HENDERSONVILLE — Immaculata School got creative in helping students stay connected as a school community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
After diocesan schools shifted to online learning in mid-March, the school launched a virtual Morning Assembly, where staff led students in prayer each morning via video conferencing software. It really helped smooth what was a sudden transition, said the school’s principal, Margaret Beale.
“Our school, what makes it so special, is the community,” Beale said. “We were worried about going to distance learning, and how we were going to keep that sense of community for our students.
It’s really been a team effort to come up with ideas.”
One of those ideas was a virtual Spirit Week, she said, and it “was a lot of fun.”
The first day was superhero day, when students dressed up as their favorite superhero or sent a picture of someone who is a superhero in their life. The second day, students dressed up in sports or princess costumes. Day three was “wacky Wednesday.” Day four was professional day, when students dressed up in an outfit representing what they want to do when they grow up.
Each day, they had a drawing for prizes among those who participated, and nearly everyone at the school got involved, Beale said.
Virtual Spirit Week wrapped up with a school spirit drive-through parade in the school’s parking lot. It was good for students, teachers and parents to see each other again, Beale said.
“It was so enjoyable. Lots of smiles, and there were a lot of tears, too,” she said. Many of the students willingly wore their school uniforms for the occasion, she noted.
“I heard from parents that it helped students to feel connected to each other, to see their friends dressed liked them,” she said. “On sports and princess day, two students who were on the same soccer team each took a picture of them in their jerseys and a parent spliced the picture together to make it look like they were high-fiving each other. It was a good way for them to express themselves.”
Prior to the virtual Spirit Week, Beale said, they asked parents to submit pictures of students holding messages for their teachers. Those images were then combined into a teacher appreciation video.
“That’s a positive that came out of all of this,” she said. “There was so much love shown for our teachers. We never would have thought to do a video for Teacher Appreciation Week – that’s something the teachers can have forever.”
— Kimberly Bender, online reporter
Monroe to succeed interim superintendent Mixer
CHARLOTTE — Dr. Gregory Monroe, who comes from the Archdiocese of Omaha, Neb., has been named superintendent of the Diocese of Charlotte Schools.
He will begin his new role June 1, succeeding Debbie Mixer, who is currently serving as the interim superintendent. Mixer will continue serving as the assistant superintendent beginning June 1.
Mixer took over as interim superintendent in June 2019, succeeding Dr. Janice Ritter.
A 12-person search committee of clergy and laity from across the diocese with connections to diocesan schools – parochial, regional and Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools – selected Monroe after a national search process.
Father John Putnam, who led the committee, said in an email, “I believe our Catholic schools can be one of our best tools for evangelization.”
Monroe was selected from a field of almost 30 applications, Father Putnam said. That was narrowed to 12 candidates for review, which was then cut to four, who were then interviewed.
“Through that process and follow-up, Dr. Greg Monroe became our top choice for the position,” Putnam said.
“When the committee began its work, it was clear that the person we were seeking needed to be someone with vision who could formulate a plan to take our Catholic schools to the next level,” he said.
The committee was concerned that Catholic school enrollment has declined even as the Catholic population in the diocese continues to grow, he said.
“Dr. Monroe impressed us all with his enthusiasm and commitment to Catholic education,” Father Putnam said. “He has been involved with turning struggling schools around, working with various non-traditional models of Catholic education, and working to develop a true team approach.”
Monroe’s experience includes serving as principal of a Catholic high school in Florida, director of career development at Christendom College, multiple years of classroom teaching at the elementary and secondary levels, and serving as a parish youth minister.
Most recently, he served in a senior leadership position in the Catholic Schools Office of the Archdiocese of Omaha, where he grew a blended learning initiative from five to 27 schools; represented Catholic education for the state by serving on the Cognia (formerly AdvancED) schools accreditation board; served on the boards of the three archdiocesan high schools and served as principal on record for three elementary schools. He was also a coach on the archdiocese’s consultant team that supported pastors throughout the archdiocese.
Monroe said he was drawn to the character and culture of the Charlotte diocese.
The diocese has a unique combination of parochial, regional and centralized schools, Father Putnam said, with nine schools in the Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools system, a regional high school, and nine parish-based schools. “This can create both challenges and opportunities.”
The committee believes Monroe can bring these separate elements together “to collaborate and move forward in ways that will assist us in continuing the good work that has been accomplished up to this point as well as place us in a position to grow and flourish in the future,” he said.
“It is evident that there is a strong tradition of excellence in our Catholic schools,” Monroe said, “and that there are great parents, teachers, staff, school leaders and alumni who are committed to helping our students become missionary disciples who will change the world for the better.”
Monroe is an Ohio native with a degree in political science and economics from Christendom College, a master’s degree in education from Marymount University, and a Ph.D. in Catholic school leadership and policy from Catholic University.
He said he plans to begin his tenure by focusing on data-driven strategic planning so that the schools and their related parishes and faith communities can flourish.
He said he, his wife Eily, and son Cyrus look forward to joining the welcoming community of the diocese.
“I am honored to have been chosen to serve the diocesan school community in this role and will build upon the good work of the leaders before me,” he said.
“Moving forward, we have a great story to tell, and we must seize opportunities across the diocese to share who we are: Authentic Catholic schools striving for excellence and quality in all that we do.
“The unfortunate effects of the coronavirus have been widespread, and there are serious challenges as a result of this pandemic. However, we have also seen a great coming together of our school and parish communities through online resources and creative communication, and it has been a grace to fully realize the solidarity we share as a part of the universal Catholic Church.
This unity and message of One Church reaffirms our commitment to ensuring that all students and families who seek a Catholic education have a place in our schools.”
The diocese’s Vicar of Education, Father Roger Arnsparger, said, “During the past year, the diocese, the Catholic Schools Office, the Catholic schools’ pastors, principals and staffs have been very well served by Mrs. Mixer and her team. We are grateful to her for her dedicated, professional and creative efforts in serving as the interim superintendent. I am grateful to the fine work of the search committee and I look forward to welcoming Dr. Monroe as the new superintendent. His experience, credentials, past service in Catholic schools, and enthusiasm for the important mission of Catholic schools will serve the diocese well. The ministry of Catholic schools in the evangelization mission of the Catholic Church is an extraordinary gift from past and present
Catholics. Catholic schools are a profound and effective ministry for forming missionary disciples of our Lord. We welcome Dr. Monroe in our continued labors in the privilege of offering quality and effective Catholic schools in our diocese.”
— Catholic News Herald