Father Ery Day

Yesterday was bittersweet for the school. We had a very special day planned for Father Ery. The sad part for us is that he is leaving us after five years. He is such a gentle soul, and his presence added so much to our children's faith experience. But the happy part was the joy that we were able to provide for this wonderful priest. Father Ery celebrated Mass with our children. Then at lunch the teachers provided a potluck salad luncheon for him. He led the school in our noon prayer, The Angelus. The choir sang him a very special song. He was escorted through the junior high corridor by the kids singing Immaculate Mary. Father Ery was able to visit each classroom and receive spiritual bouquets from the students. These came in the forms of prayer booklets, paper flowers, a rosary wreath, poems, and posters. Finally, he received a uniquely Holy Angels send off...the traditional honking of car horns as the students left for the day. While it is sad to see him I go, I know he leaves knowing how much we appreciate all that he has done for our school community.

Spelling Books

Today we got our last shipment of spelling books. Now, these are not just any spelling books. These are NEW spelling books, as in having a published date within the past 2 years. They're so new that the covers are stiff and hard to open. They are bright and colorful. The pages are not crinkled or written upon. No, they are NEW! NEW! NEW! Yeah, we have new spelling books. Might not be one of those things most people might get excited about, but I am thrilled!

Great Teaching

Wow! Having finally made it into the majority of classrooms to observe, I am so impressed by the caliber of teaching that I see going on in the building. These teachers know how to ask questions and engage their learners. I've seen lectures, small group activities, overhead activities, vocabulary games, phonics skills, Bible lessons, and read alouds. But most importantly, I've seen teachers who are enthusiastic and loving what they do!

Lunch Helpers

Today was one of those days when the weather just didn't seem to want to cooperate for us. It was wet and rainy outside, so we had to stay inside for recess. I have to admit...I hate indoor recess! We move kids to several locations throughout the building so they can be monitored by staff and lunch moms. Compared to being outside in the fresh air this has to feel like serving a detention for the kids. Plus it is so LOUD in these rooms!

I was doing my usual lunchtime strolls throughout the building when I came upon a sight that stopped me dead in my tracks. Inside the library were 30 second graders, neatly divided into boys and girls groups sitting on the floor raptly paying attention to a story. So what's so special about that you must be wondering? What was so special was that it wasn't an adult reading the story. It was two eighth grade lunch helpers reading to the younger kids! These two helpers had taken it upon themselves to find a story to read to their little charges to entertain them. I even overheard them using different voices for the different characters in the story. Wow! The older kids reading to the younger ones -that's just about the best advertisement for reading and being a role model that I can think of. It doesn't get much better than that!