Students and staff settle in for academic year at Holy Family Elementary

On this episode of the Post Podcast Holy Family Elementary principal, Rachel Wentling and assistant principal Gene Flax share updates from the school as the year begins.

Transcript:

EDITORS NOTE: Transcripts are provided by an automated service and are not verified for accuracy.

James Bell 

Holy Family Elementary in Hays has kicked off the school year, principal Rachel Wentling, along with Assistant Principal Gene Flax, stopped by to share some updates on this episode of the post podcast.

 

Rachel Wentling 

Instead of going well feel like we're starting to hit that. That coasting mode. Good in

 

 

a routine. Yeah.

 

James Bell 

Love to hear that. You know, we talked about this every year as you guys kick off the year, but down there Holy Family, you got a theme every year and I'm wondering this year, maybe a good way to start this is what are we thinking for this year?

 

Rachel Wentling 

So this year, we are our virtue for the year is hope. And so we're using a scripture that those who hope in the Lord will soar on wings like eagles. So we're really focusing on that soar word, virtue of hope, but we're kind of using that soar as an image for the students to, you know, to really, you know, challenge them to rise up and to do the best that they possibly can to fulfill their potential. Then at the diocesan level, Mr. Jeff Andrews, our superintendent has been really focusing on the Lord, it is good that we are here. So recognizing that it's good that we're all together.

 

James Bell 

Yeah, you know, it's it. Think about those kiddos now that are in like, first second grade, they're gonna miss that pandemic. And then those older kiddos that experience they had, it's gonna be so different. And of course, all of the educators are going to remember that. And and I would think there's, I know it's in my world. I just continually remain grateful that we're not dealing with that, as well, or, you know, continuing and hopefully never have to do anything like that again. But

 

Gene Flax  

absolutely. I don't think people realize just how setback much of a setback those two years were, it was a huge, huge gap in there. And I think that personally, I've noticed that those kids that those young kids that weren't in school, aren't as receptive, maybe if they're the adults outside, as well as those that have been in school. But those that missed that first year. Really, it really affected. Yeah,

 

James Bell 

I mean, the everything at that age is such a progression, and you have one little setback and not named a little setback, and this is a huge setback, but every setback kind of impacts the rest of their educational experience. You faces meet a lot. Yeah. Well, anyway, as on a more positive note. How's everybody getting back into the schools room? Enrollment? Looking good?

 

Rachel Wentling 

Yeah, enrollment looks good. We have you know, we have openings throughout the building, but we have real nice class sizes and our preschoolers are starting today. We've got a nice group this morning getting started. So yeah, I feel like we're in really good shape this year.

 

James Bell 

With with those preschoolers, I bet that's just a madness. Every year, my little boy, he's starting to send my preschool down to Tiger tots. And they're here to meet some of the other kids. And I just think about all those little four and five year olds, we get together for the first few times, and just the fun and excitement that is just permeated, but probably also a lot of nervousness with little kids. Right.

 

 

I think it runs the whole gamut.

 

Gene Flax 

I think you find out really quickly, who's got siblings at home and who doesn't, because there is that pecking order, so to speak. And, and but it's exciting. And like some of those kids came in just thrilled this morning. Some of them came in a little bit apprehensive.

 

Rachel Wentling 

Yeah, there's always a few tears. And I have to say that I am overly impressed with our kindergarteners. I thought our kindergarteners rocked it last week, they were we lunch is always the hardest part with kindergarten when they haven't done lunch before. And you know, I think By the third day, they were they really didn't need our help anymore. And that was I just was really impressed. They did a great job. So it's been fun, love, love watching them. Just their minds are just sponges and they just grow and develop and where they are at the beginning of the year. And where are they at the end of the year. It's It's amazing. I think that's why people who work in schools love working in schools because you just watch that growth and development and it it's a lot of fun. Yeah,

 

James Bell 

it's just got to be tremendously rewarding to just every day is a new, every little benchmark or checkmark you get to get with those kids probably just warms the

 

Rachel Wentling 

heart. Yeah, those light bulb moments are really important. And for

 

Gene Flax 

me going into the classrooms on a regular basis, when they first learn how to read and Mr. Flex. Come listen to me and that's like said rewarding. I don't know if that's even the proper word. It's so fulfilling to me. And but it's fun. Like I said, watch him grow. Incredible.

 

James Bell 

So yeah, you're into the first week he's kicking off his second weekend you're Back to School Bash and With can in conjunction with a TMP, right, how'd that go?

 

Rachel Wentling 

Um, I was blown away with the event that they put together the number of activities for the kids was they had a blast. Mr. Flax was a little bit more over. I was with the volleyball scrimmage. I had a daughter playing volleyball. But I think you were over with the younger kids.

 

Gene Flax 

Yeah, there were more bounce houses than I've ever seen. And my grandchildren is what through Him and through Him and through Him and through Him and, and, but there were activities for I think every age group basically and well attended excitement. And I didn't think it was extremely hot, which was a positive. So, but I'm not gonna lie to you. I was apprehensive last year of having this Back to School Bash. I had never been to one since I was not coaching. And so I had nothing to do with him other than coaching football. Right. It's that time. So but it's I think it's something that was needed to be brought in back in and a lot has been brought back hadn't I don't know if it's ever totally left. But the the way it's grown? I think it's really incorporated the whole both schools very well.

 

Rachel Wentling 

Yeah, we are parents, they put a lot of pictures on our Facebook posts. We have asked them and it sounded like our our students had an absolute blast and my high schoolers, they had a great time too. So I think Job well done to Kim stick line and Joe rose with the TMP advancement office. They kind of headed that up. But Amy and Brian church are the hFB volunteers that kind of support the the grade school side and wow, they just knocked it out. It was great.

 

James Bell 

Awesome. Yeah, we had Joe and Kim with us last week, and they kind of give us a little preview of that event. And it really did sound fun. And what I always love about events like that with the Catholic schools here in Hays is it's it's inclusive, it's not just your students or your you know, affiliations, it's open to the community. And that's something that I think is really special for Hayes, that we have two independent school systems that are really just so connected and concerned about each other in the community and work together. So

 

Rachel Wentling 

well. Yes, everybody was invited. And we had a lot of community businesses and members who made it possible. So yes, it's definitely an inclusive event. It's for everybody to be there to really, you know, to kick off to celebrate the start of the school year.

 

James Bell 

Very cool. And then we get to talk about this. You've got your parent info night that is coming up. Oh, looks like tomorrow, right?

 

Rachel Wentling 

Yes, it is. Yeah, well, you know, every year we invite all the parents to come in, they hear a message from me, then we send them to their teachers. They get to hear from the homeroom teachers, the rest of us are just around to answer questions and be a presence to just help everybody, you know, get what they need for to kick off the school year.

 

Gene Flax 

And it's really big for me, and the fact that Well, I think Rachel too, and the fact that a lot of these parents we had in high school at DMP when we were both there. And so just the reminiscing may be so to speak. Was it a lot of fun?

 

James Bell 

I was hearing the other day about? Well, it was a matter of fact, it was it was my preschool instructor. She's on that generational gap where now she is taking care of little kids of kids that she took care of, you know, X amount of years ago, and I don't know it's gonna make you feel a little old. But also, it's gonna be like years old. And believe me, like, yeah, I've got I've got friends now that they've got high schoolers that are getting they're coming into college. And and I'm feeling that too. But it's got to be like, I don't know, how do you describe that feeling to get to that second generation and know that you've impacted a family at that point for so long?

 

 

They do grow up?

 

Rachel Wentling 

Yeah. For those who don't know, Jean, and I worked together for 12 years at TMP, and we were assistant principals together for five of those years. And we were on discipline duty together. We were good cop, bad cop.

 

James Bell 

I can't imagine which was,

 

Rachel Wentling 

Well, I think it would switch depending on the situation. Sometimes I was bad cop. And I think we still do that from now even

 

 

we do. Yes.

 

Rachel Wentling 

But um, we I would say I think Jean would agree with this, that it is one of I think our greatest blessings when our students, our former students, entrust their kids to our care. That is a a wonderful blessing to us. And we're so grateful for that and get to see them grow up and become professionals, you know, from when they were in high school. And you once again, it's just like the preschoolers and kindergarteners and those little kids watching them grow and develop. We love watching our former students grow up and develop and yeah, you know, it does the time I marches on. But I think it's fair to say I think we probably both still feel like we as young as we were when we started teaching. For the most part,

 

Gene Flax 

I do feel younger. Now, it's more relaxed atmosphere for me than it had been for years. But I got the best of both worlds because I get to work with young kids, but I also have six grandkids in the school. So what a blessing. Absolutely.

 

James Bell 

Okay, so this event coming up, tomorrow night, you're going to talk about update your policies and procedures and show them in the classrooms. But anything else that that you think that folks out there listening, maybe need to know about that event before? Rolling?

 

Rachel Wentling 

Yeah, we love to see parents, we want to see you, we know that your child's education is a partnership with us, it's not, you know, us versus them, sort of, we want to see you there, this helps strengthen that relationship. And that partnership, our IT director will be there to scan parent fingerprints, if that's how they're able to get themselves into the building during the school day. So probably an important thing to have on record. It's one of those things you have to come in person to do, we cannot do that online. So he'll be there to he'll be set up. And we just love seeing parents have great conversations and answer questions. So please, please come We look forward to meeting with them.

 

Gene Flax 

And our school can't function without the parent involvement, their volunteerism and stuff like that. And so it's an opportunity to try to coerce parents into getting more involved in their students education.

 

Rachel Wentling 

Yeah. So it's, uh, yeah, that's a great night. Looking forward to it.

 

James Bell 

Very cool. Again, let's kick it off. Does it does everybody need to be there at seven or is that a stagger can open house feel?

 

Rachel Wentling 

Every we start at seven in the gym, and then all dismissed after my prep portion of the evening to their home rooms, there's two sessions. So if they have four kids in the school, if they come with two parents, they can potentially get to four homerooms.

 

James Bell 

Okay, so make sure you there by seven if you're if you want to attend that by any and do attend, because that's going to be an important way to help kick off the year. Yes. All right. Well, we've got about a just under a minute or so left. Any other last thoughts or anything else we want to hit on before we go?

 

 

Well, we're one day closer to winter.

 

 

That's my hot blooded friend over there.

 

James Bell 

So they're sneaking back up. I think it's gonna hit 90 today. Oh, is it was

 

Rachel Wentling 

beautiful this morning. Wow. That I went out early this morning. Needed a jacket. That was great. Yeah. So going off in the evenings call is around the corner. Yeah. No, we're happy to be back in school. I think it's always I think letting the seeing the summer come to an end is always kind of a, you know, there's a sadness associated with it. But I do think that there's a certain amount of satisfaction when we're all back into a routine. The kids are doing what they're supposed to be doing learning and everything is back and right and normal again.

 

Gene Flax 

I think the teachers are excited. I think the kids are excited. We're gonna have a great year.