Dear Friends
Greeting once more from the high desert and all at St. Anthony’s. I must apologize once again for my delay in writing. School reopening has had all my attention. However, our friends are never far from my mind despite not being able to take time to put pen to paper.
In my eleventh ‘round, one might think the start of the new school year would be routine, but as I have found, little at St. Anthony’s is ever routine. In preparation I made my ‘check list’ of things to be completed before students returned to class, but as the opening approached more and more seemed to be added and less and less deducted. Strangely, it gave a sense of chaos to my poor wee brain but at the same time, it produced a sense of serenity as I considered that it is all in the Lord’s hands. (The Good Lord must be tired of my saying to Him, it’s your mission, not mine, tell me what to do next!)
There has been a completely new experience for me in opening the school without the guidance of a Principal. In years past, I had simply to make sure the plant and buildings were ready to receive the students and let the principal do all the clever work. I had not realized how much “clever work” needed to be done. I am eternally grateful for the faithful assistance of Valerie, Daphne, staff and members of the faculty. What would I, could I do without them?
Seemingly straightforward tasks become amazingly complex. For example – arranging for the Title 1program (help to bring students up to grade level) to be put in place for the year should have been routine. However, a new teacher had to be found; contracts to be negotiated; materials gathered and funding arranged, added to which recent Washington actions delayed clearance for funding approval and release. The local public school district staff have been extremely helpful in overcoming hurdles.
As well as making sure our internet and computer resources were up to scratch, classrooms ready to receive our precious charges and the cafeteria ready to feed the hungry hoard, there were more important areas of academic life to be addressed. We are a school after all and education of the students is of first priority.
This of course is the primary task of School Principal and beyond my experience. What to do? After consultation with others experienced in the educational world, I decided to divide the school into groups according to teaching requirements. (Teaching junior high students is very different from teaching kindergarteners.) I grouped the grades with our most experienced teachers as coordinators, the grade teachers are able to discuss individual student progress; highlight problematic areas while sharing their expertise, thus they are able to guide our students for successful results.
I put this forward as a proposal to the faculty during their preparation week prior to re-opening and gave the teachers time to study their students’ portfolios and reports. The faculty members have embraced the idea and are enthusiastically pursuing the plan. All teachers use their skills, experience and history of students for the benefit of all. One area to be developed is the integration of ‘nonacademic classes’ such as Zuni language and culture, gym, library and computer studies into the grade group meetings. (Already some of the grade teachers are working with computer class teachers to address areas of study needing boosting.) I meet with the group coordinators to discuss issues that arise, common difficulties, resource requirements for the benefit of individual students and the school as a whole.
The teachers’ pre-school week is a busy time for all. It included ‘First Aid’ training; ‘Virtus Training’ (child and vulnerable adult protection), Syllabus preparation, resource acquisition, setting up classrooms and a definite ever-developing sense of humor.
Our school bus driver and maintenance man is still undergoing medical treatment which means that we cannot regularly operate the school bus route. Hopefully within the next few weeks that will be restored. Meanwhile either one of the custodians or I make sure students get home safely each evening.
Finally, with everything in place, students returned to class, tales of vacation exploits were exchanged, reunion laughter abounded and an enormous sight of relief came from me. We held a parents ‘Meet and Greet’ earlier than usual most of which was spent as a general meeting with parents before they met the teachers individually. I gave a detailed report to parents about our situation and how we were coping in the absence of a principal. Since most know me as the local priest, I put my previous life and work experience before them. This was necessary since we are of course co-workers with parents in the education of their children. Several people commented on their appreciation for my frankness.
When classes had begun and teachers took up their essential roles; the IT was working; class timetables in place; it was time for me to change hats and return to being pastor for a while at least. At our ‘All School Mass’ the students with hands outstretched over the faculty members joined me in praying for the Lord’s blessing on the teachers, the students and our learning during the year ahead. The following week at the end of “All School Mass”, we processed to the central flagpole in the schoolyard and with a torrent of Holy Water prayed once more for the Lord’s blessing on our buildings, our students, our teachers and our friends who make all of our school community possible.
The pre-school chaos over, students hard at work studying, playing and laughing, teachers devising new ways to enhance their techniques, St. Anthony’s is up and running for yet another wonderful year. Now it is only Zuni Fare, Native American Day, sports programs and Christmas to be planned. Just our routine life back in action, I wonder what will come next!
Thank you for making it all so excitedly and beautifully possible.
Fr. Patrick McGuire
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