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Lessons in Learning - Wachuta

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By Rachel Mergen

Since she was in first grade, Jenny Wachuta, third grade teacher, along with second and fifth grade religion classes at one point, for the past 35 years at Prairie Catholic School, knew she wanted to be a teacher. She remembers loving her teacher, being around kids her age and learning new things as she attended St. Mary’s Ridge Catholic School near Cashton.

Her love for teaching was also inspired by her admiration for her older sister’s teaching career, along with her experience with babysitting neighborhood children and spending time with her three younger siblings.
She attended Viterbo College in La Crosse to major in Early Childhood Education, because, according to Wachuta, “being with young children always brought me joy.”

“While doing my student teaching, I found that I really enjoyed working with third graders,” she said. “Third graders are at the age where they are becoming independent, they are beginning to think of others before themselves and they generally still have a love for learning.”

She chose to teach at Prairie Catholic, because she always had the goal of teaching at a Catholic school. Prairie Catholic was the perfect choice, because, she recalled, “During college, I met my future husband, Steve. He grew up on a farm near Prairie du Chien and belonged to the parish where I would be teaching.”

The typical day in her classroom begins and ends with prayer. The students gain an education in reading, language, spelling, math, science, social studies, religion and cursive. Wachuta’s students attend mass twice a week. Daily, the students participate in silent reading, along with Wachuta reading to them, which she finds great delight in.

Wachuta’s favorite lessons include hands-on science projects, like making gliders, parachutes and ice cream; daily challenges of math word problems for the students to tackle; and monthly visits to Crossing Rivers Assisted Living Facility. About these visits, she said, “The interaction between the residents and the third graders is priceless. I’m not sure who has more fun, the residents or the kids.”

“In 1992, we consolidated the schools, moving the middle school students to St. John’s, and the elementary to St. Gabriel’s. My daughter Sarah was born in August of that year. She was just two weeks old when school started.

I, of course, was on maternity leave, but decided I wanted to go in and welcome my students back to school. I had planned to visit for just a short time, but before the first hour had gone by, my substitute had a medical emergency and was unable to stay. I ended up staying and teaching that first day of school with my two-week-old baby in tow. The students were great and all went well,” Wachuta remembered her favorite memories from her years of teaching so far.

“I have also had the privilege of accompanying the eighth graders on their trip to Washington D.C. three times while I have been at Prairie Catholic. The first time was with my son, Joshua. The second time was with my daughter, Sarah. Last year, I was fortunate to once again join the 8th graders on that trip.

“Another highlight was welcoming Matt Antoine back to our school to speak to the students about his experience as an Olympic Bronze Medalist. Matt was a student at our school, and I can proudly say that I was his third-grade teacher.”

Wachuta’s favorite part of teaching is interacting with the students and learning more about them. She said, “Pure and simple, I enjoy kids. I love to see them smile. I love the moments when ‘the light bulb goes off’ for them. I love to hear them laugh when I read a funny book to them. The kids keep me young.”

It is painful for her having to see students who lack self-confidence and motivation.

During her years of teaching, Wachuta has learned that parents and teachers must work as a team to educate children. Also, she learned she must be flexible, able to go with the flow and be ready to learn from her students. She noted that she and other teachers must pay close attention to the students and that, no matter how old she is, she can still learn something new.

For many years, she assisted with the children’s choir. She has been a supervising teacher for two student teachers and has mentored new teachers. She coordinates the school spelling bee every year, collects articles and photos for the Courier Press school pages, and serves on many school committees to plan special events for the students. She serves on the Friends of the Villa Louis board of directors and takes part in St. John’s church choir.

She has no plans to retire any time soon, but, when she does, she hopes to volunteer at the school. She hopes to travel and visit her family more often.

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