuation, word signs and group signs.

2018 American Sign Language 102

Montreal Association for the Blind

2017 American Sign Language 101

Montreal Association for the Blind

2014–2017 Monthly In-house Braille Training

With Francine Gravel, retired teacher of 38 years at Philip E. Layton for the blind and
visually impaired

2017–2020 Yearly In-Service Cortical Visual Impairment Training

With Hemaxi Patel, Occupational Therapist, and Enza Stabile, Special Care Counsellor

2017–2020 Yearly In-Service code blue measures, seizures and emergency training
With Davina Lucas, head nurse at Mackay and Philip E. Layton

2018–2019 Yearly In-Service Mobility Training for Individuals with Visual Impairments
With Ingrid Osswald, specialist in orientation & mobility

December 2018, Pro-tactile Communication Training

January 2019, & With Christine Roschaert, Deafblind activist
May 2019

2017–2020 In-house trainings on the CASP program, modified and adapted curriculums
With Sarah Lynch, special education consultant
 Sophie Elhalwi
11621 Laurier Avenue, Montreal, QC. H1G4A8 | 514-992-7431
selhalwi@emsb.qc.ca | sophieelhalwiportfolio.weebly.com

WORKSHOPS
2020–2021 - In-house Workshop Creating Literacy Based Communication Activities for Students who are
Blind and Visually Impaired
- Looking After YOU
- Google for Elementary
- Special, the New Normal (Pre-Convention Workshop)
- Hayley Wickenheiser Webinar
- Understanding and Working with Children and Youth in Emotional Times

2019–2020 - In-house Gender Creative Kids Workshop

- Building Positive Partnerships (SORT)
- Tactile Strategies for Children Who Have Visual Impairments and Multiple Disabilities
(Perkins)
- In-house Trauma Workshop with Ciara Briscoe
- Formation SORT Primaire
- The Mindful Classroom (Pre-Convention Workshop)
- February Forecast : Positive Climate Change (SORT)
- Autism Spectrum Disorder and Mental Health: Practical Applications and Tools
- Inspire, Soothe, and Teach: Intervention Tools for Special Needs Learners

2018–2019 - Mini ASL Workshop with Jack Volpe

- All Things Assessment (Solution Tree 3-day Workshop)
- Des stratégies différenciées pour le plaisir d’apprendre et des conseils pour les nouveaux
enseignants: ce que j'aurais aimé savoir (SORT)
- Special Needs (PIC Workshop)
- Identifying and Helping Students with Language-based Learning Difficulties Succeed in the
Inclusive Classroom (SORT)
- Engage Students and Simplify Learning with iPads in the Elementary Classroom (Pre-
Convention Workshop)
- Science and Space with Chris Hadfield

2017–2018 - Differentiation and ASD (SORT)

- Working with Anxious and Reactive Students (SORT)
- ASL 101 Workshop with Jack Volpe
- Exploiter le potentiel d’enseigner en petits groups with Léo-James Lévesque
- Helpful Strategies and Tools for Special Needs Students (PIC Workshop)
- Getting Challenging Students on Board (SORT)
- Time Management (SORT)

2016–2017 - Numeracy Workshop with Aliya Somani

- Special Needs and Behaviour Problems 101: A Practical Session
- Autism in the Classroom (SORT)
 Sophie Elhalwi
11621 Laurier Avenue, Montreal, QC. H1G4A8 | 514-992-7431
selhalwi@emsb.qc.ca | sophieelhalwiportfolio.weebly.com

COMMITTEES
2020–2021 Allocation of Resources Committee Chairperson
Culture in the Schools
– Organized a mobile farm to come to the school with animals and traditional Quebec “tire
sur la neige,” organized an activity with Ceramic Café Montreal
2019–2021 Holiday Activities Committee
– Organized the following events: Breakfast with Santa and winter activities; Slime Making
activity with Mad Science; holiday concert for exempted students and students
2019–2020 School Council Member

Valentine’s Day Committee

– Organized and performed in a music concert for exempted students and current students,
created a mailbox for students to send each other cards, created a collaborative project for
students throughout the school
2018–2020 Social Committee

Joint Staff (Rehab and Education) Holiday Party Committee

Tactile Cues Creation Committee

– Created various 3D tactile cues in order for blind and visually impaired students to associate
a cue to different subjects, activities, and places in the school
2019–2020 & Graduation Committee
2015–2016
2018–2019 Organized school field trip to Cabane à Sucre
2017–2018 American Sign Language Committee
– Taught colleagues basic signs to help facilitate their communication with students

Terry Fox
– Organized Terry Fox run/walk/wheel, made a PowerPoint presentation on Terry Fox and
presented it to students in an assembly

I Love to Read Week

– Invited a local French-Canadian author as a guest to our school to present and read her
books to the students
2016–2017 Open house
– Created a video for Honoré Mercier school showcasing all the activities in the school and
presented it to potential students’ parents
2015 103rd Anniversary of Philip E. Layton Celebration
– Organized a big celebration for the school’s 103rd anniversary. Parents, retired teachers,
students, and members of the School Board were invited.
2014 Overnight senior trip to Quebec City
– Planned activities and places to visit, coordinated bus transportation, assisted, and
supported students for 48 hours
2014 Grade 6 graduation
– Coordinated with the hall, organized awards, Master of Ceremony for celebration