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St. Mary’s School
Our
own version of March Madness
By Kathy Ayette
I heard a rumor that spring is just around the corner. You
couldn’t have proven it by the weather this week. Frankly I have
had enough of the white stuff. I am ready for spring!
As I write March Madness is beginning today. At St. Mary’s we
have our own version of March Madness. March seems to be the
month when we are either in the middle of something or madly preparing
for an upcoming something. We began the month with IOWA
testing. Students from kindergarten to seventh grade took a
battery of tests. Because I teach a combined class, I tested the
first graders while our trusty sub, Mrs. Waltke tested the second
graders. I think by Friday the majority of the students were
“tested out”. I did have several first graders who said they
enjoyed the tests and wished we could do more IOWA tests. I have
to admit I didn’t quite share their enthusiasm. The following week, the
fifth and second graders took the CogAT which is a battery of tests to
measure cognitive ability. The fifth graders took their tests on
Monday and Tuesday. The second graders took their tests on
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. I think my principal thought
that I opted to start testing on Tuesday rather than Monday because I
was taking into account the changeover to Daylight Savings Time.
Actually I misread the note and thought everyone was starting on
Tuesday.
On Sunday, March 11, the eighth graders sponsored their annual St.
Patrick’s Day pancake breakfast featuring Chris Cakes. The event raised
funds for the eighth graders class trip to Charleston. The
highlight of the pancake breakfast is not so much the pancakes, but how
they are served. Patrons have the option of catching the
pancakes. The cook flips the pancakes and people try to catch
them. I think I impressed some of my former students. Since
I am using a cane this year, I had to catch them one-handed. I
was four for four. Oh yeah!
The second graders will be receiving their First Holy Communion on
Saturday, March 24. This Saturday, March 17 they will have a
special retreat day known as Jesus Day. Jesus Day is a fun day
for the first communicants and their families to prepare for First
Communion. The students and their families participate in prayer,
crafts, and other fun activities.
The last week of March is Holy Week. School will be in session
until Good Friday. During the week in order to help the students
understand and appreciate the Holy Week Liturgies, we have special
prayer services. During the Holy Thursday Liturgy in imitation of
Christ, the priest washes the feet of twelve parishioners. At
school the teachers wash the feet of their students. We also have
a “Breaking of the Bread” prayer service and a veneration of the Cross.
Net Ministries will conduct an in-school retreat for the junior high
students on March 29. On the day before Ash Wednesday, my
students made Lenten crosses. On the backs of the crosses they
wrote down what they were going to do as penance during Lent to prepare
for Easter. Before we go home for Easter break, we will take the
crosses down and decorate them as Resurrection crosses which will be
displayed during the Easter season.
On April 3 the teachers will attend the National Catholic Educators’
Association (NCEA) convention and expo. It will be held in
Cincinnati this year. We have attended the state convention in the
past, but this is the first year that the national convention has been
close enough for us to attend. Teachers will be able to attend sessions
covering a variety of topics. While the sessions are interesting,
I have to admit my favorite part is the display area set up by the
vendors. You can find everything from new textbooks and the latest
educational technology to samples of candy for fundraising. Frankly I
gravitate towards the candy samples more than the technology since I
tend to have a more satisfying experience with chocolate than with
computers.
I mentioned March is a month when we are busy preparing for upcoming
somethings. Mr. Nealeigh and the fourth through eighth graders
have been working very hard on the spring musical, P.T. The Greatest
Showman on Earth. Judging from the music wafting through the
hall, both during and after school, it is really going to be a great
show. I also have to compliment the children on their
acting. I heard a bit of a ruckus one day after school and I was
going to investigate until I realized the children were rehearsing
their parts. The musical will be at 7:00 pm on April 13 at Memorial
Hall. Admission is free and open to the public.
Until next month, keep thinking spring!
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