News

Dear Parents and Friends of St. Paul’s,

I hope this finds you all safe and well. This week has been a busy one as teachers have met to discuss fall plans and I continue to work with the staff to ensure that our campus is as safe as possible when we return to school. 

The staff and I recently viewed a video by Dr. Prabhjot Singh that discussed what planning should look like for the upcoming year. There are three principals to managing COVID-19 in schools. 

Batching the students - This simply means keeping students with their grade cohorts. We will not be mixing students from one class with another class in order to minimize exposure.

Reducing Time and Distance/Reducing Exposure - We are putting together systems in classrooms which encourages students to social distance. New desks were bought for grades 1-6 so that students are not sitting at tables but will have their own space. The early school teachers attended a webinar yesterday which addressed how to keep a preschool classroom safer. Teachers and staff will wear masks and face shields. At this time, the expectation is for children ages 10 and older to wear masks as well. I am also purchasing plexiglass barriers for desks and tables. Research shows that the greatest risk of exposure is person to person so we are working to create environments that are as safe as possible. I am currently receiving information and bids to upgrade our HVAC system to include an air purification system.

Monitoring and Communication - We will diligently monitor all who enter the building by taking temperatures and asking screening questions. We ask that parents communicate with us concerning any exposures or positive cases in your home. I will keep open lines of communication with parents and staff.

By embracing these concepts, we can manage the risks of COVID-19 in our school. I am working with our leadership team to refine our policies and procedures in order to publish them as soon as we can.

There are exciting things happening around our campus. First, I would like to announce that Kinsey Angele will be our Assistant Head of School for St. Paul’s. I am thrilled to be able to work with Kinsey in this role. Kinsey holds a Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. She will work alongside the teachers to continue to create a rigorous and engaging curriculum.

Laura Case will teach 3rd/4th grade reading and language arts while Gail Holt will move into the math and science role for 3rd/4th grades. They will make a dynamic team. I can hardly wait to see what they have in store for our children.

I am thrilled to announce that we have a new 1st grade teacher. Betsy Bracken is a native Wacoan who has many years of experience teaching 1st grade. She is excited to join us here at St. Paul’s. 

From Ms. Bracken: Hello St. Paul’s Community!! Please allow me to introduce myself… I am Betsy Bracken, and I am more than delighted to tell you I will be teaching 1st grade at SPES. I grew up in Waco and went to Baylor, earning my Bachelors and Masters degrees. I have a business and education background. I taught for a year in Hong Kong. I have a beautiful daughter, Annie, who is starting her junior year at Baylor as a pre-med major, and a cute mini-dachshund named Jack. (A little info here - Magic Tree House books are my MOST FAVORITE chapter books, and Jack and Annie are the brother and sister who travel in the Magic Tree House. Guess what? I have my own Jack and Annie!)

I have taught in Colorado, Ft. Worth, California and Waco. 30 years total and about 20 of those years have been in 1st grade. After teaching 13 years in Long Beach, California, we moved back to Waco in 2005 to be closer to my mom and grandmother. In Waco, I’ve taught at Rapoport Academy, Doris Miller Elementary, J.H. Hines Elementary, and Hillcrest Professional Development School and now St. Paul’s Episcopal School! My passion is reading and writing.While in California, I had extensive training in teaching reading and writing workshop through Teachers College Reading and Writing Project at Columbia University. I have continued to study the teaching of reading and writing. I am excited to share  knowledge with “my kids” and learn from them here at SPES. I am also a big believer in building classroom community by equipping “my kids” with social skills, such as respect, acceptance, empathy, etc. so they can navigate our world today.I have been a part of UBC, University Baptist Church (currently known as Uhhh Bundance of Caution during this pandemic) since moving back to Waco, and I can’t wait to be a part of the SPES family!

These are uncertain times, but I am excited to see what the fall brings us. Never hesitate to call if you have any questions. In the meantime, stay safe and well.

Blessings,

Educating the whole child in mind, body and spirit.