By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
There’s an old children’s rhyming song, the kind that goes with clapping your hands and tagging the next person in the line.
“Miss Mary Mack, all dressed in black…”
And Mary MacDonald, the new principal at St. Charles Borromeo School in Burlington, knows all about the song. As a former music teacher, she’s actually used the song in her classes over the years.
The tradition of music is something she hopes to bring to her tenure at the school.
“I plan to follow Sister Margaret’s lead and rehearsal music with the children for the following week’s mass,” “I like to keep my hand in music.”
MacDonald, who lives in Franklin, started at St. Charles July 1. The first day of classes at the school is Wednesday, Aug. 27.
MacDonald taught music for 20 years, but decided to pursue her administrative degree. She completed that in 2012 at Cardinal Stritch College, and wanted to stay involved with Catholic schools because of her belief and background.
“I applied at St. Charles when I saw they had an opening,” she said. “I was very happy when I received a call to come and interview.
“I was especially intrigued when I found out they have this tradition of junior Broadway musicals.”
She interviewed with a committee from the school, and walked away feeling excited about the possibilities.
“I really liked the people,” MacDonald said. “I felt like this was a place I could belong. I felt at home.
“I felt I could share my faith.”
She received the job offered about two weeks after the interview.
“I was so very happy that St. Charles felt I was their choice, and I could fill their need,” MacDonald said. She added that there’s serious work to be done, but also joy in being at St. Charles.
“I’m thankful and excited to be a part of it,” she explained.
She also quickly became aware, as she put it, the size of the shoes she was filling. Sister Margaret Pietsch retired in the spring after 16 years as principal at St. Charles, a fixture at a school that has had a long tenure in Burlington.
Already, MacDonald has felt welcome.
“(She) left everything so well organized, and she’s so available and helpful,” “Her contribution is making for a very smooth transition.”
MacDonald said her goals for the school are to continue the growth of the school community and help the teachers best serve the students.
She also wants to serve the families of the school community. She’s working on her Spanish in order to communicate with the Hispanic families in the area, and she’s enthusiastic about coming into the school.
“I very much want to maintain and develop good relations,” MacDonald said. “I want to maintain a great working relationship between the parish and the school.”
She’s learning as she goes, and wants to continue growing the connection between the two. She hopes to continue the work by Pietsch, and feels “wonderful support.”
MacDonald feels she’s in the position to grow and serve the needs of everyone around her.
“I see the enthusiasm from the people in the parish,” MacDonald said. “I want to explore ways to make a good connection between the parish and school community.”
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