A Fond Farewell to Ms. Corinna Raasch

As the school year comes to an end, we want to say a warm and heartfelt farewell to Ms. Corinna Raasch. She has been a beloved part of our Concordia community since 2013, and now she is retiring to begin a new life adventure. We will always remember the energy, laughter, and kindness she shared with us.

Read on to hear her favorite Concordia memory.

Q1: When did you begin your journey at Concordia?

I arrived in Shanghai on around August 1st, 2013. I will have served at Concordia for 13 wonderful years, when school finishes in June this year.

Q2: What will you miss most about the school and its community?

I will miss the wonderful faculty and staff here. Over the last 13 years I have made lifetime friends, and saying, "goodbye" to them will be one of the hardest things that I have ever done. I will also miss the fabulous students that we have and their kind and loving parents. I have been blessed with incredibly awesome Wee Angels (students) and I have found that their parents are wonderfully supportive. I will also miss what I am teaching, as I LOVE the curriculum that we teach, especially RSB, my favorite subject.

Q3: Could you share a few fond or memorable moments with your students or colleagues?

Absolutely, there are so many!!! It's so lovely when students write you beautiful cards, telling you that you are the best teacher in the whole world (I am sure that most teachers receive these cards). I also love it when they say that they love my lessons, as planning out great lessons takes a lot of time, but hearing a child say that makes it all worthwhile! I love it when I am teaching math and a student suddenly says, "Ms. Raasch, I get it!" We call those lightbulb moments and they are really special! Many of my colleagues have become very dear friends over the years and it's just awesome to spend quality time together with them during holidays in foreign countries. Our friendships grow and we learn a lot about one another and become even closer friends.

Q4: Do you have a parting message for your students?

Every day I tell my students that they are precious and loved and that they can do anything if they set their mind to it and never give up. I tell them to always be the BEST that they can be, so that they can feel proud of themselves and their efforts. I encourage them daily and tell them that they are the leaders of tomorrow and I believe in them. I also tell them that Jesus loves them even way more than I do and that He has a brilliant future for them all.

Q5: What are your plans after leaving Concordia/Shanghai? Where will your next chapter take you?

I will be stepping into retirement when I return to New Zealand to live in June, though I think that I will still work part time. I cannot imagine not working, as I really enjoy spending my days with the children. We'll see how things go and what opportunities open up.

I am looking forward to living in my oceanfront home which is brand new (completed 1.5 years ago) and enjoying time in the 'great outdoors' of New Zealand. Spending more time with my dear family and friends is also high on my list of priorities. And riding my Harley Davidson motorbike more frequently will also be wonderful.

Corinna, we wish you all the happiness in the world as you start this beautiful new chapter in New Zealand.