ischmalzried

Although I’ve taught at St. Benedict Classical Academy for nine years, last year was my first time teaching Kindergarten. Over the summer, I reflected on ways to deepen our classroom’s faith life and knew I wanted to bring the lives of the Saints more intentionally into our daily routine. This year, I’ve done that in a few meaningful ways. One of the first changes I made was renaming our Kindergarten classroom tables after Saints instead of using colors, as I did the previous year. Each circle table is now named after one of four patron saints of education: St. Frances Xavier [...]

As we celebrate Catholic Schools Week, let us reflect on the great gift of a “Catholic education.” Moments with God are essential for faith formation, and attending a Catholic school plays a monumental role in building this relationship with God. Faith is fostered first and foremost at home through family traditions, daily rituals, and discussions. Just as babies grow and learn how to eat, talk, and play, they also begin to know Jesus and explore aspects of their faith through their family. Babies are surrounded by love, joy, and hope while in the womb as they listen to their family's prayers. [...]

At the dawn of each new school year, the faculty and staff of St. Benedict Classical Academy gather for an annual meeting, during which our headmaster, Jay Boren, invites us to renew our commitment to classical education by reading and privately reflecting on 15 questions from the Educational Plan of St. Jerome Academy that exemplify classical teaching. Below is the full version of how the Montessori pedagogy is indeed classical education and why SBCA chooses Montessori and Montessori-based Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for its earliest learners. Why does SBCA choose Montessori for their youngest age group? Montessori education, created by [...]

January is in full swing, and like me, I am sure many of you are coming down from the high of the Christmas season and transitioning back to the rhythms of everyday life. In this month, which is typically associated with setting routines and returning to normalcy, I find it fitting that we also celebrate the feast of a saint whose witness teaches us to grow in holiness through the ordinary: St. André Bessette. St. André Bessette was born with a debilitating illness and was orphaned at the young age of twelve, making it difficult for him to attend school or [...]

I can recall like yesterday the smell of chrism oil anointed on each of my babies' heads - each one wearing the beautiful baptismal gown made by my mother from her own wedding dress. And though the smell won’t last forever, the candle may burn out, and the white gown may fade, I rest assured knowing that their sacrament of baptism surely endures. As we reflect on Jesus’ Baptism, celebrated today, January 12th, I am humbled that He chose to once again meet us in our humanity. Christ did not need to be baptized by John. He was free from sin, the [...]

“The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.” - Isaiah 60:3 The joy that is felt on Christmas day, as we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ is truly beautiful. Many of us can look back on Christmas and reflect on memories with family and friends. These memories could be going to the Christmas Eve Vigil, spending time with loved ones, baking family recipes, or getting that one special gift that you will never forget. My favorite memories as a child were spending time with my grandparents, eating my aunt's famous Christmas [...]

Each time before my students take a test, I make it a point to ask if they have any last minute questions they want answered before we begin the assessment. A few weeks ago in seventh grade, I presented this question to the class and one eager hand shot into the air. Anticipating a question about solving equations, as this was the topic of our assessment, I was met instead with a much more profound question: Was Math something that was created or is it something that we have discovered over time? In that moment I was struck by the way [...]

The Advent season is a beautiful time of preparation that invites us to focus our hearts and minds on Christ’s promises—His glorious second coming and the joyful celebration of His birth at Christmas. It’s a season that calls us to be vigilant and ready, setting aside distractions and worldly concerns (Lk 21:34-36). Much like Lent, the liturgical color of Advent is purple, reflecting a spirit of penance and preparation. This season encourages us to quiet our minds, practice discipline, and make space for Christ. One meaningful way to enter into this spirit is by participating in the Nativity Fast, also known [...]

Eyes beaming, my five-year-old son Michael handed me a block of wood with a face scribbled on one surface. Nailed to the bottom were two small wheels salvaged from a closet renovation. "It's a robot," he proclaimed proudly, "I made it to clean the bathroom for you!"   Moments later, Michael pulled back from my embrace, asking, "Mama, do you want me to make another robot that can put Caroline and me to bed at night?"  "No," I said, locking eyes with him and smiling, "That is what I am made for."   Knowing what we are made for - or better yet, [...]

Advent - a season of waiting, expecting, anticipating, and preparing. In many ways, the past two years have been an "advent" for me, and perhaps for some of you as well. We have been waiting for funds to be raised, plans to be drawn, builders to be hired, ground to be broken, foundations to be dried, building to begin, delays to cease, inspections to be passed - praying and anticipating all the while. Waiting is difficult and tedious, but must be endured. We do not like to wait! The Church in its wisdom gives us this season of Advent to reflect, [...]