St. Anthony's graduates first kindergarten class in new school

By GUY PRIEL

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Friday marked a celebration for staff and students at St. Anthony's Elementary School, as members of the class of 2012 donned their caps and received their kindergarten diplomas, and as fourth grade students marked the transition to Holy Trinity Middle School.

It was also a day of celebration as Friday marked the official last day of the 1999-2000 school year, the first year all students in the New Ulm Area Catholic Schools to be consolidated on a single campus.

Although normally following the same schedule as District 88, school got out on Friday, because they didn't take the entire week off for spring break, Administrator Sharon Waldoch said.

"Since it had been a mild winter, we decided a long four-day weekend would help us return refreshed," she said. "So, we opted not to take the entire week off. It worked out great for us."

Having completed a year in the new building added a dimension that allowed students and staff the ability to facilitate learning better, because it provided a safer environment for everyone, Waldoch said.

"Having a central campus also provided a more positive experience for everyone," she said. "We expected a positive experience, but it turned out better than we anticipated. It has allowed for better tutoring opportunities between the older and younger students."

Despite numerous changes in drop-off and pick-up procedures at the beginning of the year, everyone adjusted well, she said.

"At first, we had a lot of apprehension about moving away from the parishes, because we were wary of not being present for weekly masses," Waldoch said. "We exist for the parishes and not being there physically has been a drawback, but we compensated by busing the students to each of the parishes once during the year for a mass."

Having a central location will help build connectivity between the parishes, which is another positive outcome, she said.

"It has been nice to combine two schools into one," second grade teacher Sue Sieve said. "It has been a good experience for everyone. The (children) adapted well to being combined and they mixed nicely."

The children became St. Anthony's students from the beginning, and there was never the rivalry between them because they had been at St. John's, or St. Mary's, Waldoch said.

Looking back on the entire year, it has been a roller coaster ride, as the classrooms were finished the day before school started and everyone rushed to get things ready, Sieve said.

The teachers had input into how the rooms would be designed, which has been a positive experience for everyone as well, she said.

"The rooms are much more workable than they were at St. Mary's, and that has been a refreshing change," kindergarten teacher Ann Franta said. "Also, having the other buildings nearby has been a positive influence on everyone."

One thing that is more noticeable for the students is that the rooms are quieter than they were at St. Mary's, because there is no noise from rooms upstairs, and there is no plaster falling on their heads, first-grade students in Annette Reker's class said.

The closeness to drinking fountains, restrooms, and the private lockers inside the rooms are one advantage, as is the computer lab, the larger gymnasium and the better library facilities, third-grade students in Mary Jean Janni's class said.

"We can do more, because we have one school, not two, and we have new teachers," one student said.

The younger students have story time in the library with a parent volunteer, and there is a modern computer room providing Internet connections and more updated technology, Waldoch said.

"The library is a little piece of Heaven," librarian Mae Sukohl said. "It is so quiet. The new computer system will allow us to computerize things, making it simpler than cards to keep track of everything."

About 1,500 people gave money to make St. Anthony's a reality, and they are still giving. They take ownership in the building, Waldoch said.

One thing that changed was the loss of administrators, because there are no longer any lead teachers, and Waldoch has had to take over as principle of both St. Anthony's and the middle school.

"I love that we are all one campus now," teacher Jo Benning said. "It's hard to believe that so many people donated their hard earned money to make it better for (children)."