On today's morning show, we're going to focus on St.
Luke's School in Plain and all the good things that they have going on.
We'll introduce you to new principal, Kelly Zertler.
Lori Kilimus here as well.
Good morning, Lori.
How are you?
Hi, I'm good.
Tell us your involvement with St.
Luke's School.
So I'm currently the vice president for the Home and School Association.
And I've served a variety of roles in home and school over the years.
Right now we are actually having a large raffle to raise funds for home and school We are raffling off four tickets to the Packers versus Dolphins game on December 20 tickets are $20 each or six for a hundred and Only 500 tickets will be sold if you want to purchase some tickets they can be bought at the Shell station in plane
People's Community Bank in Plain or Spring Green or also at our Fish Fry on October 2nd while supplies last.
We will have the drawing at the Fish Fry at 7.30 p.m.
And proceeds from the raffle do support the home and school organization.
As a home and school, we raise funds to offset tuition costs to keep tuition lower.
We purchase teacher wish list items, pay for field trips, playground equipment, and so much more.
Pretty important that schools these days exist because of people like you and groups like that,
right?
Yes, exactly.
We really appreciate all the help from the parents that are involved, as well as our community members.
So it's been great to see the support of St.
Luke's.
Can you tell us your relationship with the school then, the family members that have gone through the school?
Yeah, so I have one daughter that's in St.
Luke's right now.
I have had three kids attend St.
Luke's.
My two oldest are now in high school, and my youngest daughter is in fourth grade, so.
the staff has been incredible there and that's why we continue to go to St.
Luke's.
I'm guessing an advantage to be a smaller school as well,
right?
Yes, we love the small class size.
For our family, it's been really great to have more one-on-one with the teacher and our kids.
So, it's been really beneficial.
So you talked about the raffle and the proceeds.
Is there any specific item you're looking at or just to kind of get the funds in the bank, so to speak, so you've got more tuition help later?
Yeah, so right now it's just to get the funds in the bank.
Every year we budget to raise so much money so that we can offset tuition and then anything additional goes towards field trips and
classroom supplies, new curriculum, teacher wish lists.
And the drawing is coming up Friday then, right?
Yes.
Wow.
Okay.
So we got a little bit of a, you know, people can still buy tickets while they last, right?
Yes.
Absolutely.
Come to the fish fry.
If you haven't been, it's the best fish around.
I've heard that now.
I've not been able to do that, but tell us about that because that's the, the fish fries are a big deal at St.
Luke's church.
Yes.
We typically have a line already starting well before five o'clock.
And there's always a big, big sale.
And despite the line, people keep coming.
So that tells you the food must be good.
Yeah.
I think you get them through quite quickly though, right?
Yes.
They don't have to wait too long.
Yeah.
So good.
So another one's coming up tomorrow night.
We'll introduce you to principal Kelly Zertler as well on today's morning show.
Good morning, Kelly.
Good morning.
Thanks for having us.
Tell us a little bit about yourself, if you would, since you're a first time visitor to the show.
Sure.
Well, I'm so happy to be the new principal at St.
Luke's Catholic School in Plain.
It's been amazing to work with parents.
I mean, they just did an amazing float for us yesterday in the River Valley Parade and decorated and we had a wonderful turn out of students and parents and.
Our teachers are super experienced, so it's been wonderful to work with the teachers at St.
Luke's as well.
How long have you been involved in education?
So this is my 16th year teaching.
I picked up a reading class this year.
And we hired a teacher, a reading teacher that's coming in November.
So we're so excited.
And I looked out because my teachers have so much experience.
The 3K 4K teacher has 20 years of experience.
And the first and second grade teacher has 22.
I mean, that's awesome.
The kids really are in good hands there.
And then the third and fourth grade teacher has 39 years of experience.
So it's been wonderful to see how well the students are doing coming into a school where we have teachers that are just so great with them.
What attracted you to the job?
Was it just that or the people that you met when you interviewed for the job?
Yeah, I felt such peace at the school.
And once I met the children, I could see how much they loved being there.
So it's been wonderful to meet.
and work with all the staff starting this summer.
I started meeting staff and working with Father Luke, our pastor, and Father Casey, and just pair staff.
Everyone's been so welcoming.
Parents, teachers, and...
In Paris staff so
you have a little bit of the history of St.
Luke's I'm guessing you've kind of learned that through the years could you share some of that with us?
Yeah, so we are celebrating our 150th year, so it's amazing I was so excited to see that the school Since it was started by Catholic immigrants and Germans it really has evolved it was there was an influence and and right now I'm reading from a book that I guess a post
Let's see, a postmaster compiled in 1982.
So it's amazing how this lady's name was Hildegard Thering, and she wrote about St.
Luke's go-back then.
Now just reading about it just makes me more excited to work there.
So I want to share some things.
Go ahead.
Yeah, go ahead.
Sure.
Yeah.
So with the influence of Catholic immigrants in the Midwest, there was a great need to have to have a place for the kids for kids to learn.
So in 1876, a father or Reverend Emmanuel Mopey, he was a pastor that came and built a 24 by 30.
feet church and Children had to bring to school.
Whatever book they had at home.
They basically started from scrap or whatever they had and classes couldn't be held yet, but they they they gathered up some benches and they had to go and Just share whatever books that were with them then Many had did not have a book and some of the kids were so so poor that they
even had to buy buttons.
Several children appeared with their calico dresses closed using just needle and thread.
In the evening when the dress was washed and it was hung up back on the stove to dry to later be worn the next morning.
When rudiments of religion and German reading were taught in the beginning, and then gradually other subjects were added.
So it's amazing how this school started.
It has such a rich history and rich identity.
And I mean, now if you look at it, it's gorgeous.
We call it the Gemma Plane.
And there's a courtyard, a pond.
gorgeous land for the kids to go and beautiful architecture that was created by the Kramer brothers and it's just it's amazing how it came from this you know group of ambitious immigrants who started with whatever they had I mean they even before buses they even brought their kids to school in a horse and buggy
So to picture that at St.
Luke's in Plain is amazing and it wasn't even at the school where it's at now.
It was a different campus but we eventually led to our campus where we are right next to the rectory and it's been just such a beautiful place to work at.
It seems like that could have been made into a movie what you just read there, you know sounds like some sort of a pioneer story and I guess it is a beautiful church at St.
Luke's Got to be proud of that as well in that whole complex, right?
It is it's gorgeous I feel like I'm stepping into a church in Europe when I go and It's it's so peaceful sitting at St.
Luke's church.
The church is right next to the school So we take the kids over every week.
We have mass on Thursdays
And we just want to make sure that they feel God's love and learn about God.
And it's just so awesome to share that share our faith.
And that's such a huge part of the German Catholics who started it.
And we're
continuing that legacy today.
In some ways, it is like you're in Europe because their European influence, obviously, was part of the design of the church, too, I'm sure.
Yeah, they really did a good job setting up the church and and continuing its legacy.
Building something beautiful
as you take over as principal Kelly in this year in your first year Are there some goals you have or some things in mind or some things that you'd like to implement?
Yeah, I really want people to know how amazing St.
Luke's school is I started talking about some of the experienced teachers have I mean there's there's more like our fifth like right now having to Jump in and teach reading has been a blessing They're at with 16 years experience like the next teacher
she has 17 years experience and our other teachers have 29 and 41 years of teaching experience
so it's
like we're these kids are in really good hands and it was it was really nice seeing how blessed we are at school and I'm so excited that
where more kids are coming.
I'm really trying to grow enrollment.
That's really one of my big goals.
Keep St.
Luke's alive and thriving and just have kids and parents discover our school.
Because I really want them to really tap into their identity and know that the school is founded out of love.
And our theme actually is St.
Luke's.
We're going to be growing in love every year.
So that's one of our models.
Lori, anything you want to add to the conversation as you listen to our talk over here?
You know, I was just listening and I was thinking, you know, for someone who was just going to send my oldest to 3K only so he could get his feet wet, what really kept us was the teachers and the staff and just that.
phenomenal sense of family among the school.
Um, you know, they do school families where you have eighth graders that are looking out for the three year olds and it, you know, it's just such a welcoming space and someplace that I always felt like my kids were really thriving and cared for and loved.
So it
was like a family then, isn't it?
Yes.
Interesting.
And as you look at this, and you hear Principal Kelly speak as well, are you out there in the community beating the bushes, telling people about how good St.
Luke's is?
Yeah, yeah.
We definitely do that.
We definitely share that with people.
So I think one of the important things for...
people that might be interested, um, but are unsure or think that, you know, oh, it's a private school.
I can't afford tuition.
I would say call Kelly, have a conversation with her.
We do have tuition assistance.
So I just hope that that's not a reason that scares people off from the school.
It is, it is affordable and, um, they definitely work with families to make sure that all.
All people are welcome.
They ride the bus in the River Valley District if needed.
Is that correct?
Yep.
That is correct.
Yeah.
So it's, it's convenient.
They can still participate in River Valley sports.
Um, so they're not, they're not missing out on that aspect of it either.
So.
Are there some other things coming up this year, Kelly, that you'd like to talk about after the raffle on Friday and some other things?
Yeah, and before I just like to add to what Lori was saying, people think that they have to be Catholic to come, but you don't.
I mean, we welcome anyone.
We just want to spread love and make sure that the kids are learning their virtues, growing up to be amazing people.
And our world really needs that these days to have kids that just learn about integrity, see integrity, and grow.
And I mean, I was just thinking, our teacher who has 35 years of experience,
he and many of the teachers could be working anywhere like they they've gotten I know some of them have gotten offers to work at other schools but they stay at St.
Luke's because it's such a vibrant community and so um so yeah some of our activities are we're having grandparents day on October 16th so we really want to honor other people in the kids' lives um we have
Um, let's see.
We have trunk retreat.
So we're really grateful for community members who are coming in, who are coming in with their as a business to decorate their trunks and bring candy
for the
kids.
So that's coming up the last week in October and we're really grateful for them.
So thank you to any listeners who are part of that.
Um, and we're just, let's see, there's, there's been so much going on.
We were at, we're grateful to Oakwood.
They had us for their fruit.
for our Broadstand at their fruit farm.
I almost said fruit stand.
Broadstand
at the fruit farm, I think it was.
They let us have a fundraiser there, so it's been jam-packed since school started with activities, and parents have really stepped up this year.
We've had a huge turnout at Holman School, so I'm really grateful.
Thank you all the parents who are listening and guardians.
And if someone is listening and they're interested, what's the best way to go about learning more?
I mean, booking a tour, they call you?
Absolutely, you can call the parish or the school office.
I mean, you could call the parish, but I should say call us directly.
At the school, we have an amazing secretary, Rachel, and you can call Rachel or me, Principal Zertler, and we'd love to have you.
Yeah, anyone can schedule a school tour?
and call and find out more information.
We're also on Facebook and we have a website.
So yeah, if you Google, Google, St.
Luke Plain, it'll pop up and you can see how beautiful it is here.
150 years.
That's pretty amazing.
Are there some special things planned for the parish coming up as well to commemorate that?
Yeah, we're going to be celebrating our 150 years.
It was featured in the parade float yesterday.
As we prayed and threw, I saw so much joy on students' faces and parents watching and even parents in the parade.
We had a lot of parents walk with us.
So that kind of kicked it off, reminding people about it.
And then we're going to be planning some really nice celebrations coming up.
So we're excited.
That's a huge deal to have 150 years.
Celebrated at our school
definitely is yeah, and you have the book there that talks about the whole history You'll probably have to write another one now, right?
There's
so much in here.
I could talk for hours So I just picked out things that I thought that I know the kids would want to know about they'll be excited to hear that the first bus was I
horse and buggy
yeah and I'm guessing some students maybe the older like the eighth grade students probably rode their own horses you know
and walked through the snow and the fields and walked for miles and some didn't have to walk that far but depended where they lived
any idea on when the the current church that stands there when that was built then
Your assignment is the cornerstone's probably there,
so maybe
next time you come back, you can tell us about that.
Lori, anything else that you'd like to add today about this big fish rod coming up on Friday night, right?
Yeah, I mean, I guess I would just encourage everyone to come out.
If you've never been to the fish fry, come try it out.
If you have been, come again.
Get yourself a ticket for the Packer Raffle and you could be sitting watching the game on December 20th in Lambeau.
And helping out St.
Luke's as well.
Yeah.
Yeah, you guys have had some big raffles in the past.
Have you done some antique cars over the years and things like that?
Yes, we have.
Those
were fun as well.
Yeah, they were.
That you've had some generous donors, I think, for your raffle, haven't you?
We have had very generous donors, yes, throughout the years.
So we are very blessed as a St.
Luke's community.
Anything you want to add today, Kelly?
Yeah, I want to say thank you to the Paris community and playing community and all surrounding communities who have really helped our school.
I mean, you're part of the reason why we're still here today.
I'm so grateful to be here and to be the principal at St.
Luke's and to have such support.
So thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Kelly, if somebody wants to get in touch with the school, can you give us the number?
Sure, it's 608-546-2963.
With all the longevity you have there in the teaching staff too, you might be going for Rookie of the Year award then, I guess, or something like that.
Yeah, it feels
like that sometimes, but it's awesome because there's such a great collaboration among teachers and support.
I'm really grateful for the staff that we have.
And you've learned all the names now and how to say them and everything.
So
that's half the battle, right?
Yeah.
Good.
Well, here's to a good school year.
It's so nice to meet you.
Thank you for having
us.
You bet.
Principal Kelly Zertler joining us and Lori Killam.
Thanks for coming in today.
Thank you.
You bet.
St.
Luke's School.
And again, you can call them and contact them for more information on all the good things going on in plain.