NEW ULM — “Be not afraid.”

These words of Pope St. John Paul the Great have been the motto of New Ulm Area Catholic Schools (NUACS) this year, Assistant Development Director Tamara Klawitter summed up, when asked how NUACS have addressed the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

NUACS has held in-person throughout this year, Klawitter said. It is in part largely to what she described as “amazing staff” and in part to the safety protocols that have allowed NUACS to provide a safe and caring environment for all.

Small class sizes allow NUACS to space students appropriately, said Klawitter. During lunch, the schools can utilize the cafeteria and two other spaces, to allow students the chance to eat and socialize out of the classroom setting.

NUACS have added more weekly mass opportunities, to ensure all of the students, K- 12 can attend.

They are also practicing common protocols similar to protocols practiced by other area schools.

Building

improvements

Cathedral High School (CHS) and St. Anthony Elementary School are well-built schools that will be maintained to last long into the future, Klawitter adds.

Over last summer, some building improvements were made. New cement was put into entryways at CHS, and the chimney was tuck-pointed. Three tables from the shop area were refinished, two of which will remain in the shop while the third is headed into the Art Department. These tables were once part of the CHS bowling alley.

Growing in faith,

expanding

coursework at CHS

NUACS strive to maintain and grow their faith, and the values of their families and community, Klawitter adds. While their faith and tradition serve as the base of what they do, growing the academic rigor is critical also as they prepare young people for their future, she added.

During this current school year, CHS has added a welding program to its Industrial Technology department. With support from local businesses and volunteers, CHS added two welding units which were used to build three welding tables from donated steel. The program is now developing students to be able to support the local trades.

NUACS also launched an on-site College in the Schools course, Intro to Business. This allowed 19 students to receive 4 college credits each.

CHS will add an Agriculture course next year. Also, they will add advanced courses in English, Math, Science, and Social Studies. This will add not only to their selection but also to their expectations and standards, said Klawitter.

Early learning

expanding

In the St. Antony building, NUACS is launching a 3, 4, and 5-year-old preschool program. The program has just completed early registration and, while there were still spots as of this writing, they were filling up fast, said Klawitter. To oversee this growth, NUACS are slowly adding to the preschool through grade 12 administration, by adding a Dean of Students to oversee student life and involvement.

St. Anthony will also continue in-person kindergarten round-up, regardless of the challenges resulting from the pandemic. This event will be held on March 25. There will be two time slots to choose from to attend.

“St. Anthony faculty feel this is an important part of a child’s life and want the children to be able to meet the teachers and see the classroom along with other areas in the building,” Klawitter said. “This event is something faculty hope brings in families and leaves them with the feeling that their school is a place to grow emotionally, academically, and in family.”

NUACS will continue to grow in faith and knowledge, Klawitter said. They will practice a blend of tradition and high standards that will improve their student’s education and give them the best chance of becoming the best version of themselves possible, she said.

“While NUACS has taken the necessary steps this year to plan for everyone’s safety, their focus is on what lies ahead… and the future looks bright!,” she concluded.