Note: In 2017, The Visitor will be featuring both school and parish profiles throughout the coming year.
St. Katharine Drexel Catholic School in St. Cloud. (Photo by Dianne Towalski/The Visitor)
St. Katharine Drexel School officially began in July 2011 but has a long history of providing Catholic education as St. Augustine/St. Mary’s Cathedral and Sacred Heart Schools. There are 325 students in grades PreK-6, served by 35 faculty and staff members.
The following questions were answered by Erin Hatlestad, a principal for 19 years and a teacher for four-and-a-half, all within the St. Cloud Diocese.
About the School
Erin Hatlestad
Q: What is a unique program, event or tradition at your school?
A: We have an established program to help students with dyslexia and dysgraphia. We have reading coaches available and all of our staff are trained in accommodating this learning style. We are a Top 20 School — all of our staff have been trained by Willow Sweeney Flaherty on helping students to develop strong social and emotional qualities. We also have had a long tradition of fish frys in Lent. I know … everyone does, right? But ours has a drive-thru! You don’t even have to leave your vehicle to enjoy a delicious fish dinner.
Q: Tell about a time when you witnessed or heard of a student (or students) who lived out their faith in action.
A: This is a daily occurrence here at St. Katharine Drexel School. This fall, a family donated a “buddy bench” to our school in memory of their father and grandfather. If you are looking for a new friend to play with or a new game to try during recess, you sit on the bench. If students see another student sitting on the bench, they are encouraged to invite the person to join them for recess. This concept took off from the minute the bench was installed.
Q: How has serving as a principal in a Catholic school made a difference in your faith life?
A: It is such a gift to see little ones develop in their faith and to be able to share mine with them. From the minute each day begins, we walk in Christ’s footsteps, and that sets up how we react to situations and go through our day.
Q: What is one prayer intention you’d like to have offered for your school?
A: We ask for prayers for all of our students and families and those needs they hold in their own hearts.
Q: What do you look forward to as part of the Catholic Community Schools system?
A: I am very excited to continue fostering collaboration between our schools instead of competition. We can do so much more together to ensure quality, Catholic education continues for years to come than we ever could as individual schools.
Author: The Visitor
The Visitor is the official newpaper for the Diocese of Saint Cloud.
