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Huron Expositor, 2006-09-13, Page 14Page 14 September 13, 2006 • The Huron Expositor News New principal settles in at St. Columban and St. Patrick's Hilary Long Since coming to the Huron -Perth Catholic District School Board 15 years ago, Judy Merkel has toured the counties and now has a home at . St. Columban and St. Patrick's School in Dublin as the new princi- pal. Merkel was supposed to start at the two schools last year but took a year off to adopt a girl named Madison, now one year old, and give birth to a son, Jessie, now four months old himself. "This is a new start with a lot of new changes," she said, adding "it's tough to leave every day but I think I am a better mom because I'm away from home because I love my job as well." Merkel is looking forward to being closer to home - she and her husband live near Wartburg - as she was previ- ously a principal at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, in Mt. Carmel. "I'm lucky that I know a lot of the staff mem- bers already as personal friends and I have heard wonderful quali- ties about so many of them," she said of why she is excited to be at the schools. "There are a lot of great pro- grams that have already been instituted here - the virtues pro- gram being one of them. We are also instituting the 'We like the word respect' program. "People are taking hold of it and really get- ting on board with the pro- gram." She added V i v '\ .,.. v S416 FRETZUY AUIOREPAIR REPAIRS TO ALL MAKES - B15 MIR SMAW Air Conditioning • Tune Ups • Brakes • Safety Checks Computer Diagnostic Equipment • No Drip Rust Proofing Over 14 Years Of Experience Servicing All Makes And Models! situaon-NO III 1111 IT�s $chool 5 DAY COURSE $550 taxes Incl. (if pd. in full) G.D.C.I - starts Tuesday, Nov. 14th or 4 DAY COURSE Nov. 25th & 26th, Dec. 16th & 17th St. Anne's School - starts Wednesday, Nov. 15th for all Clinton & area students - EVERYONE WELCOME! 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Hilary Long photo Judy Merkel stands outside one of the two schools she took over as principal for last week. that there is a faith development day coming, which is something involving the whole school commu- nity. "I think for the most part these are great schools that have already established their roots in good prac- tice and a real strong sense of com- munity. I get ..to enjoy what has already been established and build on that." Merkel said she has always known being a principal is what she wanted to do. "I think this is the most important job you could ever have," she said. "It is one thing to be In a classroom where you are directly working with students all the time. The first question people ask me when I got the job was, `Don't you miss the kids?' But you know what, depend- ing on what type of administrator you want to be, you choose to either be involved or not involved. "I love this job because I get to be an educator to everybody. I get the advantage of being in Kindergarten and Grade 8," she said, adding, "you get to touch all scopes of all ages. The' unfortunate part for me is I have to drive to go see my little Kindergartners but it's a good job." Merkel added that she feels the most important part of her job is building on Catholic religious beliefs, and to recognize that every student - regardless of ability - has gifts and every student can achieve. "What is hard about our job is that it's emotionally draining some- times and I don't . think people real- ize that. You're always on task, there is no down time and you become emotionally committed to every person, staff or student, and that's a lot of people to care about and be committed to," she said. Merkel admitted she was nervous to come to a new school. "No matter how old you get and how many times you do this, the first day is always scary. It was nice to have a lot of new students come to the school this year so I had the advantage of Saying, `I'm new too so we can have butterflies together.'" . _ Many new faces at local schools Sus -an Hundertmark New faces at Seaforth Public School this year include a new vice principal Leisa Barclay. The new Grade 7/8 teacher Jason Steinacher will also be teaching primary phys. ed. in the afternoons. Other new teachers at Seaforth Public School this fall include Kim Otto, Grade 5, who is filling in for Robyn Carnochan until January, Karen Ingram, Grade 4, Tanya Simpraga, Grade 2/3, Christa Walden, Grade 1 and Christa Bennett, Kindergarten. Huron Centennial Public School also has a new vice principal this year with Sylvia Cattrysse. Other new teachers at Huron Centennial include Lucie Turcott-Lapaine, French, Edwina Rodgers, Grade 3, Shari Howson, Grade 2 and educational assistants Ron Galbraith and Michelle Meikle. New teachers at St. James School in Seaforth include Grade 8 teacher Jill Dolmage, Kindergarten teacher Hope Shantz and Grade 5 teacher Sarah Ewing, who fills in for Christa Ducharme until January. At. St. Columban School and St. Patrick's School in Dublin, the new principal is Judy Merkel, the new vice principal is Joanne Lombardi. Other new teachers at St. Columban include Grade 3 teacher Sarah Breen, French teacher Anne Marie Parsons and educational assistant Gail Fonseca. At. St. Patrick's School, the new French teacher is Wilma Kolkman.