Ministry of the Month - February 2012 |
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IHMs in Action
Hands pop up and begin to wave excitedly as the third-graders at Our Lady Star of the "Who has a book to return or renew?" she asks, and most hands go up. "Alright, let's line up and go," and the children head out with the efficiency of the well-practiced. "I enjoy this age group," Sister Mary says. "The children are so enthusiastic and eager to learn." One of the most important things she and the rest of the Star of the Sea community - teachers, administrators and parents - try to teach the children is to be aware of the world and its needs. "We look for ways to give back to God for all our blessings," Sister Mary explains. "How can we make the world a better place?" In the fall, her students brainstormed and developed a service project: collecting new or very gently used books for patients at Children's Hospital. A spring project is to clean the Star of the Sea grounds. Throughout the year, students at all grade levels collect coats for those in need and contribute food each Friday for the parish food pantry. "The children really understand that we are all part of God's creation, in spite of our differences and diversity," Sister Mary says. "They're very conscious that we are all one family." Sister Mary has taught at Star of the Sea since 1998. She began teaching in the mid-1960s and has ministered at "My favorite part of teaching has always been teaching," she laughs. "If I had my way, there would be "Students today are incredibly tech-savvy," Sister Mary continues. "Everything is on computer, including homework assignments. "My challenge as a teacher is to get to know each of my students and to figure out how best to meet their individual educational needs. That takes time, not technology. It's wonderful when you know you've reached a child. "I ask myself every day, 'Am I still trying to find ways to help the children?' When I stop asking that, I know it's time to retire." Recent Ministry Features Ministry of the Month - January 2012 - Kathy Onderbeke, IHM Ministry of the Month - December 2011 - Kathryn Olsen, IHM Ministry of the Month - November 2011 - Rose Mary (Mary Romanus) Sam, IHM Ministry of the Month - October 2011 - Carol Juhasz, IHM Ministry of the Month - September 2011 - Mary Anna (Edward Joseph) Riley, IHM Read previous Ministry of the Month features here. These features are available in PDF format which requires Adobe Reader on your computer. If you don't have Adobe Reader, you can download the latest version here.  |
In the cheerful, brightly lit classroom, Sister Mary (Edward Mary) King, IHM, clarifies a homework assignment with her students, asking questions to ensure the children understand the task.
no report cards, not much homework and a lot of reading! Unfortunately, it's easy to get sidetracked by the demands of education - testing, grades, adhering to uniform standards set by national accreditation boards.