Teacher: Remind kids of how much God loves ‘magnificent’ them!

Marijo Rapp (pictured above, at right) and Kim Bourgeois, Rapp’s kindergarten teaching assistant for the last 16 years, display the home of “Clipper the Grasshopper,” their class mascot. (Photo courtesy of Mary Queen of Peace School)

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Marijo Abruscato Rapp has taught kindergarten at Mary Queen of Peace (MQP) School in Mandeville for 16 years. A native of Mobile, Alabama, Rapp is a graduate of her hometown’s St. Ignatius Elementary School and McGill Toolen High School, and the University of Montevallo, a liberal arts university located south of Birmingham. She is a parishioner of Mary Queen of Peace ChurchMarijo Abruscato Rapp has taught kindergarten at Mary Queen of Peace (MQP) School in Mandeville for 16 years. A native of Mobile, Alabama, Rapp is a graduate of her hometown’s St. Ignatius Elementary School and McGill Toolen High School, and the University of Montevallo, a liberal arts university located south of Birmingham. She is a parishioner of Mary Queen of Peace Church.

Tell us a little about your decision to be a teacher.

God has always called me to go into Catholic teaching, and I never imagined teaching anywhere but in a Catholic school. I knew that because it was my comfort zone and part of my upbringing. I never knew there was anything different.

What would you be doing if you were not a teacher?

I would want to be an actress. I don’t currently have acting as a hobby, but I am captain of the faculty dance team at MQP. When we host campus fundraisers, our team performs at halftime! It is very competitive, and my coworkers are always trying to bribe me with gifts so they can make the team! (Rapp said jokingly).

Who was your teaching role model?
 
I can’t say that I only had one. All my teachers from grade school through high school impacted my faith in many ways – watching them pray each day, teaching us the faith and treating each other with such respect and love. Many priests and nuns throughout my life have been such a positive motivation for me! I admire them because they give so much of their time to the parish and school. It must be very difficult at times.

Why do you love teaching at a Catholic school?

I am surrounded by so many people who truly care about teaching students to have faith in God and why it is important to treat others with respect and dignity.

Why do you specifically enjoy teaching at MQP?
   
MQP has always been my home away from home. When we moved to Mandeville from Mobile with four children – all under the age of 5 – I didn’t know where to connect to people who were similar to my parish in Mobile. We attended Mass at many different parishes in the community, but Father Ronnie Calkins got us involved at MQP right away. He wasted no time making us feel like an important part of a faith-filled community. The school community is just as magnificent! All my coworkers make teaching a lot of fun, and the students are incredible! I have always been amazed at how MQP School always comes together to help students who are going through personal tragedies, difficulties or illnesses.

You teach all subjects to your kindergartners. Does any subject stand out?

I love teaching all subjects in kindergarten, but especially reading, because I get to witness a true transformation from a beginning reader to an emergent reader. It is truly like seeing your child walk for the first time!

What might people not know about your students?
  
All my students – in the past and those whom I currently teach – have no idea how much I have learned from them. They are all so different and all have different needs. I have to learn a specific way to reach each and every one of them. I want all of them to truly understand just how much God loves them and how magnificent he made them to be.

Do you have any funny classroom anecdotes?

One of my many funny classroom stories involves one of my past kindergarten students. The morning was going very poorly. Before the first bell of the morning, one of my own children was sick, my car didn’t start, I was late for work, a water bottle had spilled all over the carpet and I was frantically trying to clean it up – all as I was trying to get the students to sit and start their morning work. I wanted to cry because the day started in sheer chaos. One little boy kept shouting at me, “Mrs. Marijo, Mrs. Marijo, look at this!’ After he said it about five times and wasn’t giving up, I said, “I can’t look right now, please sit.”  He continued to say, “Mrs. Marijo, you have to understand how important this is. Please look!” I finally gave in and said, “What is it you need to show me?” He proceeded to show me how he had put about 1,000 stamps all over his legs, arms and body in the car on the way to school and his mom didn’t even notice! At that point, all I could do was giggle and know that the Holy Spirit was reminding me to breathe and to realize that I needed to live in the moment and enjoy the funny moments in chaotic times.

What is the most rewarding aspect of teaching?

Watching my students grow up. They have no idea how special they are to all of us who have taught them throughout the years.

What is the most challenging aspect of your job?

One of the most challenging things is when students complain that their parents will not take them to Mass on the weekend.

What lessons have your students taught you?

My students have shown me to live each day to the fullest and that all of us grow from showing kindness to each other.

Finally, do you have a go-to prayer that strengthens you in challenging times?

The Surrender Novena is my favorite. When my mind starts to think of the problem at hand, I repeat to myself, “Jesus, I trust in you.”