Tag: Jefferson

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Kevin Wondrash

Jefferson project provides more accessibility to church, school

st john jefferson
A resident from St. Coletta of Wisconsin in Jefferson is helped into St. John the Baptist Church in Jefferson before a recent Mass. People in wheelchairs and with other disabilities can now enter the church and school building on the new ramp pictured above. (Contributed photo)

JEFFERSON — “It’s like heaven now taking my mother to church.”

A bold statement, but fully expressive of the joy some parishioners are feeling in Jefferson.

The above quote was feedback heard at St. John the Baptist Church, part of St. Francis of Assisi Parish.

It came near the close of a yearlong project to make the church more accessible to people with disabilities or other physical challenges to walk or enter buildings.

Now, there is added accessibility to the church and school.

Addressing a need

Steve Donley, member of the parish Building and Grounds Committee, said there had been growing instances of “people having trouble getting into church.”

These included people tripping on concrete walkways and wheelchairs not getting in easily.

More than a year ago, the committee began to look into the costs and practicalities of a project to increase accessibility.

The attitude was, “We have to get this fixed, and we have to make this better for people to get in,” said Harold Dehnert, also from the committee whose members put in many hours, sometimes 10 to 12 a day, to make the project happen, and keeping the project costs low.

Another concern was increasing the accessibility to the school bathrooms, the only ones on the grounds, and only accessible via a small staircase between the church and school.

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Kevin Wondrash, Catholic Herald Staff

Teacher celebrates 40 years in Catholic education

margie schels
St. John the Baptist School in Jefferson teacher Margie Schels, middle, stands with eighth graders Josie Peterson, left, and Karsen Powell, right, during a recent celebration honoring Schels’ 40 years as a Catholic school teacher and more than 20 years teaching at St. John the Baptist. (Catholic Herald photo/Kevin Wondrash)

JEFFERSON — As the annual observance of Catholic Schools Week came to a close at St. John the Baptist School in Jefferson, Principal Susan Loof made a bold, but appropriate statement to a teacher sitting in the front row of church.

“You are Catholic education . . . Today is your day to be appreciated in a very public way.”

The teacher was Margie Schels, who was being recognized in that public way for her 40 years as a Catholic school teacher.

Schels teaches religion and math to seventh and eighth graders and is the eighth grade homeroom teacher.

“She touched so many lives,” said eighth grader Josie Peterson. “She cares for other students and she’s very kind and she helps people grow a lot in their faith.”

“She has so many amazing features about herself and she’s just a really amazing person,” said eighth grader Karsen Powell. “I look up to her — she’s just a great teacher.”

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Kevin Wondrash

Students help a friend through Works of Mercy

JEFFERSON — Inspired by the Year of Mercy declared by Pope Francis, Margarete Schels’ eighth grade class at St. John the Baptist (SJB) Catholic School organized a “Basketball FUNday” in honor of Kena Eighmy, a fifth grade student battling leukemia.

Extended care teacher Katie Warpinski, whose own husband, Josh, is fighting cancer, suggested that the students do something for Kena.

With the guidance of their teacher and school principal, Susan Loof, they planned the all-morning event that offered a variety of activities.

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Margie Schels, For the Catholic Herald

‘Hour of Code’ at St. John the Baptist, Jefferson

JEFFERSON — Students attending St. John the Baptist School in Jefferson celebrated Computer Science Education Week recently, by participating in the “Hour of Code” which introduces students to computer coding.

The program was developed by Code.org a non-profit organization dedicated to expanding participation in computer science across all grade levels.

Several partner organizations support the Hour of Code: Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, the College Board, and many others.

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Margie Schels, For the Catholic Herald

Students and staff in Jefferson present tribute to veterans

JEFFERSON — On Wednesday, Nov. 11, students and staff at St. John the Baptist Catholic School in Jefferson presented their annual tribute to veterans in the parish church.

The eighth grade students escorted guests to their seats after presenting them with flags and patriotic wristbands.

Principal Mrs. Susan Loof formally welcomed veterans and thanked them for their service to our country. She then offered a prayer for the veterans and their families.

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Margie Schels, For the Catholic Herald

Seminarians visit students in Jefferson

JEFFERSON — Seminarians Vincent Racanelli and Phil Klaas visited the eighth graders at St. John the Baptist School in Jefferson on October 16.

The students have “adopted” Racanelli as their prayer partner and “parish son” who has embarked on the road to the priesthood.

The students in Margie Schels’ seventh and eighth grade classes have been praying for all seminarians, especially for Racanelli, since last year. He has visited the students several times to share about his vocational journey and his life as a student at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit.

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Kevin Wondrash

Jefferson students experience Passover Seder meal

JEFFERSON — Classes at St. John the Baptist Catholic School in Jefferson often participate in “buddy” activities with one another.

One such example happened on Thursday, March 26, one week before Holy Thursday.

This day commemorates the Last Supper that Jesus shared with His disciples before His crucifixion the next day. Since Jesus and His followers were Jewish, this last meal they shared was the Passover Seder.

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