All About Sister Carolyn Marie Schaffer |
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I feel blessed to be here in my hometown. I asked the Sisters of Notre Dame a few years ago to move to Norwalk to help care for my parents. I am one of the 12 sons and daughters of John and Doris Schaffer who lived out on Old State Road. I entered the Sisters of Notre Dame during my high school years, and have been professed for 39 years. Yes, next summer is a Ruby Jubilee!! I attended Notre Dame College for my BA, with a Masters from Xavier Education, and The University of Dayton in Administration. Most reently I received my certification to teach in a preschool through sixth grade Atrium using Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.
I have reached my dream in coming to Norwalk Catholic Schools in 2015! When I graduated from college I wanted a second grade classroom and I was given six years of first grade. I wanted it again and I was given preschool and kindergarten. I truly believe that the Lord gave preschool, kindergarten and grade 1 to me as a gift when he knew that I needed to be surrounded by small children, not having children of my own as a Sister. After 12 years of teaching I was asked to begin looking at Administration but avoided the plea for several years because the classroom was just too much fun. After getting yet another Masters under my belt, the journey of administration began for 15 years. There has been a longing in me all these years to be back in the classroom, nourishing the students, serving on a faculty, and assisting parents in their faith life with their family. The adventure of administration has ended and I am thrilled to be living the dream of having my own classroom all day every day. After 37 years in education I feel I have seen many things tried and have seen clearly what works. Though I am always open to new ideas, I am excited that I get to bring to my classroom the best of the best.
Early on in my religious life, I fell in love with the quote, "What you have received as gift, give as a gift." It seemed to sum up what my philosophy of education would be for the students that would enter my classroom. I knew that I stood on the shoulders of giants, the Sisters of Notre Dame educators, who believed and showed me that every student deserved a fair chance at learning. It was natural for me to see that my classroom would have a natural diversity and my job would be to meet my students with an abundance of creative ways to hop aboard the adventure of learning whether they were steller students or needed that encouraging word to keep on trying.
I am located on the second floor, the first room on the right hand side. Please stop in at any time!
I have reached my dream in coming to Norwalk Catholic Schools in 2015! When I graduated from college I wanted a second grade classroom and I was given six years of first grade. I wanted it again and I was given preschool and kindergarten. I truly believe that the Lord gave preschool, kindergarten and grade 1 to me as a gift when he knew that I needed to be surrounded by small children, not having children of my own as a Sister. After 12 years of teaching I was asked to begin looking at Administration but avoided the plea for several years because the classroom was just too much fun. After getting yet another Masters under my belt, the journey of administration began for 15 years. There has been a longing in me all these years to be back in the classroom, nourishing the students, serving on a faculty, and assisting parents in their faith life with their family. The adventure of administration has ended and I am thrilled to be living the dream of having my own classroom all day every day. After 37 years in education I feel I have seen many things tried and have seen clearly what works. Though I am always open to new ideas, I am excited that I get to bring to my classroom the best of the best.
Early on in my religious life, I fell in love with the quote, "What you have received as gift, give as a gift." It seemed to sum up what my philosophy of education would be for the students that would enter my classroom. I knew that I stood on the shoulders of giants, the Sisters of Notre Dame educators, who believed and showed me that every student deserved a fair chance at learning. It was natural for me to see that my classroom would have a natural diversity and my job would be to meet my students with an abundance of creative ways to hop aboard the adventure of learning whether they were steller students or needed that encouraging word to keep on trying.
I am located on the second floor, the first room on the right hand side. Please stop in at any time!