Heroes in the Classroom: A Day in the Life of a Catholic School Principal

Camille DeLano’s day begins like so many educators. She’s up early and out the door by 6 a.m. to start her hour-long commute to Saint Basil Elementary School from her home in Dorr. She never tires of the view of Lake Michigan that greets her each day as Saint Basil sits just feet from the shoreline in South Haven. “I love the lake — it’s different each day.”

And never was that as true as it’s been this past year. It’s been a daily learning process ever since last spring when schools were closed due to the rise of COVID-19, and through this past fall when Saint Basil’s student body came back to in-person learning but with a host of changes to classroom and school procedures.

Camille, along with her colleagues from the other 20 Catholic schools in the diocese, spent her summer working on the COVID-19 preparedness and response plan required by the state and the diocese. This included adapting to new guidelines, new protocols, new technology and new students. Saint Basil’s enrollment held steady this past year, as did enrollment across the diocese.

The school weathered just two times over this past school year where it had to quickly transition to remote learning due to students’ quarantining.

Saint Basil’s is like many of the Catholic schools in the diocese; its smaller class sizes and large school building proved advantageous for being able to adapt to in-person learning. It enjoys the support of its pastor, Father Jim Morris, as well as the parish community, many who are alumni of the school whose rich history dates back to its founding in 1950.

It’s a brief reprise in this busy principal’s schedule when I sit down with her during spring break to obtain a better glimpse of a day-in-the-life of a Catholic school principal.

To characterize this past year as challenging is an understatement. What’s the key to educating in a pandemic world?
I think being creative is key; being flexible is key. We were able to maintain in-person pretty diligently throughout the year and I know our families appreciated it.

Any silver linings?
We are utilizing technology better and I think kids have learned how to work online better this school year but it’s still tough on them; remote learning is not the way most kids learn best.

How are the students doing?
I think we definitely do better being in [school] than out — and I think students would agree — that entire interaction in a classroom is very important. Still, we have some holes to plug so to speak, and it’ll take some time, and I’m ok with that. Kids are resilient, thankfully, and they’ve been very positive about being back in the classrooms even with all the masks, table dividers and cleaning. They are just as anxious to be back to normal

What have you missed doing this past year?
I miss going to Church together as an entire school, praying together. Currently because of our size, students attend Mass on three different days. I also miss connecting with my parents, teachers and staff through those daily casual interactions, like being in the teacher’s lounge or eating lunch together. We try to connect in different ways, but I miss that.

With all the additional work with COVID-19 guidelines, any new projects or initiatives you’ve been able to introduce?
One program I’m very excited about is called, Drawing Children into Reading. The curriculum is developed by a local South Haven-based group. The general concept is to teach kids how to draw, write and read all at the same time; so in other words, it uses art to connect with the reading and the writing; getting kids able to express themselves. [We are] working with the developers to align their lessons with curriculum and integrated into other subjects.

What keeps you at Catholic schools?
When I was a teacher at St. Stanislaus [Dorr], I remember one of my colleagues saying over and over, ‘teaching in the Catholic schools is a vocation.’ And she’s right. There’s something about the Catholic school community, the ties you make. Under normal circumstances we all go to Church together (at school). You get to know the families and connect with them and know them in ways that you might not have the opportunity to do in a different environment. And my role, as principal here, is very hands-on and I’m a very hands-on person; I like being involved and working with people at that level and making things happen to the benefit of the schools and the families.

Saint Basil’s, like many Catholic schools, has weathered its share of ups and downs. Yet currently, you’ve been able to grow enrollment. How?
First, I try and make a lot of different connections with a lot of different people, in the school, the parish and the greater community. I ask people to rethink their opinion of the school and to consider us and if they’re not, I want to know why and listen to what some of their concerns were. We make financial aid available to families — times are tough; every financial aid consideration is always a one-on-one meeting with me and not a blanket approach. And while we know we can’t offer all that the public schools can due to resources, we have found creative ways to have extracurriculars. For example, our students can participate in the local public schools orchestra/band. We’ve partnered with Lake Michigan Catholic Schools so our Middle School students can participate on some of their sports teams. We were starting that collaboration last spring when COVID hit. We're hoping to pick it up again this fall.

I didn’t get this as much as a teacher but I regularly receive questions like what curriculum do we follow. I’ve had parents ask if we still teach science. There’s a perception that we just teach religion all day. Sometimes they get the perspective that our academics aren’t held to the same standard. Another issue is many don’t realize all our teachers have to be certified, all in-line with State guidelines and requirements. Absolutely, our Catholic faith ties through all we do, but we do so while also maintaining rigorous academic standards.

The parish and local community boasts a large Hispanic/Latino Catholic population; yet those families weren’t choosing St. Basil’s. What are some ways you’ve reached out to them?
A few summers ago I, along with Father Jim and Joe Marble, our Spanish teacher at the time, participated in Notre Dame University’s Latin Enrollment Initiative specifically to learn more about the Hispanic/Latino community that’s close to us and such an integral part of the St. Basil Church community. I wanted to find out what was missing from our approach.

I learned a lot about the culture and developed a better understanding of what their needs are — It was an eye-opening experience.

How important is the connection to the parish?
They support us in so many ways. They let others know how things are going — they’re part of the greater community so it’s important to let them know what’s going on and not just reach out to them for fundraisers. I let them know, this is what we’ve been doing in this class or notes on our students’ faith formation (e.g., retreats). I’m sharing information and letting them know our school is viable and their donations are not being wasted; we let them know we are putting together meaningful sound programming and their support, not just financially but through prayer, is vital to the school’s success.


A DAY IN THE LIFE:

• 6 a.m. — Out the door for morning commute to school
• 7-7:15 a.m. — In the office and begin posting assignments on Google classroom
• Throughout the morning —Check students in with temperature checks; first bell rings and do announcements and prayer; take care of phone calls and paperwork and then go upstairs to work on Math
• Lunchtime — Relieve the teachers in the classroom so they can have a break
• Afternoon — Each day is unique but generally might attend a meeting or check in with the Parish office staff. I also might have a teacher observation (try and get three formal observations completed in a year). Also set-aside time to assist some students with catching up on school work
• .4-4:30 pm.:Commute home
• Evening: Might participate in a virtual ZOOM school board or booster meeting or other meeting.

PANDEMIC PARTNER: Father Jim Morris, Pastor

Another key to the success of Saint Basil’s school community, according to Camille, is the unwavering support of Father Jim Morris, Pastor. As a former educator — Father Jim spent 19 years teaching Physics and Math at Hacket Catholic Prep before joining the seminary — he believes in the importance of Catholic school education.

The scientist in him affirms the school’s approach to be diligent in its adherence to all the COVID restrictions and protocols, an approach that he says is shared by the school community.

"People feel safe,” he says.

For a pastor with a school there can be the expected pushback from parishioners who may think the school is too draining on a parish’s finances, but Father says his parish community is very supportive.

“Many of them used to attend the school,” he explains and credits Camille for helping inform the parish about the school with weekly information in the bulletins.

“[Catholic school education] is one of the best ways to teach the Catholic faith,” says Father Jim. “We need that solid foundation.” And to parishioners who may be dubious, he says their support is “Paying it forward for the future.”


PARENT PERSPECTIVE:

Minnie Salgado is not only a Saint Basil Catholic school parent, but she’s also the school secretary. Saint Basil’s is close to her heart; she was married at the parish and both her children, Sophia and Noel, were baptized here. And while the Chicago native didn’t attend Catholic schools, she knew she wanted that for her children.

“It’s been a blessing,” she says and credits Camille for inspiring a very welcoming school atmosphere.

She is glad faith is a natural part of her children’s lives and how they express themselves. She explains this can be something as simple as praying in the car on their commute to school in the morning or spontaneously and unprompted writing lyrics, as her son Noel did while learning the guitar, that began with Jesus loves me.

“The values being taught here, we won’t get anywhere else.