Principal, senior trade responsibilities for the day

Notre Dame Regional High School senior Andrew Buelow was surrounded by his version of the Secret Service on Thursday as he ruled the school as principal for a day.

While the school appeared to be in chaos, Buelow seemed to be in control, giving students a half-day off, letting them eat candy and drink soda in their classes. It was temporary, however, a cooperative effort between Buelow and principal Brother David Migliorino.

Buelow and his bodyguards joined forces to raise $7,165 during Notre Dame's annual activity week earning him the title of principal for a day.

"It's been really crazy, I've had to get a lot of people out of class," Buelow said.

Buelow has to keep an eye on every student and make lots of announcements.

"It's fun, but it's not as fun as I thought it would be because you have to make sure everyone is doing what they are supposed to," he said.

One big difference, Buelow said, was wearing the principal's usual dress of a brown habit.

"It's really weird wearing this habit around all day, it's pretty comfortable, but I can't see myself wearing this all day long, every day," Buelow said.

Since Buelow was acting principal, Migliorino attended class in Buelow's place, dressed in the same shorts and Notre Dame T-shirt Buelow would typically wear.

Migliorino went to calculus, geography, anatomy and physiology, advanced chemistry, critical thinking and danced with junior Abe Dirnberger in gym class.

"It was weird because it's not every day you get to dance with a monk," Dirnberger said.

In anatomy, Migliorino had to find and put together the bones of the human body and in geography he played find-the-country with the students. The teachers also returned Buelow's work to Migliorino.

"I received his tests back, which were all good, thank God, because I didn't know anything about calculus or advanced chemistry," Migliorino said.

Migliorino often sits in on classes throughout the day, but said playing the role of a student let him see exactly how teachers interact with the students and teach their classes.

For example, he witnessed the students in calculus teasing their teacher about a test.

Dirnberger said he liked his new principal and looked forward to coming to school.

Acting as principal was a one-time thing for Buelow; he does not want to be a principal when he graduates.

ameyer@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127