School Staff Updates
After a full week of workshops with our teachers and staff, we are ready and excited to welcome our students back to school on Monday! We are looking forward to another year of learning and growth in wisdom, knowledge, and grace. As you may know, our assistant principal, Mrs. Meg Schneeman, is moving to a new job at Groves Academy. Because we use Groves’ literacy program, we will still see her on campus as she provides coaching and support to our teachers related to that program. We decided not to directly fill the assistant principal position, instead shifting some responsibilities to existing staff. Ms. Cathy Bergen will be focused on work similar to that of an office manager. Ms. Jenna McLagan, who has been working in extended day, will be moving to the front desk full time.
In addition, we have two brand new teachers. After having a couple of long-term substitutes in third grade last year, we are pleased to announce that Ms. Lucy Berigan has been hired to teach in that classroom. Mr. Brandon Werth will continue as art teacher, but in a part-time capacity, so we have brought on Mr. David Juarez as a part-time art teacher as well. Mr. Juarez has already been connected with the parish in a variety of ways over the last couple of years; his experience includes not only teaching but also work in art museums. Welcome, Ms. Berigan and Mr. Juarez!
Virtue=Strength
I am also very excited about a new initiative at OLP school: Virtue=Strength. Our school has long used a program called PeaceBuilders as an anti-bullying resource. As good as that program was, it lacked a faith foundation and became familiar to the point where it lost much of its original energy. Virtue=Strength is designed for a similar purpose, but grounded in the truths of our faith. For example, it speaks about respecting others, but specifically because they are made in God’s image and loved by Him.
Virtue=Strength focuses on a different virtue each week of the school year, and includes an overwhelmingly large number of classroom resources that teachers can use to teach and talk about that virtue. The goal is not just knowledge of the virtues (can our students define and identify them?) but also living the virtues (putting them into action). There are materials for all grade levels, for coaches and student athletes, for families to use at home, and even for the church. Our goal is to use some of those resources for faith formation and prayer parish-wide, so that we all have a common language around the virtues and are supporting each other as we seek to incorporate them into our own lives.
Fr. Joah Ellis
Pastor
