Do you want to be a Saint?

Those were to words spoken to the students today at Mass. Do we want to be Saints? Maybe not big "s" Saints, but maybe the little "s" saints. All be need has been given to us. We just need to open our hearts.

Today at school we celebrated All Saints Day. It was a lot of fun for the kids. They got to dress up as their favorite Saints…adorable. I am very much enjoying my time in the school. I have gotten to know my students better and finally established a routine (kind of). I am really learning that at the end of the day, I will never have finished my to-do list. But that’s okay. God is the one in charge so if I do the best I can, He will fill in the rest. It is important not to get so caught up in how much has to be done that you miss the blessings of the present moment. Below are some highlights from my first month as a teacher.

• In science we were learning about how humans affect an ecosystem. I put the students into pairs and gave each a bowl of water in which I had mixed coffee grounds, oil, and food coloring. I provided a random assortment of supplies and the students had to try and clean up the water "pollution." Wow! What a mess! But not a single one of them was just playing. They were really into the activity.
• In my religion class I had them write down five questions about anything relating to religion, faith, etc. Their questions were super deep! I am glad we are finally getting beyond the rote memorization of Sunday school when they were ten. Now I have my work cut out for me trying to answer them. The Catechism may become my best friend.
• Dressing up as St. Joan of Arc and seeing my students extremely excited that their teacher actually dressed up.
• Praying as a school. After years of public school (which I don't regret at all) it is refreshing to pray together as a whole school.
• Seeing the light bulb turn on when students finally understand something.