Nelson offers relaxed atmosphere for challenging class

By Michael Moroney ’13
THE ROUNDUP

The physics lab in Piper room 212 is the home to some of the most intimidating science classes taught at Brophy: honors and AP physics.

Despite that, upon entering the classroom a student would immediately understand that Mrs. Sabina Nelson’s class is a very relaxed place. The theories and experiments of physics are seen as fun, exciting and sometimes easy.

“She is a great teacher and really funny. The labs are great,” said Blake Fassero ’12.

Mrs. Nelson majored in physics at Santa Clara University, a school she highly recommends because the atmosphere is very similar to Brophy’s. The campus is smaller than most schools and she got to know many of her professors very well.

After Santa Clara, Mrs. Nelson married current art teacher Mr. Mike Nelson ’96, who then got a job at his alma mater, Brophy. At the time, Brophy was also in need for a new science teacher so Mrs. Nelson jumped at the opportunity to work with her husband.

Physics is widely known as a very tough subject to comprehend and it wasn’t always so easy for Mrs. Nelson.

“I think it’s a difficult subject to learn and it wasn’t easy for me to learn so I wanted to help others grasp it also.  I always saw it as a challenge,” Mrs. Nelson said.

She also works as the assistant Robotics Club coach/moderator after school along with fellow science teachers Mr. Andy Mazzolini and Ms. Beth Viquesney.

Mrs. Nelson said she wants current Brophy students to enjoy their high school experience.

“Kids on campus seem so stressed out,” Mrs. Nelson said. “They just need to remember that it’s only high school.”