Principal
My name is Bill Van Loh, and I am the principal of St. James Catholic E-8 School, in Duluth, Minnesota. I received my bachelor's degree in Music Education and German, as well as a master's degree in Music from Mankato State University. I also earned my post-graduate degree in Educational Administration and my K-12 administrative licensure from Minnesota State University, Mankato.
I have 32 years of experience in education, teaching at a range of levels from early childhood and kindergarten through high school and college. I have been a school principal since 1993. I joined the staff and community at St. James School in August 2009.
St. James is a great school because, we have :
· Wonderful students
· Excellent and dedicated staff
· Involved parents
· Engaging and challenging educational programs
· Small class sizes
And most importantly, a
· Safe, nurturing , and caring spiritual environment !
Preschool Full day
My name is Diane Shusta and I teach the Preschool full-day program this year at St. James on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I graduated from the College of St. Scholastica with a B.A. degree in PreKindergarten and Early Childhood. I have over twenty-five years of experience in teaching preschool. I was owner, director, and teacher of Cornerstone Preschool and Child Care Center for twelve years until I sold it in 2000. I am now beginning by seventh year at St. James Catholic School.
I have remained active in the profession of early childhood in many areas, I have been a validator for the National Association for the Education of Young Children, validating preschool programs seeking national accreditation, and am now a consultant for Early Childhood programs wishing to start the accreditation process. I served as the Region 5 director for the Minnesota Association for Education of Young Children and on the Board for the Duluth Association for the Education of Young Children.
I plan to design a curriculum that includes: Self-elected and teacher planned activities, science, math, language arts, music, fine arts, and socialization. Emphasis is placed on exploration, discovery, and encouraging curiosity. The primary goal is spiritual development, caring, and respecting one another. The curriculum also includes field trips, letter recognition, basic Spanish, and a good deal of fun, with a focus on developing the skills needed for a successful and confident academic career later on.
Preschool ½ day
My names is Diane Sorensen and I am the preschool teacher for the MWF morning class – the “Morning Glories!” I also teach the enrichment Kindergarten on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I graduated from UMD with a BS degree in K-6 Elementary Education and have 20 years of experience as a preschool teacher (7 years as a director). This will be my fourth year at St. James.
I plan to implement curriculum that includes math, science, language arts, music and movement, art, and social skills. Spiritual development, caring and respect for others will be interlaced into many of the things that we do during the day. My goal is to establish a base of confidence and joy in learning for the children that will continue to grow throughout their lives.
Kindergarten
My name is LeeAnne Schiltz. I teach kindergarten here at St. James. After receiving my bachelor's degree in elementary education from the College of St. Scholastica, I was hired at St. James for a 2nd grade teaching position. I taught 2nd grade for 13 wonderful years and then I received the opportunity to teach kindergarten. I am now beginning my eighth year as the kindergarten teacher and I am enjoying every minute of it!
Units that are studied in kindergarten include:
· Colors and Shapes
· Families
· Transportation
· Five senses
· Farms
· Eggs and chicks (we even hatch them!)
1 st Grade
My name is Barbara Mollison, and I earned my B.S. degree at the University of Minnesota in Duluth. I have spent my entire teaching career in Catholic Education. I first taught at St. James prior to my vocation as a stay at home mom. When my youngest entered middle school I returned to teaching. I have taught at St. James for nine years. I chose teaching as my career because I enjoy teaching new things to children.
Highlights of First Grade:
· Learn about what it means to be a Christian.
· Learn to read!!
· Learn addition and subtraction facts and strategies.
· Flat Stanley!
. Space, planets, and stars
2 nd Grade
My name is Stephanie Meyer. I attended St. James School as a child and continued my education at the University of Wisconsin Superior. I graduated in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Social Studies
Highlights of second grade include:
· First Reconciliation
· First Communion
· addition with renaming
· subtraction with borrowing
· cursive handwriting
· world geography skills
· dinosaurs!
3 rd Grade
My name is Jean Charbonneau. I am the third grade teacher. I received a B.A. degree in Elementary Education from the College of St. Scholastica. This is my 30th year at St. James.
Highlights of third grade include:
· learning about what it means to be members of the Catholic Church community
· learning multiplication facts
· learning about animals, weather, the moon, matter and plants
· learning skills to be able to read, write, and understand stories
· learning keyboarding skills
· winter ecology at Hartley Nature Center
4 th Grade
My name is Jodi Paulson. I am the 4th grade teacher at St. James Catholic School. I received a B.A.S. degree in Elementary Education and minors in Psychology and Coaching all from the University of Minnesota Duluth. I have taught at St. James for 13 years.
Highlights of the 4th Grade:
· learning about the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes
· learning multiplication with larger numbers and long division
· learning about the Regions of the United States.
· Sciences include - sound & light, human body, simple machines, rocks & minerals, and magnets
5 th Grade
My name is Teresa Ierino. I am the 5th grade teacher at St. James Catholic School. I received a B.A.S. degree in Elementary Education and minors in Art and Coaching at the University of Minnesota Duluth. I have taught at St. James for 11 years.
Highlights of the 5th Grade:
· taking a trip to ELC
· choosing and writing about a Saint
· studying American history
· Sciences include - land biomes, oceans, space, and earth movements
. trip to ELC (Environmental Learning Center)
. study of Saints
. American History
. Science topics include land biomes, oceans, space, and earth movements
Middle School
The St. James Middle School teachers are Mr. Sean Weiland,
Mrs. Nadine Uremovich, and Miss Amanda Powers. Mr. Weiland
earned his bachelor's degree University of Minnesota,
Duluth and his licensure area is Social Studies. Mr. Weiland
teaches Social Studies, Math, and Algebra at St. James. Mrs.
Uremovich earned her bachelor's degree from Bemidji State
University, and her licensure areas are Science and Language
Arts. Mrs. Uremovich teaches Science, English, Literature,
and Religion at St. James. Miss Powers earned her
bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota Duluth
and holds a dual licensure in Spanish and Language Arts.
Miss Powers teaches Spanish, English, Literature, and
Religion at St. James. In addition to the core classes,
middle school students also have classes in technology, art,
music, physical education, and health.
Gym
Hi, my name is Danna Olson. I teach Physical Education. I graduated from Winona State University in 2009 where I earned a degree in Physical Education, Developmental/Adapted Physical Education, and Coaching. I worked in the YMCA Child Care Center, in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, for 6 years prior to graduating. I also have experience coaching basketball at various levels and was most recently employed as the Coon Valley Area Youth Foundation director.
Art
My name is Richarda Witikko, and I am the art teacher at St. James. I earned my B.A. in Art from the College of St. Catherine in 1978, and my teaching license in the M. A. T. program at the University of St. Thomas in 1979. This is my 10th year teaching art at St. James, but I have taught at other schools over the years, as well as practiced a career in interior design. My favorite job, however, has been raising my three children for the last sixteen years.
Highlights:
In art class we incorporate art appreciation and art history as well as the elements and principles of design. We work in many mediums and hope to add more. I am fortunate to teach some of the most wonderful students! We begin each class with prayer and have never run out of new ways to integrate our faith into our artwork and creative process.
