I IIIIII I I III
DISCOVER
CAT00IOLIC
SCHOOLS
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I
Rebecca Hicks reads to
Alex Smith and Ryan
Berger reads to Melanie
Browning. Sixth graders
interviewed first
raders, then wrote a
ook about them.
St. Benedict
Principal: 'sense of caring for each child'
By PAUL R. LEINGANG
• , Message Editor '
Values, high expectations, like finding a
home -- these are some of the words parents
use to describe St. Benedict School. Parents
comments were recently collected for a
hrochure.
"We value the emphasis that St. Bene-
dict's places on responsibility, discipline,
and Christian values," said Mike and Molly
Zimmer.
"We believe in connecting our children
with the rich
Catholic tradition
of high expecta-
tions for educa-
lionel success,
coupled: with a
sound foundation
of Christian
morality," com-
mented Dan and
Maureen Hayden.
"We have 4
moved our chil-
dren though sev-
eral school sys-
tems," said Frank
and Pauline
Amodio, "Being at
St. Benedict's has
ii!;i:
Philosophy
St. Benedict School, a Catholic elementary school (Grades K-8), i'
staffed by fiaculty members who altempt to uphold and instill the princi ....
pies of Christian education. Within this context, the staff recognizes its re:
sponsibility to provide an atmosphere of Christian community in which
the whole person may grow in body, mind, and spirit; it has an obligati
to promote the intellectual and social growth of each child in order that B
may become a mature and responsible member of society.
been like finding a Seventh graders Jason Watson, Amy Dempsey, Katie Mar-
home, Our chit- tin, Arthur Butler, Kristy Williams and Mary Engelland
dren are academi- study the environment and how fish might adapt to
. lly challenged, changes in the future.
t are also on- .
couraged to develop as unique individuals in a caring and supportive environ-
ment."
"Caring" is the word Principal Theresa Schroeder uses. There is "a strong
si ase6f Cariig for each child at St, Ben s, she said.
Parents want their children to get an education, and they want their children
to have sports and other extra-curricular activities, the principal continued. Be-
neath all of their reasons, she is convinced, parents "really want you to care about
Jessica Brown, Karie Shetler,
Manaway, Daniel
Dempsey stand before
paper chains, in SL Benedict
small classroom numbers. Parents may choose all day or half day
Kindergarten for their children. After school care is available from 3 to 6 p.m.
Facilities include a library in each building, an art and a science room, music rooms for
private instruction, a large cafeteria, an auditorium with seating for 700. and a hardwood floor
gymnasium with a seating capacity of 600. A large screen TV in an old school basement room
allows two or three classes to watch a special program together.
The strengths of the school include a nmlti-cultural student body and a stable teaching
staff, according to the principal. Students of white, black, Hispanic and Asian origin come
from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds, according to Schroeder.
Four teachers have taught at St. Benedict for 25 years or more. One of them, Doris Daniel,
has been at St. Benedict for more than 30 years.
The principal is pleased with the religious life of the school. Students attend Mass
weekly. They pray the rosary during October and May, and make the Stations of the Cross dur-
ing Lent. There is also a prayer group for students
and teachers who want to come, every Wednesday
after school.
Schroeder be-
lieves students also
have a good sense
of the importance
of helping others.
Some students
tutor other stu-
dents, during study
hails, at the end of
class, and even
coming in at 7 a.m.
before school
starts -- all on a
voluntary basis,
The school is
across the street
from St. John's
Home, run by the
Little Sisters of the
their kids. And we really do."
School staff includes 17 full time teachers many with masters degrees and one full time aid,
one administrator, one full time secretary and one part time secretary. A counselor is available one day
Students in grades 4-8 use the' Old School which was built in 1914. Kindergarten and primary ,rades use the "NoV
School which was built in 1953.
St. Benedict School was established by the Sisters of St. Benedict from Ferdinand in 1913 one year after B
monks from St. Meinrad founded the parish.
The new school was built at a time of overflowing
enrollment --well over 1,000 in the mid-1950s, i
Today, There are two classrooms of each grade, with relatively ....
Kindergarten pupils Jacob Bivens, Adam
Tiffany Parker enjoy the mural in the
proclaims, "There are two lasting gifts
children. One is Roots and the other is Wings."
