April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
CATHOLIC SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT
Being inclusive works for St. Helen's School
She drew a minus sign between the numbers and waited. There was a slight pause as the students took in the new equation. All hands shot up, but only Carly was chosen to answer: "5."
"Good! Now kiss your brain!" Mrs. Persaud told her.
That phrase is first-year Kindergarten teacher Allecia Persaud's version of, "Pat yourself on the back" - and it's incredibly popular among her students. Even if there isn't a question being asked, students in her class often kiss their hands and palm their foreheads, "kissing their brains" for understanding something.
On the day The Evangelist visited, the class moved on to number identification and then learned about even and odd numbers.
"It seems simple, I know," said Ms. Persaud later, "but at that age, 'even and odd' is a tough thing to grasp."
She gave the class the example of herself and a friend dividing candy: "Is it fair for me to have one more piece than my friend?"
A chorus of, "Nooo," came back from her students.
"Right! So, when you can share it between two and it's fair, then it's an even number," she explained. The small students seemed to understand.
Cheerful sight Ms. Persaud's classroom is brightly decorated and lined with the students' projects: word lists, paintings and drawings. The front board is covered with information important to a Kindergartner: the calendar, their daily schedule, their classroom jobs and a poem about the events of spring written by a member of the class: "Jesus is risen, sunflowers grow, the Easter Bunny comes, I ride my scooter."
Still excited from their field trip the day before to the Troy Museum of Science and Technology, the students were getting restless.v
"Ms. Persaud, how much more do we have to do?" one groaned.
"Why, do you have a date or something? Let's keep working," the teacher answered, smiling.
Every hallway at St. Helen's School is plastered with student projects, ranging from essays on what kids can do to make Jesus proud to a bar graph detailing the favorite animals of Grade 2.
Open since 1955 and renovated in 2003, St. Helen's is a school with history that is eagerly looking toward its future. Previously run by the Sisters of the Presentation, the school now has its first lay principal, Jennifer Chatain.
When Ms. Chatain came to St. Helen's two years ago, enrollment was at 130 students, the sisters were transitioning into other ministries and the school was in need of renewal. Today, enrollment has more than doubled at 300 and the school has changed significantly.
"When I started I wanted to diversify the school and make sure everyone knew that St. Helen's is a place where all are welcome," said Ms. Chatain. "Anyone who wants a Catholic education shouldn't be denied."
That mindset has paid off. Today, 48 percent of the students have faith backgrounds such as Hindu, Islam and Baptist.
"That is what makes us unique. We have a clear identity as a school of diverse learners. We like to say that we all follow Christ, but in different ways," said Ms. Chatain. "The Holy Spirit guides our everyday work and education 100 percent."
Students take an active part in learning about their faith. Each day's closing prayers at the school are student-written and read. Each month, a different grade prepares a Mass for the rest of the student body as well as the parishioners of St. Helen's Church. Students serve as lectors and cantors, lead prayers and choose the Gospel, and sit together in "partner groups" at Mass.
Come together
That integration of grade levels is a unique facet of St. Helen's. Fourth-graders sit with pre-Kindergarten students at Mass; fifth-graders help third-graders in the after-school program. Ms. Chatain's son, Elijah, knows just as many students in the upper grades as in his own classroom.
To foster the belief that it's never too early to learn, St. Helen's offers Spanish classes to all grades and Chinese to fourth- and fifth-graders. Italian lessons will be added next year.
Each classroom is given a laptop so that students can become comfortable using that technology. The school boasts reading enrichment, online programs, literacy programs, a "bookworm club", a writing and cursive club and a math club.
Families who keep children in the school for their entire elementary education get a reward: Their tuition is on a descending scale, with pre-Kindergarten at $4,400 and fifth grade at $3,000.
"We are so lucky here, because we have the support of our pastor, Father Bob Longobucco," Ms. Chatain noted. "His presence here and his relationships with the parents and families have brought new people into St. Helen's Church and the school."
She told The Evangelist of one family that recently came to the school while struggling with financial problems. Faculty and staff wondered how the children would adjust until Thanksgiving rolled around, and one child wrote about gratitude: "I'm thankful for my school. I have finally found a home."
"We do what we can to improve every year. We never stop and say we've done enough," said the principal. "Whoever comes here, we will make them feel welcome, no matter what. The Holy Spirit will make it work financially for us - and, in the meantime, we're giving them the best gift we can give them."[[In-content Ad]]
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