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UPSK names new principal
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Newly-appointed Ursuline Preschool and Kindergarten Principal/Director Mary Ann Critell (back center) welcomed, from left, Devon, Christy and kindergartner Noah Hull and kindergartner Ben, Kris and Will Oddis to their first day of school.
By ABBY SLANKER
Ursuline Preschool and Kindergarten has named Mary Ann Critell as principal and director of the school, beginning with the 2014-15 school year.
Critell has been a primary teacher in a Catholic school, beginning her career at St. Rose and then St. Edward’s for three years.
“I was a stay-at-home mom for 14 years with my three children. I returned to teaching at Ursuline Preschool and Kindergarten when our youngest son started kindergarten19 years ago. At UPSK I taught three’s and four’s for two years. I then ‘moved down the hall’ to teach kindergarten for 17 years. I was the assistant principal/director in addition to teaching kindergarten for the last three years,” Critell said.
According to Critell, she wanted to be as teacher for as long as she can remember.
“As long as I can remember - like at the age of 3 - I always wanted to be a teacher. My second-grade teacher at St. Dominic’s School, Sr. Alma, was the teacher I longed to be like. I remember how she respected all of her students and she let me decorate her bulletin boards. I was always the teacher with the neighborhood friends and a great memory is when I taught one of the children of those neighborhood friends years later,” Critell said.
Under Critell, UPSK will be implementing several changes this school year, with the addition of a Time for Two class.
“We are starting a Time for Two class which will be on Tuesdays from 9-10 a.m. This class is designed for the 2-year-old child and one adult. The class will be based on a theme and have various activities to compliment the theme. The two teachers will lead them in prayer, musical activities, art, snack and a few surprises. This is to introduce the 2-year-old children to the wonderful world of preschool,” Critell said.
The school will also have a Spanish teacher who will teach Spanish twice a week to kindergarten, transitional kindergarten enrichment and preschool enrichment classes. Critell said the school will also have a teacher who will teach sign language to children at various levels.
Critell has several long-term goals for Ursuline Preschool and Kindergarten, including integrating technology into all areas of the curriculum at all levels, with Smartboards in almost every room.
Critell would also like to include Spanish lessons in the 3- and 4-year-old curriculum, introduce the students to the various ministries of the Ursuline Sisters and increase the number of in school field trips for the children by involving the community in which they live. The school also plans on having a local author at the Book Fair in March.
Ursuline Preschool and Kindergarten and Critell would like everyone to know all are welcome at Ursuline Preschool the moment they walk in the doors.
“As principal/director of UPSK, I plan on still spending time in the classrooms involving the children in creative literacy lessons, playing my guitar and singing with the children. I also will be helping to direct and do the music for the various programs during the school year. One of my favorite quotes by Emerson is ‘The secret to education lies in respecting the student.’ As a staff we respect one another, our parents and especially the children we teach each day,” Critell said.