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St. Mary’s School
Remote Learning “Back in the Day”
By Kathy Ayette
You know how sometimes you think, “It seemed like a good idea at the
time.” I am experiencing one of those times. Due to reduced
seating at church, the kindergarten through fourth grades attend Mass
on Wednesday morning, and with the “Covid seating” we seat half of the
children upstairs in the balcony. We decided that it made sense
for the two younger grades to sit upstairs since they do not receive
Holy Communion and would not have to go downstairs to receive and back
up again. That is why every Wednesday I find myself scaling a
veritable Mount Everest of stairs while wearing a face mask. By
the time I reach the balcony I am gasping like a guppy that’s flip out
of her tank.
One of the biggest changes that Covid has brought to schools is the use
of remote learning. Last month I told you about the web cameras
installed in all the classrooms so that students in quarantine could
continue learning with their class. Last school year when the
schools were shuttered, many of us relied on Google Classroom and we
were sure that we were the first educators to deal with remote
learning, at least at St. Mary’s. Well, not so. St.
Mary’s used remote learning back in the early 1960’s. My mother
had saved a newspaper clipping from the Greenville Daily
Advocate. The news item was about a seventh grader from St.
Mary’s who had been stricken with rheumatoid arthritis and was under
doctor’s orders to stay home. He feared losing a year of
school. However, with the help of the local telephone company a
two-way communication system was installed at the student’s home and in
his classroom. Back in those days each grade at St. Mary’s was
self-contained and students did not change classes as they do today.
The system allowed the student to hear what was going on in his class
and to respond. He had a bell that he could ring to let the
teacher know he had answer or needed to ask a question. It is
interesting to note that even “back in the day”, teachers at St. Mary’s
made use of the technology available at the time.
St. Mary’s students were present for the Veterans’ Day parade on
November 11. Each student had an American flag to wave during the
parade. However, my class almost lost a teacher. I had
turned my back on the parade to position some of the children on the
courthouse steps when without warning the twenty-one-gun salute was
fired. Good thing when I jumped, I landed on the same step I had
been standing on! It could have been ugly!
This year we will not be having our traditional Thanksgiving luncheon
prepared by the students due to, what else? Covid. This luncheon
has taken place for around thirty years and has served as our
Homecoming. Our alumni who are in high school are invited back as
honored guests. Sadly, there will be no “hand-made” stuffing by
the first graders to enjoy. It has been strange not having my
windowsills filled with cans of fruit for the fruit salad, and broth
and soup for the stuffing. There are no loaves of bread waiting
to be torn apart by eager little hands. I think what I will miss
the most is that deliciously maddening aroma of the food cooking in the
morning before the feast. The whole school smells like
Thanksgiving that day.
The student council is sponsoring “Comfy Day”, not to be confused with
“Pajama Day” on Tuesday, November 24, the last day of school before
Thanksgiving break. For a donation, students will be allowed to
wear sweats and tee shirts. The money collected will be given to
the parish to distribute. I like the idea of comfy day, but it
seems like I need to wear sweats the day after Thanksgiving, not before.
Our pastor of over twenty years, Fr. John White, passed away
early November 2 after a valiant struggle with cancer. Although
he was often in pain, he continued his ministry. He presided at
Mass and heard confession up to the last month of his life. When
he became too weak to stand, he offered the Mass sitting at a small
table in front of the altar. He was a stellar example of dedication and
fortitude. Although we are saddened by his death, we rejoice
knowing that he is no longer in pain and is enjoying the rewards of a
faithful servant. Rest in peace, Father.
On behalf of the staff and students of St. Mary’s I would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.
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