St. Michael's Classroom Teachers

Preschool - Jessica Haga and Anna Comerford

St. Michael's preschool offers a safe, positive and nurturing environment in which to introduce children to the joy and wonder of learning.  The preschool emphasizes self-confidence and positive self-esteem, as well as respect for one's self and others.  St. Michael's Preschool follows the St. Michael's School calendar and offers full time classes Monday through Friday, as well as a three day a week and two day a week classes.  

We believe that Academics + Faith = a solid education.  Our curriculum offers: reading, writing, religion, Spanish, music, introductory math, introductory science, free play and service to the community. 

All children will develop a strong foundation of faith, along with the knowledge that prepares lifelong learners. 

Kindergarten - Nicole Schroeder

Leap into Learning

Greetings! I am Mrs. Anna Comerford, and it is my honor to teach kindergarten at St. Michael’s.  Kindergarten is an amazing time of growth and learning. It is a blessing and privilege to help students unlock the wonderful world of letters, numbers, friendships, and faith.

The kindergarten classroom incorporates many interactive and hands-on activities to give the students a well-rounded education. We use real world experiences to help students relate what they learn in school to their lives at home. Through centers and cooperative learning, the students understand the importance of teamwork while building interpersonal skills.  We like to stay active and have fun!

When I am not in the classroom, I enjoy cooking, reading, and staying physically active. I have a love for sports, especially the Philadelphia Phillies, as I am their number one fan!

Please never hesitate to contact me with any questions or comments. St. Michael’s is a beautiful community, and I am blessed to be part of it! My website can be accessed at landoflearning.yolasite.com   

Kindergarten Wish List

1st Grade- Danielle Goossens

Hello!

My name is Danielle Goossens and I will be teaching your child this year. This will be my 5th year teaching first grade at St. Michael's. I love teaching first grade! The kids are so eager to learn and I love seeing their faces light up when they discover something new. It is amazing to see the growth that these students make in just one year.

I am originally from St. Paul, Minnesota where I grew up with my mom, dad and two younger sisters. I attended a Catholic grade school (Nativity of Our Lord) and high school (Cretin-Derham Hall) in St. Paul. I graduated in 2000 with honors and decided to attend UND to be a teacher. I graduated from UND in May of 2004 with honors with a degree in Early Childhood Education. Right after graduating, I began working as a supervising pre-K teacher at the University Children's Center on the UND campus. I worked there for two years and then in August of 2006, I began teaching first grade here at St. Mike's. I truly believe that this is what God has called me to do, and that I am here for a very special reason. I am extremely lucky to be part of such a wonderful community of staff, parents and children!

I am married to my wonderful husband, David. We have been married since September of 2005. We are very blessed to have our little girl, Keira Marie, who came into our lives on August 21, 2009. She is a year old, and is absolutely the light of our lives. We have so much fun with her, and feel so blessed to have such a happy, and healthy little girl. In our spare time, we love to travel, spend time with our families, work on our home, and last but not least, spoil our little two year old German Wire-haired Pointer named Maggie. Your kids will hear a lot about her. She is a very silly dog!

I am looking forward to a wonderful school year with you and your children!

2nd Grade - Sarah Holtzmann

My name is Sarah Holtzmann. I am the second grade teacher at St. Michael's Elementary. I graduated from UND with my Masters in Elementary Education in the spring of 2007. I started at St. Michael's in the fall of 2007. St. Michael's welcomed me into this close-knit, supportive community with open arms right away. I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting the kind families and wonderful students over the past 3 years. I look forward to teaching here for many more years to come! 

3rd Grade - Jenny Steele

Mrs. Steele began teaching at St. Michael's in 2010.  Her blog stmichaels3rdgrade.blogspot.com tells about life in her classroom.

4th Grade - Pauline Bachmeier

I have been teaching at St. Michael’s School since 1989. My experience includes first and fourth grade along with being the Director of the After School Activities Program. I graduated from Mayville State College with a B.S. in Education and a Minor in Early Childhood. St. Michael’s School is a home to me. I am totally committed because of the “strong family environment.” Each year is a new and interesting experience for me. 

FAITH HIGHLIGHTS IN FOURTH GRADE:

In fourth grade, we study the Mysteries of the Rosary, Ten Commandments, and learn the importance of serving God by playing at Mass, serving as altar servers, and spreading the Word of God to others.

EDUCATION HIGHLIGHTS IN FOURTH GRADE:

North Dakota study is a put of our curriculum so we spend some time studying about our state. We are learning long division, geometry, and reviewing basic operations in math. The students are reading and writing throughout the curriculum.

If you have any questions, please contact me at p.bachmeier@sendit.nodak.edu

5th Grade - Nicole Lee

Hello! My name is Nicole Lee and I am the 5th Grade teacher here at St. Michael's School.

I was born in Williston, North Dakota, and went to a Catholic School myself. I love the opportunity to do my job and share my faith with my students at the same time!

I graduated from Minot State University in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science in Education. I have endorsements in Kindergarten and Middle School Math & Language Arts with a concentration in Remedial Reading. I have been teaching since 1992. I have taught Kindergarten, 2nd, 5th, and 6th grades. 

I am married and have four wonderful girls of my own. We moved to Grand Forks in 2006 from Minot, North Dakota. 

In my spare time I love to spend time with my family, read, exercise, and do puzzles.