Dear Parents and Friends of SVDP School,
This weekend another round of glorious sacramental graces will be poured out on the children and families in our community as our third, fourth, and fifth grade students are confirmed today. In this sacrament, we are sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit – the gift of God Himself. It is a completion of the sacrament of baptism wherein we receive the life of God and become children in His family. The Holy Spirit stirs up the gifts given to us in baptism and sends us forth into the world, newly commissioned to bring this life of God to those who would receive it. The entire Easter season is a time of renewing our Christian life, renewing the commitment to live in a way that safeguards the treasure we’ve been given, and a time of renewing the conviction that we are all called to intimate union with God, regardless of where that relationship stands today. We want to return to the path that leads to this union, and show others how to get on it.
I wanted to share a few faculty staffing announcements with you. We have some changes next year at various grade levels, as follows:
- In the middle school, Samantha Merrion will not be returning next year. Miss Merrion is a truly gifted teacher and has been joyful and energetic presence in the middle school. She will take the next year off to embark on an adventurous travel itinerary which includes dozens of countries and formative experiences, such as teaching English in a foreign country. In Miss Merrion’s place, we have hired Miss Marianna Brown, a recent graduate of Regis University. She, too, is energetic and passionate about teaching and will be a healthy addition to the middle school team.
- In the elementary grade levels, Mrs. Sheri Andersen will not be returning next year. Most of you know she has had a couple of major surgeries in recent years and has had challenges returning full time to the classroom. Andersen is a teacher through and through, and as she is ready, she may return in some volunteer capacity to work with children and provide needed interventions. She is especially gifted in the area of teaching writing and may continue to support small groups of children in this way. Please continue to pray for Mrs. Andersen as she makes a full recovery. In her place, Mrs. Shannon Yoder will be moving from the third grade to fifth grade. Mrs. Yoder is a skilled and experienced teacher capable of teaching for rigor while supporting children who need additional instructional exposures. She will be very helpful in preparing fifth grade students for the increasing rigors of middle school, and will be in conversation with the sixth grade teachers to ensure alignment with those grades.
- As you know from last week, Mrs. Ann McPherson is retiring this year. She and her husband are very much looking forward to returning to South Dakota to spend their retirement. She, also, is a teacher through and through, and we know that she will find her way to the local elementary school in whatever town she lives. McPherson is an experienced and joyful teacher who simply loves the children entrusted to her each year. She plans excellent lessons and balances that with celebrating the joys of second grade. Taking Mrs. McPherson’s classroom next year is Mrs. Sally Jane Michaud (mee-show). Mrs. Michaud has a wealth of teaching experience. This past year, she has helped us to open our new Montessori classroom. She is certified and experienced in the Montessori classroom, but has also taught in Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Denver, and in New Mexico, for many years. Because she has been in the Montessori classroom she is familiar with St. Vincent’s, and because of her experience in other Catholic schools, she is familiar with the curriculum of the Archdiocese. Her deep understanding of the needs of children and age-appropriate development, combined with her passion for the mission of Catholic schools, makes her a perfect fit for St. Vincent’s, and I look forward to having her in a lead teacher position next year.
- As we say goodbye to Mrs. Valerie Davidson-Talley next year, we also say a hearty congratulations to her as she begins her new family. God sent us Mrs. Davidson-Talley at a time when we wanted to build our resource department. She came in with great energy, passion for children, and a strong sense of vision and direction. She has been an effective resource for the children, and an asset to the school as we navigated the path this new program would take. In her place next year, we have hired Mrs. Theresa Kovar. Kovar taught at St. Vincent de Paul School many years ago, and has since specialized in supporting children with exceptional needs. She is coming to us from another Archdiocesan school and is therefore knowledgeable about curriculum and mission. While she is gifted in working with children, she also is learned and experienced enough to provide needed professional development to teachers in a number of areas, so she will be a great gift for our student body and our entire school program.
- We also wish Mrs. Amanda Ambrose the best as she makes the decision this year to stay home to raise her young family. Ambrose has taught kindergarten for the past several years and has been instrumental in helping us move toward a better aligned literacy curriculum which will be implemented next year. She gives heart and soul to her students, and I personally have witnessed her grow in very beautiful ways as a teacher who adjusts in order to meet the needs of each student in the classroom. The students have greatly benefitted from her commitment to the classroom and we will miss her on the first floor next year! We are currently interviewing for the kindergarten position.
- Last, we also need to wish Mr. Scott Dirrane the best as he leaves St. Vincent de Paul. Dirrane has a gift of working with students, and particularly with the middle school and high school ages. His background and degree make him eligible to teach theology and social studies, and he has wanted to move into a core classroom for the past year or so. He has found this opportunity at St. Mary’s Littleton where he will teach theology / religion in the middle school. This is a loss for St. Vincent’s; because he is a specials teacher, Mr. Dirrane impacts every child in the school, and has done so in such a positive way during his years here. He will be greatly missed by all. We are currently interviewing for the PE position.
It is always difficult to say goodbye to those who have been a part of our community, especially in a community that often feels as close as family. But we are participating in God’s work, God who knows the needs of each of us individually and of our schools. I entrust the work of St. Vincent de Paul School to Him, and I ask you to join me in praying that He would send us the right teachers for next year.
With prayers for your families,
Sister Dominic
