Support, spirit are hallmarks of Catholic education

Colleen Pasquale has been teaching for 30 years, but the last nine at St. Jude the Apostle School in Wynantskill have been the most enjoyable.

"Everyone is so supportive here, whether it's a program or a project you want to try," the first-grade teacher said. The principal "is so supportive of trying new things, and the other teachers are supportive. We back each other up."

That's because the teachers, she said, like to see one another succeed and provide support to make that happen.

Jesus at center

While character education is the buzzword in schools today, Catholic schools take the lessons a step farther than public schools, Mrs. Pasquale said.

"Other schools might talk about character building, but we can do so much more because Jesus is at the center of what we do," she explained. "In religion class, we teach not just the pages of a book; we live it."

Whether it's by visiting a veterans hospital or collecting food for the needy, students at St. Jude's learn about service to others by performing service.

Environment

Each April, as part of their study of the environment and Earth Day, the children in her class learn about the Amazonian rainforest.

In addition to putting on a play about the area, the students raise money to help save it by making a snack mix to sell to other classes.

Since the project began, St. Jude's students have saved 25 acres of rainforest.

Reading

The school also participates in the "Book It" program, which encourages children and parents to read for 20 minutes each day. So far this school year, her 14 first-graders and their parents have read for 31,000 minutes.

"Our families are very supportive of St. Jude's," she said. "One of the best things about first grade is that the kids are so enthusiastic and eager. No two days are the same."

(Mrs. Pasquale was named the 2007 St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Distinguished Teacher by the Albany Diocese's Catholic School Office.)

(01/24/08) [[In-content Ad]]