The Finish Line

Tom Kusick (Jr. High Teacher), writing in the voice of the 8th grade class:

Mr. Kusick and the 8th graders can see this school year coming to an end. We know the end is near when Mr. Kusick starts talking about finals and we 8th graders get that worried look on our faces ... especially when He says that in his classes finals will count for 20% of our final grade. He tells us not to worry because finals are good preparation for what we will be required to do in high school, and if we have kept our notebooks in good condition and contain inclusive material, we will do well on his final tests.

The major subjects Mr. Kusick teaches are religion, social studies, and math. Looking back, it is incredible all the material we have covered. In our religion book we have covered the Catholic Church from inception to Vatican II. And interspersed throughout the religion book, have been season material which Mr. Kusick supplied. Examples are from Advent, Lent, Easter season, human sexuality, and Theology of the Body. Incidentally,” Theology of the Body” was written by the late Pope John Paul II, and we have really enjoyed reading and studying this book. In addition to the seasonal lessons, we have had to endure memorizing all types of Catholic prayers.

Social Studies will include from chapter 15, Pre Civil War, to chapter 29, and the war in Vietnam. Lots of material, we have several notebooks crammed with vocabulary and main ideas. Mr. Kusick told us in August to save our notebooks and keep them neat so we can use them on the final. I am glad I followed his instructions now.

Math will include almost the entire Pre-Algebra book, plus at least four chapters in the Algebra I book. All this, we realize, will help us in high school, but sometimes it has been difficult for us to concentrate and stay focused. But Mr.Kusick just keeps pushing us. He tells us the school year is like a race where we run four laps around the track. Each lap represents a quarter. We have the choice to start the race hard and finish hard or stop some where along the way. I think most of us sometimes slowed down in parts of the race and some ran hard and still are running hard. I think in the end we’ll all finish strong.

In conclusion, I do believe that Mr. Kusick is happy to see the year coming to an end, and he feels good about what we have accomplished. But I tell you I don’t think he is as happy as we are to see this year end. I am really looking forward to our last final days May 14th, 15th and 16th.

Prayers Answered

Margaret Jurgovan - Kindergarten Aide:

I was recently asked what I thought brought me to St. Joseph Cathedral School. To keep the answer somewhat short, I went back only 10 years. I was a preschool teacher by day and waitress by night, fighting my way though life, thinking I absolutely knew what God wanted for me, I was sure he wanted me to find a husband and start a family of my own.

After many struggles of my own, I finally realized how selfish I was in all of my choices and how casual my relationship with God had become. I decided to make a change. I opened my heart and prayed God would open my mind to him alone. It seemed to me that I was going to remain single, so I prayed that I would find happiness in my circumstances no matter what they may be and that I might be a blessing to any and all families in my life. I felt a peace I had never known, though nothing had changed in my life except an open heart to God's will.

Two months later I met my husband. We married one year later.

Soon after our marriage, my husband accepted a job here in Jefferson City. We were happy to start our life together, and we wanted children right away. Again, falling back on my selfishness in my relationship with God, I became very frustrated that we were not being blessed with children as fast as I wanted. Again, I fell to my knees and prayed that I would open my heart to God alone. I prayed that I would be a blessing to any and every child in my life. I walked away feeling completely blessed. Not long after, we were blessed with a successful pregnancy and our son was born 9 months later; a year and 10 days after that we were blessed with our daughter. I was overwhelmed with the goodness of God. I was a stay at home mother for 5 years, continually praying that God would show me his way.

My son was going to start school my husband, and I wanted to send him to Catholic School but we did not know how we were going to afford even the nominal fees at St. Joseph Cathedral School. This time I kept my heart open. After Mass one Sunday morning I was talking to a friend and previous employer - I taught with her before I became a parent. She asked if I could help out during the summer. Needless to say, this gave us the extra money we needed to start our son at St. Joseph Cathedral School. Our son started his education in Mrs. Braddock's kindergarten class, and my daughter and I were able to help out in class quite often. I was looking forward to my daughter starting school and trying to think of ways I could offer my time to St. Joseph Cathedral School.

Near the end of the year, Mrs. Braddock called me. She sounded hesitant, so I immediately assumed she was trying to tell me she was leaving St. Joseph. I convinced myself that was the reason for her call, and I was so distraught that I didn't realize she was asking if I would be interested in being a kindergarten aide this school year. Finally, God calmed my fear and I heard and answered YES!

I felt my faith was getting stronger, but my knowledge of my religion was not so strong; I prayed I would find a way to better my understand Catholicism so that I might pass the knowledge on to my children and in steps have found help with Mr. Allen with his newsletters and audio of Adult Catechesis. What a blessing! I suppose I could have simply said I am at St. Joseph Cathedral School by the Grace of God!

Catholic Schools Rule

Natalie Landwehr - 1st Grade:

I like Catholic schools because I can love God and believe in Jesus's miracles. I like to go to Mass in the morning. Catholic schools rule!

Food Fast

Cole Baumgartner - 8th grade:

What was the purpose of the fast and how did it affect you? This is the question that I got from many of my friends and kids from other schools who didn’t participate in the fast. When they asked me this question, I knew exactly what to say. There is many ways in which this fast has helped me and many things that I have come to realize about others.

One of the main things and the idea I think is the most important of what I got out of the fast is that there are people in third world countries who will go years without having much to eat. In religion we watched a movie showing how others were starving and getting less to eat and drink than others. This made me realize that we need to help these people out. All of us have enough food and drinks and we need to try not to waste these things, or complain about what we have to eat because some people are getting nothing. We also need to help donate food or clothes and raise money for these people in need.

The second way in which this fast helped is the money we did raise for the people in need. We raised about 2,000 dollars during our fast by getting sponsors to donate money. This money is for people who are in need of food and hunger. It made me feel really good that, not only did our grade raise all that money for these people, but we also got to feel how they feel just about every day.

This fast was a very special experience for all of us and I feel that it was definitely worthwhile. We all improve our spiritual lives, and we helped others out. This is the reason that I did the fast and what affects is had on me. This is exactly what I tell anyone who has not participated in a fast and does not know what this experience is like. I would definitely recommend everyone to try this fast out.

Three Minutes

Suzy Weber - art teacher:

It was in the spring of 2003 and the war had started in Iraq. It seemed as though the students needed a lot of reassurance and, to be honest, so did their teachers.

A friend suggested that the students all work on small art projects that could be mailed to Iraq for the soldiers to see and hang up in their quarters. So, one grade after another, we covered my window sill with cards, paintings, drawings and happy messages.

When Mrs. Cockerham brought her students to art class, they were one of the last groups to create something to be mailed to soldiers. I had described the focus of the project over a dozen times and felt I could have done it in my sleep.

I woke up when one student raised his hand with a question: "Do the people in Brooklyn hate us?"

"No...." I answered.

"That's what I heard too," another student offered.

"Do you mean Britain?" I asked.

"Yeah, okay, that was it. Do the people in Britain hate us? You know, because of the war and everything. They think it's wrong, don't they?" There was some second grade confusion and it seemed that they were wanting to know if we were the good guys or the bad guys. At that age, the problems all seemed to clump together, and I knew I could not sort them all out during out 60 minute art period.

"You all are asking some very good questions, and I am impressed with your interest, but I think these are questions for your mom and dad."

"But why do the people in Britain hate us?" another student persisted.

I hoped a little story would clear this up so that we could begin our project. "Do you guys remember that day when the planes went into the twin towers in New York? It was a very sad time for Americans. We felt as though something had been taken away that couldn't be given back. For a long time, people just acted like it was hard to have fun.

"Then, a few days after the attack, the people of Britain were told of a way they could help us without having to leave their country. They loved us so much and felt so bad for our losses, so they decided to pray for us. So one day, for three minutes, they prayed for us. No phones rang, no one talked on the radio, no teacher taught a class, nothing for three minutes. Only prayer. That is how much love they felt for us. No, the people of Britain do not hate us."

The room was silent, and I was ready to start the project. Then, one more comment: "Can we pray for the soldiers? We should do that, we should pray for three minutes to let the soldiers know how much we appreciate them."

In spite of my very reasonable protests (we only have an hour for class, they would really love to see your artwork, maybe you can do this in Mrs. Cockerham's class...) they persisted. Finally, I said they could put their heads down. And they were silent, really silent. I could actually feel the power of their prayer in the room, and it brought me very close to tears as the seconds ticked away. When two minutes and forty-five seconds had passed, I began with "Our Father, who art in heaven...". Heads lifted, and they joined in as we finished out our three minutes of prayer for the soldiers in Iraq.

I have had many beautiful moments teaching at St. Joseph, and a lot of them could have happened in a public school just as easily. That is one that stands on its own and made me very proud to be a teacher in a Catholic school. It also made me see my students in an unforgettable light.

The Greatest Honor

Laurie Harding - 5th grade teacher:

One often hears the expression that teachers touch a life forever. I wonder though if students realize that the expression goes both ways. There is a statement that an eighth grader made last year that will always stay with me. It reminds me that God has placed me in this profession.

It was the very end of May and I was beginning to feel very tired and worn out from all the countless hours at my job, especially all the evening and weekend hours. I was finishing my eighth year of teaching, and I found myself questioning the worth of it all. I wondered if I was, more often than not, just forgotten as a nameless teacher that some St. Joseph student had some year. After all, it wasn’t often that I received any positive feedback. Then Matt Rundle gave me a very special gift.

It was the last day of school for the graduating eighth graders. Matt had written a reflection on his years at St. Joseph and was selected to read his essay after our all-school Mass. Starting with kindergarten, Matt went through his memories of each school year and of each of his teachers. Now Matt was always a very bright student and, as he read through his elementary memories, he repeatedly referenced his desire to be challenged throughout the years. As I waited for him to get to his fifth grade memories, I reflected on all the ways I had worked to offer him academic challenges: small group work, challenging math lessons, independent research, and a special book club. Still, somehow I felt I was sure to be forgotten.

That’s when Matt stated what he remembered most about fifth grade. He said I had taught him how to pray. What an unexpected statement! That was never a lesson plan objective or a unit goal. I came to realize that God was working through me to inspire my students. To date, Matt’s statement is the single greatest honor that I have ever received as a teacher. It will always be a special memory for me, and it inspires me to continue my work as a religious educator.