By Sam Lucero
Catholic Herald

Grant allows Spooner school to purchase supplies

SPOONER -- When it comes to core educational subjects, Catholic school students regularly rank high in testing and performance. But when it comes to classroom supplies and accessories, Catholic schools oftentimes struggle keeping pace with their public school counterparts.

In order to enhance the educational experience, Catholic schools must find innovative ways to equip their classrooms with teaching tools.

One answer is securing funds through educational grants.

Thanks to a grant from St. Mary's/Duluth Clinic Health System based in Duluth, Minn., science and music teachers at St. Francis de Sales School were able to purchase nearly $5,000 worth of much needed supplies. The check for $4,978.50 from SMDC Support Services was given to the school Jan. 2. Two weeks later the new supplies were already being put to use.

According to science teacher Mary Kendzrecski, the grant was a godsend. Teaching science can be boring for students without hands-on equipment such as microscopes or dissecting tools.

"I want to make (teaching science) fun to them because it's easy to learn if it's fun," said Kendzrecski, who is in her second year as science teacher. "It's so fun to teach and see them get it. They're more involved and more interested to go to the next thing."

The school's science lab is located in the basement of the church rectory. The room, Pope Paul Hall, is also used as a Knights of Columbus meeting room.

Along with pictures of church and Knights leaders decorating the room, a counter now holds a full-size replica of a human torso with removable plastic parts. "Tall Paul" the teaching torso was one of the items Kendzrecski was able to purchase with her share of the grant money.

Credit for the grant goes to Fr. Andrew Ricci, pastor of St. Francis de Sales Parish, who learned about the SMDC charitable contributions program while serving as assistant pastor of the Cathedral of Christ the King in Superior.

Ricci urged Kendzrecski to contact the Duluth Clinic of Spooner, which had recently opened in the town. She was given instructions how to apply for the grant, and with the help of Ricci and band teacher Peggy Wood and vocal music teacher Jeff Kensmoe, Kendzrecski completed the forms and submitted them in November.

In addition to a cover letter from Ricci, the forms included a list of items the teachers wanted to purchase. They went through school supply catalogues to come up with their list.

One month later Ricci received a call informing the school that their grant request was accepted.

"The new equipment is just going to make a much better learning experience," said Kendzrecski. "If they can see it, touch it, do it, it makes a better impression on their mind."

Among the items the music teachers ordered were 16 music stands, a portable stereo with CD player, some 30 musical scores for band students, and a variety of instruments such as tambourines, rhythm sticks, tuned percussion tubes and a rotating Tom set.

Wood said the school hasn't purchased music scores for at least five years and much of the sheets are incomplete. She's had to spend time filling in musical notes for various instruments, which took time away from teaching. Additional class time was spent repairing old instruments.

"The kids do really good with making due with what we have," she said. "Now we can focus on learning and not so much scraping for parts and equipment."

The teachers said their new equipment not only motivates them in their roles as educators, it also motivates the students. "It will open up the possibilities of what the kids can do," added Kendzrecski.

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