Welcome to Elsa High

Mrs. Rachel Friedmann is the Principal for Carmel School Association – Elsa High School. After graduating from University College, London with a Bachelor Degree in Law, Rachel took a job teaching English and French in a small Jewish High School. There she discovered her true vocation and an understanding of the value of an integrated Jewish and secular education that she had not had herself. Rachel soon focused on teaching French and enjoyed particularly conveying the rigour and structures involved in mastering French grammar to students of varying abilities. She progressed through various academic and pastoral posts, eventually becoming Deputy Head in charge of student development for all students of this by now much larger High School with over a thousand boys and girls on separate sites. A passionate educator and believer in each child’s rights and potential, Rachel built up strong and lasting relationships with hundreds of students, often supporting them through difficult challenges and trauma. Now 35 years later, she brings a wealth of experience, professionalism and understanding of children to Carmel’s Elsa High. She has seen children succeed against all the odds and her philosophy is one of positivity, opportunity and belief in each child.

Kaisha Chow has been the School Manager since March of 2006. Kaisha is originally from Shanghai, and was in her third year of Medical School when she had an opportunity to study in the U.S. Initially she studied biology but switched to Business at Texas A&M and the University of Houston. After graduating, she worked in the U.S. for 4 years as an assistant comptroller in a chemical company. She then moved to Hong Kong where she worked for the Hong Kong office of the same company for a year. Kaisha then joined a U.K. organization and was appointed to work as general manager in the mainland China branch for 3 years. This organization then sent her to the U.K. to pursue her Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) at the University of Leicester while working for them for another year. She subsequently took on a position with the U.K. government as a financial officer for three years. Kaisha then retuned to Hong Kong and joined Carmel School. During her tenure with Carmel School Kaisha has successfully completed her second Master’s degree in Human Resource Management and Development (MSc).

Fergus Fu, from Hong Kong, is the Administrative and Teaching Assistant.  This is his fourth year at Carmel School.