FORMER PRINCIPAL RETURNS TO CLASSROOM

Sister Raynald Blomer, principal at Notre Dame High School in the 1970s, returns this year as math teacher instead of principal.

Notre Dame resumes classes Aug. 22.

Blomer, who had been a Catholic school principal for the past 20 years, returned to the classroom last year. This year, she asked to return to Cape Girardeau.

"I always kind of had a soft spot for Cape Girardeau," she said. "This was the first place I was principal."

Blomer was principal at Notre Dame from 1970 to 1978.

"I thought of all the places I've been this is the place I'd like to return," Blomer said. "I called and asked Sister Mary Ann (Fischer) if she needed me. I was so happy when she said she had a position. I didn't want full time, and she had a part-time opening."

Blomer will teach algebra and geometry part time at Notre Dame.

Notre Dame Principal Mary Ann Fischer said, "We're very happy to have her back on staff. She is an excellent math and science teacher."

Blomer said it's been a little tough giving up her role as principal.

Under her leadership in the 1970s, an addition was built at Notre Dame and enrollment was close to 400 students.

In contrast, enrollment this year is 247 students, a 7 percent increase over last year.

"It's going to be fascinating to sit back and see how somebody does things," she said. "I recognize how lucky I am not to have those responsibilities, but sometimes it's hard not to make suggestions.

"Mary Ann is a very capable administrator. I'm looking forward to a good year."

Blomer is originally from Quincy, Ill. She left Cape Girardeau to become principal in her home town. She then took over leadership of the Catholic high school in Springfield, Mo.

"Last year was the first year I attempted going back to the classroom," Blomer said. She taught chemistry and math at a high school in Effingham, Ill.

"I proved to myself that it was possible," she said. "The second year I'm sure will be a lot easier.

Since returning to Cape Girardeau July 23, Blomer said familiar faces keep turning up.

"I have seen quite a few people I know. Every morning I renew old acquaintances. It's fascinating to see all the old faces. I think they remember me more readily than I remember them. I guess I haven't changed that much."

The school, Blomer said, seems very familiar also.

"A goodly number of the faculty members were on my faculty 13 years," Blomer said.

The school building looks familiar, she said. "My lavender wall was changed, I noticed, but on the whole the building looks very much the same."

She said that some of her students this year will be the "next generation" children of students who were at Notre Dame while she was principal.

"Some of the students in the early years, their oldest is ready for high school that is going to be different."

"I enjoyed administration every one of the 20 years I was an administrator," she said.

In fact, she admitted being an administrator is probably her first choice.

"But it takes a good three years to get established as an administrator, and by that time I might be ready to retire."

But Blomer said she's not really looking toward retirement.

"I'll stay in teaching just as long as I can. I feel that is where the action is. The training of young minds is very important today.

"And I have to admit you have a captive audience in classroom. Then it's up to how good and interesting the teacher is whether she can motivate those students."