St. Michael Academy
Welcomes
Alyssa Roper to the Role of Director L
ast month, St. Michael Academy through play in a structured setting. Preschool was pleased to welcome In addition to the usual academic our new Director, Alyssa Roper. subjects, students also receive handsAlthough Alyssa is new to this role, on instruction in music, Spanish and she is already a very familiar face at sign language. And of course, as a the preschool. Bringing her 15 years parish ministry, the preschool places a of teaching experience at St. Michael strong emphasis on the children’s early Academy to the Director position, Alyssa formation in the faith. is excited to see what this next step in “We teach religion and go to chapel her journey with the school will bring! once a week, where we read the Bible Alyssa began teaching music at stories and learn the fundamentals St. Michael Academy the same year [of the faith],” Alyssa says. “As a that she enrolled her oldest son in the Catholic, that is very important to me preschool. After two years of music personally. I feel like those religious instruction, she moved into the 4-yearfundamentals are just as important old classroom, where she taught for as the academic ones. I think a love another 13 years. The strong sense of of Jesus begins immediately, and the community shared by the teachers, children love it and understand it. For students and families has made the many of them, their favorite part of school feel like a second home. St. Michael Academy welcomes “I truly love my job,” she says. “I love longtime teacher Alyssa Roper to the the week is going to chapel.” While the COVID-19 guidelines and working with the children and the staff. role of Preschool Director. restrictions mean that our preschool is If you look down the roster, you’ll see serving fewer students than usual this that most of the staff have been here as long as I have, and some even longer. All of the teachers year, Alyssa looks forward to a bright future as registration are very close, and I feel like the teachers have that same for the 2021-2022 school year begins this month. bond with the families because it is a parish ministry, so “I hope that we keep going strong and that we get new we cater to that and try to develop those relationships children in the school that we can meet, love and nurture,” with the parish families. The school really is like a family.” she says. “That’s really my hope — that we just keep The tight-knit community and staying power of the moving forward.” staff at our preschool is highlighted by the long tenure of Although Alyssa’s first career was in public relations, Patti Lavender, who just retired after serving as a teacher her love of children and education go back many years to and the director of St. Michael Academy for more than when she helped put herself through college by teaching 30 years. Alyssa began training under Patti last fall and private swim lessons. Now, with 15 years of teaching is thankful for the experience and guidance Patti shared under her belt, she is thrilled to be embarking on this new with her during that time. journey as Director of St. Michael Academy. Reflecting Having taught in the classroom for so many years, on the path that brought her to this role, she can see the personal interaction with the students is still a top priority Lord’s plan at work. for Alyssa. She is present for the drop-off and pick-up of “Here is a fun fact — when I was in high school, my children each day, and pops into the classrooms several mother was the Religious Education Secretary, so I spent times throughout the day to say “hello” to everyone. a lot of time here helping and volunteering,” Alyssa says. “My favorite thing about being at the school is working “She sat in the same office where I am now. It’s come full with the children,” she says. “I leave every day feeling joy circle, which is really neat. I think about that a lot when I’m after being with them all day and knowing that hopefully here. God definitely works in mysterious ways!” I made a difference in their life just in that short time. It’s Registration for the 2021-2022 academic year at St. Michael hard to describe — it just fulfills me.” Academy is now underway! Visit the website for more details at St. Michael Academy serves children ages 12 months to five years, providing them with the opportunity to learn www.smapreschool.com.
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