Page 130 - South Mississippi Living - April, 2021

FINAL SAY
TRACI
KESSLER
Principal, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Elementary School
When Nativity BVM Catholic School, along with the other private and public schools along the Coast, closed its doors on March 13, 2020, I never dreamed that our one-week shutdown would turn into nine weeks of online instruction.
For those nine weeks, I drove onto our campus and saw the playground equipment unused, and walked the silent, empty halls where the March lunch menu still hung, and the bulletin boards were still decorated with Lenten messages. My heart hurt for all that was taken away from our students, parents, and teachers. Schools are meant to be alive with the sounds of children learning and playing, educators teaching and collaborating, parents visiting and participating, and administrators advising and leading. This is why returning to in-person learning as soon as possible became the goal of the fifteen Catholic Diocese of Biloxi Schools. Whatever that looked like, we were going to make it happen.
I can now say, one year after the close of our school, our teachers, students, and parents are resilient! We have not only had in-person classes since August 6, 2020, we have proven that it is what is best for our children and is safe. This is due in large part to the leadership and steadfast presence of our Bishop, Louis Kihneman III, our superintendent, Dr. Rhonda Clark, our pastors, especially our own Fr. Dennis Carver, months of planning by the administrators that I am blessed to call colleagues, the determination and love of our teachers, the sacrifice and trust of our parents, and finally, the flexibility and joy of our students.
2020 will forever be a school year left unfinished,
but 2021 will be remembered as the year we not only survived,wethrived!Itishardformetoputintowords what it was like to be a first-year principal during a pandemic. Stressful, challenging, and overwhelming
are certainly true adjectives. However, this has been a year of great joy for me. I know the plan God has for me, and through the challenges, He has taught me just how strong I can be.
I look forward to the ’21-’22 school year. I pray that it will be a year of new opportunities and a sense of normalcy, including eating in our cafeteria, children working in groups, and greetings without face masks.
Nativity School is now registering for the ’21-’22 school
year, when we will welcome two year olds for the first time. Registration for our Summer Saints Camp is also available. Scheduleatourofoursweetschooltodayonourwebsite. Become a part of our Nativity Family.
130 | April 2021
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