Battle Creek opens new St. Joseph Middle School

More than 150 middle school students got an early Christmas treat when St. Joseph’s Middle School in Battle Creek officially opened on December 18, 2007. The Middle School is the direct result of the In The Spirit of Community capital campaign that raised enough funds to support construction of the new school on the St. Joseph campus.
        The new Middle School has a host of innovative features including an elaborate integrated technology system. Each classroom is equipped with a projection television and screen to accommodate teachers’ presentations.           In addition the building is wireless to allow for internet access on the tech lab’s new laptop computers. Additional features include: a science facility with a terraced garden for biology and botany lessons; a music room with storage and sound deadening insulation wider hallways, larger lockers, and higher drinking fountains. As impressive as the new facility is principle Marcy Arnson notes that it was the moment they hung the banner and artwork in the front lobby that transformed the school.
        St. Joseph’s saw a significant increase in enrollment this year to 150 up from just less than 100. While the facility may be a draw Arnson believes it’s the culture and traditions of the school that really make the difference.
        “Some of our existing 8th grade students left after 5th grade to go to the public schools, says Arnson. “But they missed the sense of community our school has and we have about half a dozen that have returned.”
        During a community-wide mass in December (see The Good News December/January edition), Bishop James A. Murray praised the community for its commitment and noted the importance of Catholic education:
        “An important element for the future of the Church in America and in this Diocese is the Catholic school which through the years has contributed much to the strength and vitality of the Church in the United States — in our dioceses and parishes. The entire Catholic community is responsible for the support of our schools — not just the parents of students or the parishes that have schools, not just the dedicated teachers who could earn more in the public school system. So “The Church in America” [U.S. Conference of Bishops Document] urged all of us in these words: “It is essential that every possible effort be made to ensure that Catholic schools, despite financial difficulties, continue to provide ‘a Catholic education’ to the poor and the marginalized in society. In the overall work of evangelization (Catholic schools) occupy a place of honor — their “influence should extend to all sectors of society without distinction or exclusion.”

St. Monica Students Conduct Operation Sleeping Bag
By Kathy Doud

Arak Lay, a seventh grade student at St. Monica School in Kalamazoo, has shared his home for several years with area foster children. Arak and his parents, Debbie and Tim Lay, have seen youngsters come into their home with only a plastic garbage bag to carry their belongings.
        Arak wanted to give these children “something to call their own,” and he inspired his fellow seventh graders at St. Monica School to raise donations to buy colorful, new sleeping bags to give them this Christmas.
        The middle schoolers christened their project “Operation: Sleeping Bags,” and over the past six weeks they have managed to collect 46 new sleeping bags which will be donated to Family and Children Services, a local social service agency which assists foster families in the area.
        “We think the kids will be excited and happy to have something to call their own, because they move so many times between homes,” says Arak.
        Rosemary Gardiner, Director of Development and Public Relations at Family and Children Services, shown below visited St. Monica School at 10 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 10 to collect the sleeping bags and to thank the students for their efforts. The agency distributed the bags to local foster children Dec. 10-12 at agency headquarters, located at 1608 Lake St., in Kalamazoo.
        Gardiner says the sleeping bags are a perfect gift for children whose lives are so difficult and transitory.
        “Many children come into foster care with all their belongings in a paper bag,” says Gardiner. “A sleeping bag of their own means a great deal to children during a time of transition.”
        St. Monica School students say they hope area foster children will carry these sleeping bags with them, as they make the difficult move from one foster home to the next, and will use the duffel bag they come with to hold clothes and other personal items.
        “Our foster children will cuddle up in their sleeping bags in front of a movie this winter or watch the stars from their sleeping bag during a backyard campout or overnight camp experience next summer,” Gardiner continues.
        “Whenever their new sleeping bags are used, the fact that other children thought of them during difficult times will be remembered by our children in foster care,” Gardiner says. “The gift of St. Monica’s seventh graders honors children facing a crisis and offers comfort.”
        Through “Operation: Sleeping Bags,” St. Monica’s seventh graders managed to collect eight new sleeping bags and nearly $400 in donations to purchase another 38 bags for foster children. Local retailer MC Sporting Goods offered the students a discount on new sleeping bags, which helped the project further.
        According to statistics provided by Family and Children Services, there were 431 children living in foster homes in Kalamazoo at the end of September. The majority of these are living with relatives or in licensed foster care homes, but there remains a great need for foster parents in Kalamazoo County, especially for older children and sibling groups.

St. Augustine Cathedral School Receives Endowment

St. Augustine Cathedral School has received a significant endowment from community volunteer, Doris F. Lawrence. Mrs. Lawrence is the wife of the late William J. Lawrence, Jr., a graduate of the school who went on to become a successful businessman and community leader.
        The Doris F. and William J. Lawrence, Jr. Fund will be used to fund future improvements at the school and to establish scholarships for students. The first project will be to establish a garden and picnic area with landscaping in the back of the school.
        More than five generations of Lawrences have attended St. Augustine’s or one of its predecessor schools.
        “My mother wanted to establish the fund both because of our family’s long history with St. Augustine School and Kalamazoo area Catholic education, and because of her devotion to children,” notes Mrs. Lawrence’s daughter Aaron Riker, a graduate of the former O’Brien High School and a Kindergarten teacher at St. Augustine. The Lawrence’s other three children also attended Catholic schools that were the precursors to the Catholic Schools of Greater Kalamazoo.
        The family’s commitment to the area’s Catholic school system continued with three of Lawrence’s grandchildren who are graduates of St. Augustine and Hackett Catholic Central High School. Great-grandson Anders Johansson is a kindergartener now at St. Augustine. All told, five generations of Lawrence’s have attended St. Augustine’s Cathedral School or one of its predecessor schools.