Out-of-print book

Catholic Immersion School to Open in St. Paul

Article reprinted from:
THE WANDERER, November 4, 1999

By Peggy Moen

St. Paul – "Christianity has to pervade the whole of the curriculum," said Jeanne Williams, head teacher and vice principal of St. Michael’s Academy, at the October 21^st launching of the new Catholic Immersion school here. An academy brochure says a Catholic immersion school immerses students in Catholic faith and culture, just as foreign language immersion schools immerses students in a particular language.

St. Michael’s Academy existed here for 21 years, but then closed a year and a half ago when its founder, Mary Williams, was diagnosed with cancer. It will reopen next fall for kindergarten through the second grade, this time as an immersion school. Each subsequent year, the school will add on another grade.

Vicki Kueppers, who serves on St. Michael’s steering committee with her husband, Joseph, told the audience that the original academy was also an "immersion" school - it was just never recognized as one; Catholicism pervaded the entire curriculum. But now, with reopening the academy, the "immersion" school concept will be more fully developed .

The school’s leadership wants to make it "more fully an immersion school" and embrace that ideal more," Mrs. Kueppers told The Wanderer.

In her talk to the 100 gathered here at the Landmark Center, Miss Williams expanded on the school’s philosophy and detailed how it will be implemented.

The academy wants to form students who will be "living the faith" in their daily lives and spreading it to the world around them." She stressed that "the goal of education is to prepare persons to fulfill their purpose in life," which is to serve God and to do what He asks of them.

With that aim in mind, the curriculum is divided into two parts: subjects that direct students immediately to God, such as religion, and subjects that direct students mediately to God, such as literature.

A teacher friend of hers, said Miss Williams, commented that the religious subjects are Christ, and the natural subjects are the donkey that carries Him.

Incorporated into the religious education are devotional practices: the rosary, novenas, and feast days. "That’s what makes it come alive for the children." "We are very simply here to bring little ones to Christ," she concluded.

A NEW SPRINGTIME
An honored guest at the evening was Bishop James Sullivan of Fargo, ND. The emcee, Kalley Yanta, introduced him as "a great supporter of the home-schooling movement" as well as a member of the advisory board of Catholics United for the Faith.

The bishop noted some of the subjects in the curriculum – Latin, grammar, penmanship – and said "all of these are what our young people need and should have."

He explained that by the "new evangelization," the Pope means that all of us have a responsibility for sharing the Gospel will all around us. St. Michael’s Academy "is taking up the Pope’s challenge," the bishop said.

But in order to carry out this evangelization, "each of you must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ," he insisted.

"You might as well call St. Michael’s Academy a ‘Jesus Christ immersion school’ because that is what is being done." This, the bishop said is what will enable students to go out and evangelize our society.

He warned his listeners that they will "no double be targeted by bureaucrats." Therefore "you endure what some call the white martyrdom."

Through all this effort and suffering, said Bishop Sullivan, we will "prepare the ground for a new springtime" of the faith.

TWO DOMES
Another dignitary at the meeting was Mayor Norm Coleman of St. Paul. He commended the mission and dedication of the academy’s supporters. "Tonight is about creating options . . . for Catholic parents," the mayor said.

He observed that St. Paul is a city of two domes: the dome of the state capitol and the dome of the Cathedral of St. Paul. The city’s founders placed the cathedral dome on the higher hill, he pointed out. "They knew and we know who’s in charge and it’s not the state legislature." stated Mayor Coleman.

Also addressing the gathering were Brannon Howse of the American Family Policy Institute, who told the audience, "I want to make sure our rights as parents are protected," and Robert Ritchie of America Needs Fatima, who called on all to place their confidence in Mary.

Organizers distributed copies of the school’s curriculum and other background material to attendees. A statement on "What You Will Not Find at St. Michael’s Academy" affirms that the school accepts no public funding; does not advocate outcome-based education; and does not teach whole language, feminism, self-esteem building courses, and drug, suicide, or classroom sex education.

END OF ARTICLE FROM "THE WANDERER"

Catholic Aid News - January 2000

"St. Michael Academy was the best kept secret for 21 years," said Joseph Kueppers, a parent who is now very involved in its survival. "The staff didn't try to keep it a secret. It was just how the school operated. They didn't have the staff to promote it."

The South St. Paul, Minn., school, housed at St. Augustine Parish, closed two years ago when the founder, Mary Williams battled cancer. At the time, Kueppers' son Andrew had just completed kindergarten at the Academy. Kueppers and his wife, Vicki, didn't wish to see the Academy close. They became leaders of the steering committee that was formed to restart and promote what they believe is the country's first Catholic immersion school.

Joseph and Vicki had both come from Catholic Aid families and valued the traditions that the Church and Association passed on to them. Joseph, a member of Sts. Peter and Clemens Local Council, is the son of Fred Kueppers Jr., who has served as a member of the Catholic Aid Board of Directors for 25 years. He is also the grandson of Fred Kueppers Sr., who was a board member for 30 years, and a great-grandson of former Catholic AidPresident and Chairman of the Board Frank Charles Kueppers. Currently Joseph is on the Catholic Aid Association Foundation Board of Directors. Vicki belongs to St. Francis de Sales Council and is the grandniece of Betty Krenner, the recipe columnist for Catholic Aid News.

The young couple wanted to pass on a strong Catholic tradition to their family. Before their son Andrew had started school, the Kueppers heard about the Academy from their nanny who taught kindergarten there. "She would come home and talk about how beautiful this curriculum was," said Vicki, "and how they had devotions every day. She said the method of teaching the faith was so positive and the children loved the faith. They loved the prayers. It wasn't about 'thou shalt not...and rules.' The faith was taught with such love and devotion, so then we sent our kindergartner there."

The school was small with 42 students and six teachers, but the families had a great enthusiasm for its curriculum, so much so that when it stopped operating this past year, a few of the families rented a space in West St. Paul and kept one full time teacher, Jeanne Williams. Some mothers agreed to help teach kindergarten, penmanship, music and science.

Six families are now working to fulfill the school's mission, which reads, "St. Michael's Academy, the country's first Catholic immersion school, is dedicated to pursuing educational excellence to equip students to take their place in society as accomplished men and women, capable of effectively bearing witness to the Holy Catholic Faith."

To accomplish those goals, the students are immersed in Catholic culture. Immersion schools have become popular. They focus on one idea or culture, such as French, for example. The Academy's literature offers this insight: "Students who attend a French Immersion school cut themselves off from the distractions of the American culture and are immersed completely in French culture. They speak only French, are bombarded with French literature and arts, French food, French music and French movies. They even comb their hair and brush their teeth in French."

"We really believe our Catholic faith is a culture all the way," said Vicki. "We have to light some candles and bring back our culture of light." The Academy will do this by immersing the children in their Catholic culture of faith, with its heritage and customs, both at home and school. "The loss of our Catholic culture is what we see as the loss of our feast days and living out the liturgical church year as a family," said Vicki.

The curriculum has a scope and sequence that incorporates faith into all subjects, not just religion classes. The teachings always are in line with the magesterium. "The main theme of the school is that we follow the Pope," said Joseph. "The students have learned the history of all the popes and they follow the current one."

A typical science curriculum, for instance, teaches the students about Catholics who were scientists, from the dark ages until now. "The students learn about Catholic scientists," said Joseph, "and how they incorporated their faith into their experiments and what they developed."

In literature the students read lives of the saints. "Our second grader just finished the life of St. John Bosco," said Joseph. "Now he has a secular novel to read. The next one will be a saint. So he learns the lives of the saints through his reading."

Besides incorporating Catholic subject mater into the curriculum, the teachers guide the students in living the liturgical year. It's normal to see students on their knees in prayer or fingering the rosary beads. "They say at least one decade of the rosary at school, " said Joseph. "They say the Angeles every day, then some other prayers, depending on the season. They come home from school, and we finish the prayers as a family, because the key to the whole school is the family involvement. We don't just send our child there to get this great religious education, we participate and we practice it at home. During Advent we had an Advent wreath. We lit it every night and said our prayers while Andrew led us in the song, "O Come, O Come, Immanuel."

Since parental involvement is important in integrating the Catholic culture at home, St. Michael's Academy shares ideas with parents who wish to live the liturgical year with their children. Vicki and her sister maintain the Academy's web site at www.stmichaelonline.org where they post articles and essays, along with monthly themes, devotional ideas and prayers.

Next fall the Academy will open to interested Catholics who wish to enroll students for Kindergarten, first or second grade. The steering committee is also reviewing what it takes to operate as a diocesan school without changing the curriculum. "St. Michael's has been developing and refining its curriculum for over 20 some years," said Joseph. "We know it works and is very effective."

The Kueppers are dedicated to promoting the Academy and finding ways to fund it. "It's had such a positive effect on our family, our faith and on our children," said Joseph.

"We were raised in an experimental time of education during the 70s," said Vicki. "We never learned about the Bible, rosary or the saints. For us, we're coming home. It's exciting! Maybe that's why we find people our age that are loving what we are doing."

The tuition costs don't cover the expenses. To donate to St. Michael's or learn about enrollment, write St. Michael's Academy, 3603 - 71st, Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076 or call (651) 455-7048 or (651) 455-3130.

Web: www.catholicaid.com