Cotter Schools: Celebrating Milestones and Looking Ahead

Submitted by JANA KORDER

As the 2023-24 school year rapidly approaches its end, Cotter Schools finds itself in a whirlwind of celebrations and transitions. What seemed like just yesterday, the first day of school, has now evolved into a mere six weeks left of the academic journey. However, during this time Cotter Schools has much to celebrate and anticipate. Mary Eileen Fitch, President of Cotter Schools, said “On a daily basis I am reminded of so many ways in which God has blessed the Cotter Community. With more than 1,000 students entrusted to our care, we have the opportunity to witness God’s grace in action, and students and staff sharing their gifts to improve their own lives and the lives of those around them. With an increasing number of opportunities inside and outside of the classroom, our students continue to develop and grow academically, spiritually, socially, and co-curricularly, and the year has been filled with many achievements. We are truly blessed.”

At St. Luke Hall we are grateful to be implementing a method of Catholic faith formation known as the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd taught by Sister Mary Andrea. This is a Montessori-based method in which students encounter God as they ponder His word in Scripture and work with materials that lead them more deeply into the life of Jesus, the parables, salvation history, and the liturgy. We were able to pilot this program with our first graders during the 2022-2023 school year, and this year have been blessed with a room dedicated to this work in St Luke Hall. We now have a longer class period that meets once each week, which has allowed for the method to be more fully implemented. We also have the help of an aide and six of the IHM seminarians who rotate coming on different days to help assist the students. With these blessings, we are now able to extend this program to Kindergarten-Grade 2 at Cotter as well as preschool children from the Winona community whose families have made the purchase of the materials possible. Someone observing the class might see a student working with figurines representing the people in the Gospels or parables, tracing and labeling the maps of Israel or Jerusalem, or praying quietly at the prayer table. The impact of this program can be recognized in the words of a first-grade student who was working with a material called the "model altar." As Sister Mary Andrea sat with her and they prayed silently in their hearts she looked up at Sister as if she was nearly ready to finish, but hesitating she asked, "Can I have just one more minute with Him?" We are truly blessed.

On April 5, 2024, Cotter's very own Coach Pat Bowlin became the new state record holder for most softball wins. Coach Bowlin, Cotter’s esteemed softball coach, achieved this monumental milestone through dedication, exceptional skill, and perseverance. His remarkable accomplishment, totaling an impressive 803 victories, is a testament to his leadership and the enduring spirit of Cotter's softball program.

The Cotter Schools 2024 Jazz Festival, presented by Hurry Back Productions, marked another highlight on the school's calendar. Held on April 6 and 7, the festival featured 11 middle school and high school jazz bands from across the region. It was a weekend filled with captivating performances and enriching masterclasses. Renowned musician St. Paul Peterson led an exclusive masterclass, conveying invaluable insights to participants before joining Cotter students for a collaborative performance on Sunday. The excitement continued with a concert featuring St. Paul Peterson and the Minneapolis Funk All-Stars on Saturday evening, followed by the annual Cotter Jazz Concert on Sunday. Special guest artists Scott Agster, Riley Helgeson, and Peter Vircks joined Cotter's jazz bands, enriching the festival experience. Mr. Andy Meurer, Cotter’s Band Director, said, "The Cotter Jazz Festival is one of my favorite events of the year. Not only is it amazing to welcome all of these other bands to our campus to share our music, but the opportunities to connect with worldclass artists right here in our theater are unbeatable. Working with Mike at Hurry Back Productions really opens the door to bringing this experience to the next level. His connections and insight into the professional music world bridge the gap between these high school aspiring musicians and the reality that music is a true option for a career path."

Looking ahead, the Cotter community is preparing for a bittersweet farewell to St. Mary's School. This transition offers an opportunity to reminisce, celebrate, and bid farewell to cherished memories. Additionally, excitement builds for the opening of St. Nicholas Hall, Cotter’s new Early Childhood Education Center, set to welcome infants six weeks and older for summer care starting June 10. Christine Nichols, Cotter’s Child Care Director, shared, “St. Nicholas Hall will allow us to help meet the growing demand for infant and toddler care in the Winona area, as well as greatly enhance the preschool-age programs we currently offer. The entire building is designed specifically for children between the ages of 6 weeks and 6 years. The future looks very promising for the young children in our community and for Cotter Schools.”

Beginning in the fall of 2024, Grades 7 & 8 students will have increased programming, coding, CAD, and robotics opportunities. Students in Grades 9-12 will have advanced computer science courses to choose from as well as a new engineering curriculum. The engineering courses will include mechatronics, robotics, and IOT (Internet of Things) and provide opportunities for students to earn industry certifications while in high school. These new opportunities are designed to support students seeking hands-on learning, like industrial arts or a shop class, and those who want to continue their education in a technical college or a university.

As Cotter Schools navigates through the final weeks of the school year, these milestones serve as reminders of the community's resilience, spirit, and commitment to excellence in education. With each achievement and transition, Cotter continues to stand firm in its commitment to fostering the academic, artistic, and spiritual development of its students, thereby guaranteeing a promising future for everyone.

Jana Korder works in communications, marketing & brand identity for Cotter Schools in Winona.