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On
the ice or in the classroom,
teacher aims to score
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St.
Matthias first grade teacher wants students
to gain love of learning |
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| FOCUS
ON STUDENTS — Stephanie Simones,
a first grade teacher at St. Matthias School in
Milwaukee, helps a student with a class project.
(Catholic Herald Parenting photos by Sam Lucero) |
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MILWAUKEE — Stephanie Simones,
first grade teacher at St. Matthias School in Milwaukee,
is unique. She is one of a small number of female hockey
players in Milwaukee, much less the country. And she’s
also a Catholic schoolteacher — a position that,
with the consolidation of schools within the Archdiocese
of Milwaukee, is not as plentiful as in years past.
Though she’s from Minneapolis, this young woman
from the land of 10,000 lakes had never been a hockey
player until she moved to Milwaukee two years ago. What
attracted her to the area? Simones became familiar with
the city when her best friend from high school attended
Marquette University. Once here, Simones landed a teaching
position at St. Florian/Holy Assumption School, West Allis.
In her first year at St. Florian/Holy Assumption, Simones
taught grades K4-K5, and last year she taught a joint
kindergarten and first grade class. Simones prefers single-grade
classes over combined classes. “I think that, especially
for grades three and under, kids need the individual attention,
and it can be harder to get that in classes with combined
grades,” she said.
With the recent consolidation of Catholic schools in West
Allis and West Milwaukee, St. Florian/Holy Assumption
couldn’t promise Simones a non-combined class for
the 2003-2004 school year. She decided instead to accept
her current position teaching first grade at St. Matthias.
St. Florian was sorry to see her go. Donna Larson, principal
at St. Florian/Holy Assumption, said, “Everyone
really liked and respected her. She has a good reputation
here.”
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| HOCKEY
PRACTICE — Stephanie Simones chases
down a hockey puck during a practice at the Pettit
National Ice Center in Milwaukee Jan. 20. Simones,
who plays on a women's hockey team, encourages her
first grade students at St. Matthias School to be
physically active. |
But their loss is St. Matthias’ gain, according
to Mark Joerres, principal of St. Matthias. “We
are truly blessed to have her. Stephanie is very respected
by parents, staff, and students. She’s a great addition
to our school. She’s got a lot of optimism.”
Before going to a public high school, Simones, a Catholic,
attended a private non-denominational school from kindergarten
through eighth grade, where her studies included religion.
She graduated from Augsburg College, a Lutheran institution,
in Minneapolis.
Simones likes teaching in Catholic schools because she
is free to pray, talk about God and share her beliefs,
as well as celebrate Christmas. She likes interacting
with Catholic school families. “The parents are
very supportive and interested in their child’s
education. That makes teaching a lot easier, when you
have family interest and involvement.”
Because she believes it’s important to engage young
children in hands-on projects, games and group activities,
she employs a variety of teaching styles in her classroom.
Flash card games are popular with Simones’ students.
“‘Around the World’ is the current favorite
right now,” she noted. “The kids really enjoy
playing that game, and it makes the learning process fun.”
Students also engage in group activities, read aloud frequently
and come up to the board to do work. There are 26 students
in Simones’ class, with an even number of girls
and boys.
Aside from helping her students master first grade subject
matter, Simones hopes to instill a love of learning in
her students. She wants them to find learning fun and
to feel positive about school and themselves. She believes
school can help students to develop friendships and strengthen
social interaction skills. Simones works to help them
develop a sense of independence in their learning as well.
School consolidations can be scary for teachers because
of the uncertainty of whether jobs will be available,
said Simones. There is a sense of competition because
there are more teachers than there are positions. “It’s
hard to stay motivated and focused when everything around
you is changing. It’s hard on the students and parents,
too,” Simones said. Sometimes a lack of information
can add to the unease.
Simones is as passionate about her athletic pursuits as
she is about her students. With a background coaching
track and cross country skiing, she is training for a
triathlon scheduled for April, plays outdoor coed soccer
and teaches fitness at the YMCA.
Women’s hockey is a focus for her now. She got involved
in the sport a little over a year ago through her friend
at Marquette, who played on an intramural hockey team.
She invited Simones to a 10-week coed workshop that stressed
the skills and fundamentals of the sport. By the end of
the workshop, they were playing games. “It was a
little intimidating playing with the big guys,”
Simones said. “That’s why it’s nice
playing on an all-women’s hockey team.” Formed
last summer, the team practices weekly at the Pettit National
Ice Center in Milwaukee and has participated in several
out-of-town tournaments.
Simones believes fitness is important and encourages her
students in their athletic activities; she attended the
children’s soccer and basketball games at St. Florian
and plans to do so at St. Matthias. Joerres believes Simones’
athletic activities are an asset to her work as a teacher.
“Her focus on health and fitness makes her a good
role model for the children. She shows them that it’s
important not only to take care of their minds, but their
bodies, also.”
While Simones enjoys the competitive aspects of sports
in general and hockey in particular, her real focus is
on having fun, being active and learning — lessons
that apply both on the ice and in the classroom. |
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