Catholic schools focusing on mental health while preparing for new school year

Four weeks before school is set to start, Catholic educators are meeting to prepare. Their focus: how to help students and families with mental health concerns.

"They’re not learning how to teach math today, they’re learning how to teach life, and it’s pretty amazing what they’re all here to do," said Brian Ragatz, president of Catholic Schools Center of Excellence.

Educators say discussions around mental health have always been important but even more now during the COVID-19 pandemic, and as cases of the delta variant continue to rise.

"While there is some angst with this delta variant and COVID, I know that it’s going to be a greater year for students," said Sandy Kane, a first-year principal at Holy Spirit Catholic School in St. Paul.

Kane says the pandemic has been difficult, and this kind of social and emotional training is essential for teachers to help their students and families.

"School children nowadays are coming in to school with a lot more challenges and anxiety and weight on their shoulders," Kane said.

Sixth- and seventh-grade language arts teacher Michael Mueller saw that in his classroom last year, and he expects to see it again.

"This year we will still be addressing some of the residual effects of that, and today we’re learning how to do that in a very positive way and a student-centered way," Mueller said.

He says learning the techniques will take time, practice and patience.

"It has changed my thought process on how I’m going to run my classroom and how I’m going to coach students with interacting with one another, so it’s very impactful, very powerful," Mueller added.

The skills will be shared not only with educators, but parents as well via in-person and Zoom sessions throughout the school year.

"Everybody plays a role in helping children have great days, and that’s what we want at all of our schools, to support our children, to support the whole child," Ragatz said.