Catholic education

From Fragmented Focus to Redeemed Attention: A Path to Love

Ivy Schmalzried2023-12-11T12:00:41-05:00

When’s the last time you stopped to think about paying attention? Go ahead, try it right now. If you really wanted to, how long could you hold your focus on one thing - a task, an object, a person - without giving in to the temptation to move on to something else? How long could you keep yourself from checking this email or responding to that text? If you stop to read this paragraph again, slowly and word-for-word, can you resist that pull to jump to the next line? Attention is a defining aspect of our humanity; it is our capacity [...]

From Fragmented Focus to Redeemed Attention: A Path to LoveIvy Schmalzried2023-12-11T12:00:41-05:00

When the Saints Go Marching In: A reflection on the Church’s Great Solemnity

Ivy Schmalzried2023-10-30T10:04:22-04:00

In two short days, hundreds of little saints will fill Saint Benedict Classical Academy’s classrooms and hallways. If this year is anything like years past, there will be no shortage of Saint Michaels wielding swords or Saint Lucys bearing crowns of candles. November 1st is always one of my favorite days of the year. I love watching the younger students proudly parade by the older ones, smiling from ear to ear. I watch from the sidelines as a five-year-old Saint George tightly grips a stuffed dragon under his arm. I smile as a little Saint Gianna Beretta Molla carefully holds a [...]

When the Saints Go Marching In: A reflection on the Church’s Great SolemnityIvy Schmalzried2023-10-30T10:04:22-04:00

Embracing the Extraordinary in the Ordinary: A Year with St. Therese of Lisieux

Ivy Schmalzried2023-10-10T12:28:29-04:00

Each year during the first week of school, everyone in my class chooses a patron saint to intercede for them throughout the year as they grow as scholars and future saints. Every week a different student has the opportunity to teach the class about their saint as they lead our morning meeting and prayer. Learning from the lives of the saints and praying for their intercessions has always been a beautiful and concrete way to see that heaven isn’t just for extraordinary, perfect men and women entirely unlike us but is full of real people who lived real human lives. My [...]

Embracing the Extraordinary in the Ordinary: A Year with St. Therese of LisieuxIvy Schmalzried2023-10-10T12:28:29-04:00

Fairy Tales: Nurturing Faith and Virtue in Children’s Hearts

Ivy Schmalzried2023-10-10T12:29:46-04:00

When children are asked what their favorite story is, they often say Cinderella, or a similar “knight in shining armor” tale. Why are children so drawn to these kinds of stories? The reason, I propose, is that sometimes a good work of fiction can feel more real than anything you might read on a popular news site. These tales have a sense of order and truth to them. Justice is served to the wicked. The princess’ heart is won by a virtuous man. Good triumphs over evil. Fairy tales offer a retreat into a world that can tell us more about [...]

Fairy Tales: Nurturing Faith and Virtue in Children’s HeartsIvy Schmalzried2023-10-10T12:29:46-04:00

Teaching with Grace

Ivy Schmalzried2023-10-10T12:30:05-04:00

“To be entrusted with the teaching of the young is a great gift and grace of God.”- St. John Baptist de la Salle St. John Baptist de la Salle, patron saint of teachers known for his innovative approach to training and mentoring high-quality educators, inspired my initial vocation to teach and has sustained my current mission to serve as Dean of Students. I first received this "grace of God" in 2013 when I took my first job as a teacher at Coates Elementary School in Herndon, Virginia. In 2021, my wife, two children, and I moved to New England for a [...]

Teaching with GraceIvy Schmalzried2023-10-10T12:30:05-04:00

Without Words

Ivy Schmalzried2023-05-30T11:33:44-04:00

As Assistant Teacher in our Montessori early learning classroom, I quickly learned my important role as the “observer”, a role specifically assigned to the assistant teacher in a Montessori room. By observing, you discover the child’s connection to their environment and others around them and see what interests them and where they struggle. Maria Montessori, who created the Montessori method of education, observed when a child was deeply absorbed in an activity and watched carefully the expression on the child’s face as they made a discovery. While this may be sometimes hard for me to do in such detail in a [...]

Without WordsIvy Schmalzried2023-05-30T11:33:44-04:00

The Miracle of the Mass

Ivy Schmalzried2023-05-22T16:27:14-04:00

Earlier this month I had the joy of witnessing 25 second grade students receive Jesus in the Holy Eucharist for the first time. After a year of eagerly preparing for the Sacrament in prayer and study both at home and school, it was an absolutely beautiful moment. Our entire year of religion class culminates in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Throughout the year we follow the story of God’s people from Adam and Eve’s original sin to the long period of waiting for a savior. We learn about Mary’s “yes” to God leading up to Jesus' birth, life, and ministry. [...]

The Miracle of the MassIvy Schmalzried2023-05-22T16:27:14-04:00

The Sign of the Cross

Ivy Schmalzried2023-05-15T15:22:39-04:00

We all know how to make the sign of the cross, right? Yet, do we understand the importance or prominence that simple and easy sacramental should hold in each moment of our day? Often, I admit, I have used this sign respectfully, but superficially, unaware of its full significance. Recently I read The Sign of the Cross: Recovering the Power of the Ancient Prayer by Bert Ghezzi, a free ebook available through Word on Fire. Ancient prayer? I thought it was an opening to and closing of prayer and a symbol of a Christian, but a prayer?! Apparently I didn’t know [...]

The Sign of the CrossIvy Schmalzried2023-05-15T15:22:39-04:00

God’s Beautiful Classroom

Ivy Schmalzried2023-05-01T20:32:12-04:00

One of my roles at St. Benedict Classical Academy is to facilitate recess duty for teachers. On a typical day, I facilitate five or more recesses outside on our schoolyard turf. I have been at SBCA for eight years and we have always prioritized outside play during the school day. We encourage a schedule where students go outside three times a day, in addition to morning drop-off recess. Children are able to play in the fresh air in all kinds of weather - rain, snow, sleet, sun… anything! (Only once has a child complained to me because of the weather, and [...]

God’s Beautiful ClassroomIvy Schmalzried2023-05-01T20:32:12-04:00

The best seat in the (school)house.

Ivy Schmalzried2023-04-24T12:18:05-04:00

Eight years ago I answered a job post that seemed to perfectly combine my love of working with people and my Catholic faith. Honestly, it seemed too good to be true. But when I left my interview, I called my husband and said I needed to be a part of this new exciting school. It was everything I loved! I feel so blessed to still be here almost a decade later. On the days I arrive early to work, I love to sit quietly in our beautiful schoolhouse chapel. The calm of the school, the peace of Jesus in the chapel, [...]

The best seat in the (school)house.Ivy Schmalzried2023-04-24T12:18:05-04:00

Catholic education

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