Growing enrollment brings about change at Notre Dame

In response to growth in the student body and student activities, school officials at Notre Dame Regional High School created two new full-time positions as the next step in meeting needs.

With the appointment of Jeff Worley as dean of students and Darrin Scott as dean of student activities, the school will consolidate several faculty's part-time responsibilities, said Brother David Migliorino, school principal. Both officially stepped into their roles after the school year ended in May.

"We are trying to move with the tide," said Brad Wittenborn, associate principal. The 2003-04 tide will bring in 488 enrolled students -- 100 more than three years ago -- and at least 25 student-sponsored activities.

In a school where some of the most frequent discipline cases include tardiness and not tucking in shirts, Worley's position as detention coordinator, a position Migliorino said had a "bad vibe," evolved into the dean of students. Worley will serve as an intermediary, both to encourage and discipline.

"I try to see that the students are well-adjusted and they see this is a fun place," Worley said. In addition, he is the school's technician coordinator.

Before the dean of student activities position was created, the faculty independently coordinated student-sponsored activities part-time. Scott, formerly a math teacher, said he will teach active learning in addition to book learning.

"Sports and other activities provide students with the opportunity to fail and learn what they do wrong and try again," he said, stressing his key view: "It's not what happens to you but how you react to it."

Students have yet to react to their teachers' promotions. Migliorino proposed the positions in late spring to the faculty, the superintendent and the school board, and they were affirmed May 21 in a school board meeting. It wasn't necessary to make them known until they were approved, said Migliorino, who is confident in the students' reactions.

"I know that the students will love it," he said, "because I know how Darrin and Jeff work with them already."

A full-time physical education and health teacher and a full-time math teacher will be hired to fill Worley and Scott's former positions.

jmetelski@semissourian.com

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