I just ordered my new grade book and lesson planner.  I can't believe that summer vacation is almost over and that school starts in three weeks! …

I love this photo of our GSCS students and friends who have attended the 2025 Totus Tuus summer camp program.  "Totus tuus" is a Latin phrase which …

I love this photo of Mrs. Gingue, Mrs. Pierce and Mrs. Caron.  It was taken at this spring's annual gala event.  The theme was the Roaring Twenties. …

I love this photo of Landon wearing an 18th Century outfit. While the redcoat military uniform is too big for him, he would have made a very jolly …

I love this photo of Rowen's cake. Very creative and so well decorated.  The culinary course at Good Shepherd Catholic School was a very popular …

I didn't know the origin of the word "dandelion", so I had to look it up.  It comes from the Medieval Latin word dens leonis  (lion's tooth) which …

I love this photo of the little toddler "holding court" with our graduating 8th Graders:  Daniel, Isaac, Michael and Kimberlei. The child seems to …

     In this photo, the 8th Grade class is processing into the St. John's Church for their last Tuesday morning school Mass. They look very serious …

     A few months back I taught a class on the Catholic Rite of Marriage and Ordination to the Priesthood to the 3rd and 4th Grade Religion class. …

     Every May National Police Week occurs. This year it was May 11-17.  I didn't realize it until it had passed by. My 5th and 6th Grade Religion …

     There's good drama and there's bad drama. This photo represents good drama and I love the smile on the girls' faces!  Ashley, Marion and Hope …

The kindergarten through fourth grade students made me some drawings and questions. Here's one of my favorite questions from Peyton, Charlee and …

     I was very close to my maternal grandparents growing up. One of the highlights for me every summer was to travel with them to Orwell, VT where …

     One of the nice traditions at Good Shepherd Catholic School is the annual Mother's Day recognition with its "Muffins for Moms" and presentation …

     What a perfect combination!  Fruit Loops and Arithmetic to celebrate the 100th Day of School which (I think) was on February 5, 2025. Ten …

     I was at that meeting the evening the Knights of Columbus voted to make a donation to Good Shepherd. It was unanimous and I was very proud of …

     I love this picture. It represents dreams come true. GSCS student, Maeve Warner, presents a Community Heroes award to Mr. Bob Gessner, founding …

     Students had an extraordinary experience when the pilgrim statue of Our Lady of the Cape (Canada) made its way during a 5-month tour throughout …

     "They grow up so quickly." How many times have you said that? We see that so clearly every day at a grade school because the students go …

When I was in public grade school at Windsor Elementary in Windsor, VT, not only did we receive grades for the major subjects (math, science, …

     This quotation from the prophet Isaiah 43:1, "I have called you by name, you are mine,"  is the perfect antidote for those children struggling …

     Mrs. Heath's 3rd and 4th Grade classroom is a flurry of activity, yet at the same time she provides individual attention to each of her …

     These girls are mesmerized by the Advent candlelight.  Mrs. Thomas's religion class was learning about Advent and the Advent wreath.  Their …

     I love this photo of Silas and Daniel.  If you don't know them, they are both very extroverted, funny, mischievous and athletic. Their sense of …

     I love this photo because in one click it summarizes the essence of Good Shepherd Catholic School: Catholic Faith, patriotism, parental …

     Mrs. Caron's Kindergarten classroom is alive with learning and activity. I love this photo which captures Charlie in mid-air. It is full of the …

     I love the concentration in this photo of Grayson and Richard doing work. One of the biggest challenges as a teacher every day is to keep the …

     If you look very carefully, you will see on the board in the background the slogan, "We Sail Through History."  Most of us don't realize we are …

     I saw a video reel of a café that offered free coffee to any customer who came in the shop dancing, and I immediately thought of a way to make …

     Toddlers love building blocks for both construction and demolition. As kids get older those building blocks become more about relationships …

     Part of our opening routine in 7th and 8th grade English has always been praying together, and for the first half of the year, I led both the …

     As part of a unit on character and character development, I asked the 7th and 8th grade students to choose 10 nouns that they thought made up …

     As a teacher, one focuses on the teaching. As a student, one focuses on the social time with friends. The Good Shepherd students love recess …

     You can tell when a teacher truly has a vocation for teaching.  It's not just being "nice. It's setting expectations, teaching information, and …

     I love this photo of Logan and Remy. So many friendships form at Good Shepherd. Their expression and sincerity are priceless. My prayer for all …

     Six of my 5th and 6th grade students' names were randomly drawn to go to the Canterbury Inn to decorate Christmas cookies with the residents. …

     When you walk into the hallway at the front entrance, you will see this Nativity scene to the left.  This time of year the hallway gets …

     This is one of my favorite pictures. As each child holds onto the hand of God, it is a reminder that each child has been created in the image …

     Today is Thanksgiving Day and because of the snowstorm, worse in southern Vermont than in the NEK, I am stuck at home.  By myself.  It has been …

     Today, November 21, is the 32nd anniversary of my ordination to the transitional diaconate that every man achieves before ordination to the …

     Our first annual Veterans Day service was quite moving, especially to see both men and women veterans present in our assembly. Some were in …

     I took my Religion class to the Canterbury Inn again this month to play Bingo with the residents. We had to stop for a photo op at the entrance …

     The other day at recess I saw something amazing. I hadn’t been in the playground for some time and a hut is going up in the style of Gilligan’s …

     Every October I take my 5th/6th Grade Religion class to Mount Calvary Cemetery in town. The purpose of the field trip is to collect names from …

     The Kingdom Challenge Fundraiser is always a lot of work for our Good Shepherd staff and family members, but in the end why surprises me the …

    When I was in junior high school in Windsor, I volunteered at the Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Rehab and helped with the Bingo games. B-4 is a …

     It helps to have a tall student at school! This is a photo of Liam changing the sanctuary lamp. I need to use a chair to reach it and I thought …

     The Fall soccer season has begun for our middle school students. I have been attending as many games as I can as my schedule permits. It's an …

     Last year I took my 5/6 Grade Religion class on a Communion call with me.  I decided that I would do it again this year so that they could …

     This week I gave a lecture, not to my students, but to the adult Lay Ministry and Permanent Diaconate Programs for the Diocese of Burlington. …

     This week I am at the annual Presbyteral Assembly at the Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee, VT.  Every year the priests and bishop of the Diocese …

     As we begin our 26th year at Good Shepherd, my mind goes back 30 years ago to the time before we opened. Catholic Central School had closed in …

     This week I am at the St. Benedict Abbey in Still River, MA on my annual priest retreat. I met a very fascinating priest who belongs to the …

     This photo is of the sun setting over Lake Champlain off Isle La Motte, VT. At this beach, the French soldiers built Fort St. Anne in 1666. …

     This week I am at St. Anne’s Shrine in Isle La Motte, VT on vacation. I had a great surprise while I was here. The Catholic School Principals …

     I don’t know what other teachers do during the summer, but I’ve been studying the Old Testament Scriptures again in preparation for my 5th /6th …

     The Chief of Police texted me about using Good Shepherd as an emergency back-up shelter since the St. Johnsbury School had water in it from the …

Question: What happens when the Principal is out-of-state, the Office Manager is stranded at home because her roads have been washed out, the school …

     Three Good Shepherd students stopped by this summer on “official” business and while they were there they wanted to show my their new magic …

     Although the students are gone for the summer, there is still a lot of activity taking place at Good Shepherd during the summer months. My new …

     I was so excited to see that we have begun the reconstruction at Good Shepherd's entry driveway with the new retaining wall and paving. It has …

     Today I celebrated a funeral for Dr. Normand Madore. Dr. Madore spent his formative years in St. Johnsbury. He was a graduate of St. Gabriel …

     Graduation was a blast. The student band under the direction of Ms. Mary McCleod sounded great performing Pomp and Circumstance for the …

     The other day a 30-something year old man asked me how to go from below average to mediocre in terms of his life's achievements. "Mediocre!", I …

     Each child is created in the image and likeness of God. And, each child has a personality.  Some of those personalities just overflow with a …

     I had an occasion this week to host a brunch for Mrs. Caron's Kindergarten class at the Rectory.  We had a delectable menu consisting of brunch …

     What does firefighting and law enforcement have to do with religion class?  Everything!  Jesus says that, "There is no greater love to lay down …

     I love this art project that Mrs. Taylor did with her students from various grades.  It is a self-portrait, but with a twist.  It also explores …

     I was deeply impressed the other day when two 4th Graders volunteered to do extra sweeping after lunch. There is a weekly rotation for students …

     I was so deeply touched by two of the boys at school who went away to a warm, tropical place during their last vacation.  I jokingly said to …

     Holy Week and Easter are the liturgical highlight of the Church calendar. It is a very busy week and there are some very moving Masses and …

     This is more than just a doorway.  This is a rite of passage.  Middle school boys find it irresistible to go through a doorway without jumping …

Meet Bob. He’s a new student at Good Shepherd. He’s the creation of a couple of girls in 3rd /4th Grade. They have a whole storyline to accompany …

     She had just dunked two baskets when I took this photo.  The entire lunchroom clapped and cheered for her. In her day, she played college …

Lent began this week with the school Mass for Ash Wednesday at St. John’s Church. While technically not a holy day, it always draws big crowds, and …

     I remember the first time I decided to learn French. I was in 4th Grade at State Street School (Windsor Elementary School, now). One of my …

     This is Catholic Schools Week. There are 6,429 Catholic schools in the United States.  In Vermont, there are 13, two of which are high schools. …

     I love this photo because of the absolute concentration on this young man's face as he prepares to take the shot. But I also love this photo …

     The French Club had a tasty class this week. I decided to make crêpes for the students. It’s amazing how many more students want to join the …

     The other day we had our first significant snowfall.  The kids at recess built snow tunnels, made cocoons for themselves in the snowbanks and …

     We recently dramatized the baptism of two “babies” in 5/6 Religion class. We had spent over a week reading about the sacrament and studying it …

     I am so pleased with the 2024 Good Shepherd Catholic School Family Calendar which just came in. It is a project on which I worked furiously …

     Two days before the end of school, our Music Director, Mr. Lamontange, and 3th and 4th Grade teacher, Mrs. Heath and I took Grades 1-4 …

     The last two weeks of school were incredibly busy finalizing and performing the school play, "Mary Poppins," rehearsals and performance of the …

     We started a French club at Good Shepherd this year.  We meet every Tuesday during lunch in the library.  It’s a mixed age group of students …

     Ethan Roberts graduated from Good Shepherd in 2013.  He told me that his time at GSCS  contained some of the most formative moments in (his) …

      At the beginning of the school year this student was failing almost every spelling test and now he’s getting 100s on them. He had a dread in …

     On Sunday, November 5, the Good Shepherd Youth Group and the Corpus Christi Religious Education students helped out at the family Mass at St. …

     Many people know that before I became a priest I was a radiologic technologist. I worked at two hospitals: the Medical Center Hospital of …

    This week I took my 5th and 5th Grade Religion class to the Canterbury Inn.  We had been studying the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. One …

     This year I did something I had not done in years--in decades, even. I ran. I ran not because I am out-of-shape ( I am). I ran not because I …

     Every day we teach our students basic educational lessons about math, writing, history, science, art, music and social studies. However, that …

     Soccer season has begun and I have had a great time watching the middle school students play in the late afternoons. The weather has been warm …

     I got to do one of my favorite things today at Mass. I blessed our amazing Good Shepherd Catholic School teachers with a special blessing for …

     We took this cute picture at the first school Mass on September 5, 2023. We took photos of the tallest/smallest boys and the tallest/smallest …

     Some years ago when I was studying philosophy, I was required also to study Latin. I didn’t want to and I resented it; however, I spent two …

     I am a terrible decorator, but fortunately Mrs. Heath, who shares my classroom, is an excellent decorator so our room looks super amazing!! I …

     I recently ran into one of my 2nd Graders at a daily Mass this week. I was chatting with his family and I said to him that I would see him next …

     I spent three days at St. Anne's Shrine in Isle la Motte, VT this week.  Isle la Motte is part of the "island chain" that runs through Lake …

     A common writing exercise for returning students is to ask them how they spent their summer vacation. But what if you are a priest and teacher …

     The growth of our kids' brains and bodies is just as important as their academic success. In this essay, we'll look into the ways that sports …

Welcome to Good Shepherd Catholic School, a place where we understand the profound impact that art and music can have on the development of young …