Sister Marilyn Mueth has had to adapt to the signs of the times in her role as a K-8 resource teacher at St. James School in Millstadt, Ill. But like any good teacher, it’s the students who she is most concerned about.
“This pandemic is making all work more difficult and dispositions less willing to work if you are a child,” she said. “I feel sorry for them because the life they knew has become so interrupted. But the worst may still be coming. I hope we can instill a faith in them that will help them cope.”
Bishop Michael McGovern began leading the Diocese of Belleville, Ill., in July 2020 and started a newsletter for religious. Sister Marilyn was one of the subjects this fall for her ministry at St. James.
“I was featured because I am one of the few, if not the only, religious still involved in a school in our diocese,” Sister Marilyn said. Last spring, when Covid first forced virtual learning, she served her students and her family.
“My nephews were coming to the house each day and I helped them while their mother worked from another room. It was a busy but profitable time for us.”
St. James has had mostly in-person classes this school year, except for one week when three teachers had Covid, Sister Marilyn said.
“We went to online classes, but the rest of the teachers had to be in school this time conducting our classes through Google Classroom,” she said. “This worked better for me because I used my Chrome for the Google Meet and featured my Smartboard on the screen so we could see what I was talking about. Also, I often sent the paperwork ahead through email. They could switch back and forth between screens and do the work themselves after we had discussed it together and then submit it to me. This sounds more complicated than it actually was.”
In all, five teachers, the principal and many students have had Covid at St. James.
“Half of our eighth-grade class was out most of January,” Sister Marilyn said. “Hopefully, the vaccine will reach our area soon and we will experience some relief.”
To keep up to date at what is happening at St. James School, visit www.stjamesmillstadtschool.com.