Congratulations. . . and Thank you Sr. Caroline. . .!

As St. Ethelreda congratulates Sr. Caroline on her one year anniversary since she joined the school's staff, she has this to say:

My Journey So Far at St. Ethelreda

As I read through the congratulatory and thank you cards, tears of joy rolled down my cheeks.

It all started Wednesday morning, the 4th of April, 2011. After Mass I went back to the office to continue with my day's work when the Principal, Mrs. Denise Spells, sent for me and I went to meet her at the Harold Washington Hall.

As I opened the door, I saw all the teachers and the students standing, smiling, and waving their hands to the rhythm of the song they were singing "For she's a Jolly Good Se-cre-tary. . ." I opened my eyes and mouth in amazement as the Principal and everyone shouted, "Congratulations on your one year anniversary as the School Secretary!" and "Thank you Sr. Caroline for the work you are doing for us"!

Every class, accompanied by their teacher, presented me with a congratulatory and thank you presents, expressing their joy and happiness. This awesome surprise and experience left me speechless!

Working at St. Ethelreda School is like working in a family business or company. The Principal, Mrs. Denise Spells, is a super-hero-mother to the students and a humane CEO to the employees. The teaching staff are wonderful teachers, teaching and caring for the students as theirs, the non-teaching staff are like computer chips that are invisible but carry out indispensable jobs in the background.

The students are like little flowers planted in ones home garden that blossom every morning, glittering with their different colors and giving joy to the heart. St. Ethelreda School is called the "Family School" and that undoubtedly is what it is.

I thank God who has brought me here to be part of this wonderful family. I thank the Principal and the staff for their encouragement and support. I thank the students for challenging me with their simplicity and innocence.
I thank everyone for your sincere love and graciousness. Let us with God's grace and strength continue to work together to help our little ones, the students, to lay strong foundations for reaching their full potentials.