“The most challenging part for me was moving from a tiny school with only 7 classes, to a huge school with multiple classes with grades ranging from RP to High School” said Ms. Becky Price, the new Elementary School Religion Coordinator. Ms. Price is originally from the UK and joined St. Mary’s about a year ago, in August of 2023. She was teaching RP and Grade 1 at a small British elementary school in Kobe before coming to Tokyo because her partner, who is a Kendo coach, is currently working and studying at Tsukuba University. Ms. Price has previously taught in Grades 4 and 5 in Madrid and RP in London.
Ms. Price explained how it felt hard to leave Kobe, where she lived for 5 years and a city she loved, to a completely new environment. Ms. Price was ready for a new challenge for herself and wanted a new experience by teaching in an all boys school. The most challenging part after coming to St. Mary’s was that teaching from a small school to a big school was hard to adjust to, and she even got lost many times trying to find a room! Ms. Price worried that she might miss working at a smaller community, but was surprised by how close the community is despite its size. Ms. Price said, “To hear of teachers and parents who were once students here themselves is so heartwarming.”
Ms. Price had many different careers in mind when she was young. She wanted to become an entomologist because of her love for insects and also dreamed of owning her own bakery. Although she couldn’t become a baker or an entomologist, she has been able to fulfill her ambitions by becoming a teacher. “One minute, you’re showing the kids a praying mantis you’ve found in the school gardens, the next you’re making pancakes as part of a lesson on mixtures and solutions. I can’t imagine ever leaving education now,” Ms. Price said.
