ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

Pastor/Superintendent   – Fr. Dan Walz

Mrs. Kristie Harren –  Principal

Email: kharren@shsfreeport.org

Mrs. Harren has been involved in education since 1999 when she graduated from the College of St. Benedict with a BA in Elementary Education. Throughout her 17 years of teaching, Mrs. Harren has taught kindergarten through 4th grades. She has been a part of Sacred Heart since 2008. In 2016, Mrs. Harren accepted the role as principal at SHS. She received her MA in Educational Leadership from St. Mary’s University in 2019.  She is excited to inspire our amazing teachers to be extraordinary.  She wishes to create an environment where all students know that they are loved by God, their family, and their teachers.

Mrs. Harren and her husband, Bob have four children: Abbie, Ethan, Ella, and Olivia. They live on a dairy farm south of Freeport. They have cows, chickens, rabbits, cats, and two dogs named Maggie and Bailey. In her free time she enjoys camping, reading, gardening, and watching her children play ball.

Mrs.Amy Van Beck – Administrative Coordinator

Email: avanbeck@shsfreeport.org

Kathy Welle is a graduate of St. Cloud University. Her first elementary teaching job was at Holy Family School in Albany.  After being a stay-at-home mom, raising 7 boys and helping her husband on the farm she returned to the education field in 1997 and worked part-time as a para-professional at Sacred Heart School. 

In the fall of 2000 she was hired as Administrative Coordinator of the Staff Administrative Team. She is currently the Administrative Assistant, working closely with the principal overseeing and managing the daily office activities.  
Kathy and her husband, Dave, live on their retirement farm south of Freeport. They have raised 7 sons and now have 17 grandchildren (11 girls and 6 boys) and 1 Great-Granddaughter.
Kathy enjoys spending time with family and friends, attending grandchildren’s events and games, and cooking meals for the boys and their families.  Hobbies include bowling, card playing, bingo and an occasional trip to the Casino. Kathy feels privileged to be a part of the “family’ at SHS and treasures the many students and parents that she has been fortunate to get to know better because of her position at Sacred Heart.

 

TEACHERS AND SUPPORT STAFF

Mrs. Sara Van Beck- Pre-School

Email: svanbeck@shsfreeport.org

Mrs. Van Beck is our full-time preschool teacher and director of our Early Childhood Center. She has over 23 years of experience and an Early Childhood degree.  She once was a student herself at SHS and she has worked at the school she loves and calls home for over 14 years.  She and her husband Noah and five children Spencer, Quentin, Maretta, Thatcher, and Jenavieve live north of Freeport on Central MN’s largest goat farm. During their time away from the farm they enjoy camping, & hiking.  Mrs. Van Beck also loves to read, and host and tour people at her house and teach them about farm life. “I enjoy teaching God’s greatest gifts those first lessons in life, and my hope is with a great first experience they will find a love for learning!” 

Mrs. Heidi Feldewerd- Pre-School

Email: hfeldewerd@shsfreeport.org

 
 
 
 
 
 

ABOUT THE CLASSROOM

The children learn through main core development in reading, writing, math, science/ social, art, sensory, and fine and large motor.  We offer themes to help grasp these concepts, we also teach them in centers with a Montessori type approach and educational tools to help them become rich in understanding and problem solving.

The preschool classroom is set up so that children are encouraged to take part in all aspects of learning such as: reading, writing, math, science, dramatic play/social, art, sensory, and large and fine motor development.  A significant part of our day in preschool, consists of taking part in group activities that allow children to learn to work together cooperatively, and practice social skills that they will use throughout their life.  We learn about God and Jesus, and that each of us is a special gift from God.  Special efforts are made to ensure that each child feels comfortable to share his/her thoughts and ideas. 

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW

  • A class newsletter is sent home at the beginning of each month. and other notes will be sent home as needed in order to keep parents informed and up to date on our activities.
  • We highly value parental insight and want every parent to feel heard and understood.  We welcome comments, concerns and any feedback that parents offer.

Mrs. Amanda Maus – Kindergarten

Email: amaus@shsfreeport.org

Mrs. Maus has been a Kindergarten teacher at SHS since 2003. She is a graduate of St. Cloud State University. Mrs. Maus and her husband, Craig, live in Melrose with their two girls, Addison and Anika. Mrs. Maus likes spending time with her family, going for walks, traveling and watching sports.
“I look forward to getting to know each one of God’s precious gifts to the world. Our year is filled with
laughter, excitement, learning, and compassion for others.”

ABOUT THE CLASSROOM:

  • Language Arts: Learn letter sounds and how to blend the sounds together to read and write. Increase our vocabulary and comprehension with Read –aloud and Accelerated Reading.
  • Math: Counting, Number Identification,  Number Writing, Telling Time, Identify Money and
    Introduce Addition & Subtraction
  • Religion: Participate in Mass, Prayers and learn about God’s World
  • Science/Social: Explore the World Around Us
  • Character Development: Top 20

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW

  • Classroom Newsletter comes out on Fast Direct weekly.
  • Monday folders go home Monday and need to be signed and returned.
  • We go to Mass on Wednesdays, starting in January.
  • School Spirit Day is every Wednesday.
  • We have recess every day after lunch and most mornings.
  • We have Computer, Art, Music and Phy-ed once a week.
  • We use ipads in our classroom during Learning Centers.

Miss Emma Blashack – First Grade

Email: eblashack@shsfreeport.org

I graduated from College of Saint Benedict.  I love teaching 1st grade and helping them learn to read.  I live in New Munich and love to hike, be with family and friends, doing things outside, going to SJU Football games and attending other sporting events.

ABOUT THE CLASSROOM

  • Reading: Super Kids Program ~ Reading, Phonics, Spelling, Comprehension, Vocabulary, Fluency.
  • Writing: Handwriting, Descriptive/Creative Writing 
  • Math: Bridges Math, hands on learning with manipulatives, counting with 10 frames, adding and subtracting, learning how to write number sentences
  • STEM: Scientific Theory/Matter, The Human Body, Solar System, Electricity, Earth/Erosion/Rock and Minerals
  • Social: Learning about where we live, who are leaders are, what the pledge of Allegiance means and our addresses
  • Religion: God is Our Father, Jesus Shows Us He Is Good, Jesus Loves Us.
    • Prayers: Hail Mary, Our Father, Sacred Heart Mission Prayer, Spontaneous Prayer.
  • Science: Energy, Plants and Animals, Patterns in Space.
  • AR Requirement: Read daily and meet monthly goal.
  • Character Development: Top 20

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW

  • Monday folders go home on Monday and need to be signed and returned the next day, important notes go in this folder.
  • Homework folders and A.R. folders go home daily to be checked.                                                                       
  • School spirit is every Wednesday.

Miss Kaitlyn Berg – Second Grade

Email: kberg@shsfreeport.org

Mrs.Berg is a graduate of The College of Saint Benedict.  She loves to teach second graders and prepare them for their First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.  Mrs. Berg lives in Long Prairie with her husband, and dogs Henry, Daisy and Sadie.  In her free time, she enjoys reading, canoeing, boating, swimming during the summer months and snowmobiling in the winter.

ABOUT THE CLASSROOM

  • Reading: Super Kids Program, phonics, accuracy, fluency, comprehension and transitioning from learning to read to reading to learn.
  • Math: Saxon Math, addition, subtraction, multiplication, fractions, place value, time, money, and skip counting.
  • Social: Pearson, People and Place, map skills and what makes a community.
  • Science: Interactive Science, matter, living things, how things grow and change
  • Religion: Layola Press, Pflaum, and Jim Otremba’s book, Celebrating Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.
  • Character Development: TOP 20
  • Students also have music, phy.ed. and art taught to them by specialists.

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW

  • A class newsletter is sent home every Monday through Fast Direct.
  • Assignment sheets are sent home weekly to keep parents informed about nightly assignments.
  • We have title services available for reading and math.
  • Students attend mass weekly. Classes have the opportunity to plan and lead the mass every 6 weeks.
  • Students have the opportunity to participate in Science Squad which meets monthly.

Mr. Jesse Kuechle – Third Grade

Email: jkuechle@shsfreeport.org

Mr. Kuechle taught at St. John’s/St. Andrew’s Catholilc School from 1997-2004.  He is a graduate of St. John’s University.  He enjoys working with kids of all ages in the classroom as well as in the field of sports.  Mr. Kuechle is the music coordinator and choir director for Sacred Heart Church, as well as the director of Sacred Heart Strings.  He also enjoys playing guitar and singing with a couple of different groups.  Other hobbies include wood-working, coaching, and hunting/fishing with his kids.  He and his wife Jen have three awesome children, Andrew, Madelyn, and Isabella.  “God gives us many gifts.  It’s up to us to use and share them with others.”

ABOUT THE CLASSROOM

  • Reading: comprehension strategies, fluency, and vocabulary taught with Journeys Series, novel units, guided reading and Daily 5.
  • Math: multiplication, division, fractions, place value, area, perimeter, and rounding.
  • English: parts of speech (nouns, pronouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives), prefixes, and suffixes.
  • Social Studies: map skills, communities, government, goods and services.
  • Science: forces, motion, energy, plants, ecosystems, and weather.
  • Religion: parts of Mass, types of prayer, saints, seven sacraments, and Marks of the Catholic Church.
  • Handwriting: cursive

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW

  • All homework assignments are written in your child’s planner every night.
  • Homework will usually consist of completing a math worksheet, practicing math facts, reading A.R. books, and studying for upcoming tests.
  • A class newsletter is sent to parents through Fast Direct every week.
  • We have Title services available for reading.

Miss Alyssa Hoeschen – Fourth Grade

Email: ahoeschen@shsfreeport.org

Miss Alyssa Hoeschen is a 2023 graduate of Winona State University. She enjoys teaching the fourth graders all about the 50 states! In her free time she enjoys canoeing, swimming, spending time with family and friends, reading, and going on the boat, she is also always up for an adventure! She loves to travel and hopes to make it to all of the 50 states one day. She also has a passion for synchronized swimming and will be assistant coaching the sync team in Melrose.

ABOUT THE CLASSROOM

    • Reading: comprehension strategies in fiction and nonfiction selections, story structure, and writing strategies taught with Benchmark, novel units, Fab 5.
    • Math: multiplication, division, fractions, place value with decimals, area, perimeter, missing numbers, order of operations, and word problems.
    • English: parts of speech (nouns, pronouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives), prefixes, suffixes, proofreading, and editing.
    • Social Studies: map skills, communities, government, historical/cultural differences, goods and services.
    • Science: energy, heat, motion, electricity, plants, animals, ecosystems, and Earth’s resources.
    • Religion: parts of Mass, types of prayer, saints, memorization of Ten Commandments, The Beatitudes, and deeper look into the Rosary.
    • Handwriting: cursive

    OTHER THINGS TO KNOW

    • We are transitioning into the intermediate grades now. We develop and take pride in our independence!
    • Planners and google docs are resources your child should know how to use.
    • We learn how to be Top 20 students in class and in the real world.
    • We acquire self-motivation to achieve educational and personal goals.
    • Students have the chance to break out of their comfort zone and learn how to play guitar and serve a the weekly masses.
    • We have small groups for Language Arts and Math. This helps us get more direct attention and instruction. These groups are not final and can/will change throughout the year.
    • We take monthly STAR Math and Reading tests. This helps us recognize if we are continuously learning or if there is an area we should study more thoroughly.
    • We try to incorporate moving into our learning, as well as visual models. We truly understand that everyone learns differently and sometimes need to move, see, or hear it again.

Mrs. Gina Benson – Fifth Grade

Email: gbenson@shsfreeport.org

Gina is very excited to begin teaching at Sacred Heart. After teaching 12 years, she took time off to raise their six children. Last year Gina taught 5th and 6th grade at Holy Family in Albany and previously she taught in the metro area (Centennial School District). Gina attended high school at St. John’s Prep, college at Saint Ben’s and got her Master’s Degree at St. Thomas. 

     While Gina misses the chaos of raising six children, she enjoys the freedom as well. She enjoys biking on the Wobegon Trail, kayaking and camping. 

ABOUT THE CLASSROOM

  • Reading: Novel units and the Journeys Series which explores a variety of reading genres and literary elements.
  • English: Parts of Speech and exposure to the 4 different types of writing Math: multiplication and division of whole numbers and decimals, estimation, geometric parts, fractions, percents, and probability.
  • Social Studies: MN History, Colonization of America, American Government, Map skills, World War II, Civil Rights
  • Science: Properties of Matter, Ecosystems, Water Cycles, Earth and Space, Forces and Motion, Designand Function of Science, 3 day Environment Camp (6th grade)

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW

  • 5th and 6th grade students participate in Wednesday and Friday masses in a variety of ways: lecturing, singing, playing guitar, and serving.
  • For quick and easy communication between school and home- please use Fast Direct.
  • Watch Monday Folders for graded homework and important notes and messages.
  • Planners are to be written in everyday to help stay organized.
  • 5th and 6th grader students have the option to join School Patrol.

Sr. Janine Braun, OSB – Sixth Grade

Email: jbraun@shsfreeport.org

Sister Janine is a member of the Order of St. Benedict and has been at SHS for 12 years.  Her goal is to make each of her students know they are a beloved child of God, feeling self confident with their special gifts and talents and capable of many things.  Student “hands on” participation in various projects throughout the year instills leadership qualities in her middle school students.  

Graduating from the College of Saint Benedict with an Elementary Education and German degree, she was chosen as a U.S. Fulbright Scholar to study abroad.  She completed her Masters Degree in Administration with an emphasis in curriculum and reading at Clark College and the University of St. Thomas.  Throughout her years in education she has served as a 5-6 grade teacher, Director of Religious Education, curriculum coordinator and principal. In 2018 she was the recipient of the Leadership in Education Award and in 2019 was recognized as an Elite 100 Teacher by IXL Learning. 

Living in Sauk Centre with another Benedictine Sister, her hobbies include; reading, listening to music, walking with their dog, Ellie and relaxing with family and friends. 

ABOUT THE CLASSROOM

  • RELIGION 5 & 6:  The commandments and sacraments are reviewed with an emphasis on the Eucharistic Celebration and Scripture.
  • CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT:   TOP 20 Skills are reviewed and reinforced.  
  • READING:  Novel Units are used to explore a variety of genres and literary elements.  Vocabulary development includes learning Greek and Latin Root words which make up many English words.
  • ENGLISH::  Students further develop their speaking and writing skills.  A research project is completed introducing the MLA format.  
  • MATH:  Skills include:decimals, fractions, ratio, application of math concepts to solve real-world problems, pre algebra concepts, geometry,  data analysis and probability, 
  • PHYSICAL SCIENCE: Topics include: Motion and Force, Energy, Matter, Atoms  and the Periodic Table, Solutions, Acids and Bases.  The 3 day Conservation Camp experience is a highlight of the year.  
  • SOCIAL STUDIES:  Map Skills, MN History, Colonization of America, United States Government, World War II and the Civil Rights Movement.

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW

  • A class newsletter, In The Loop, is sent through FastDirect every Monday.
  • Executive Skills are stressed through the use of daily planners.
  • Sixth grade students write and produce the annual SHS Christmas Program.
  • Other Opportunities:  Mass serving, SHS Strings, Safety Patrol, Science Club, Book Club, Chess and Cribbage Clubs.
  • Students may choose to participate in drama, knowledge bowl, and sports through the Melrose School District.

PARAPROFESSIONALS

Yvonne Beste

Mrs. Beste joined the Sacred Heart School staff in April of 2015. She spends her mornings as a paraprofessional in the 1st grade. Prior to this she has been a stay at home mom for quite some time. Mrs. Beste and her husband, John, have 4 children, Mike, Dan, Kristen and Matthew, 1 grandchild and 1 on the way. In her free time she enjoys cooking/baking, tending her flowers, singing, decorating and time spent at the lake. Mrs. Beste says “I love the hustle & bustle that comes with being in a school setting and being a part of helping our young grow into awesome people.”


Char Meyer

Mrs. Meyer has been para-professional here at SHS since 2016. She and her husband, Dan live just outside of Meire Grove on Dan’s home farm. They have 3 grown children, Ryan, Jordan and Brianna. Ryan is married to Jennifer and the have 4 children. (Two girls and two boys) Their son, Jordan is married to Deanne and they also have two sons. Their daughter Brianna is soon to be married to her fiancé, Chris. Mrs Meyer and her husband, Dan enjoy living in the country and love spending time with their children and grandchildren. Some of her favorite hobbies are, reading, flower gardening, bird watching and driving through the countryside with Dan on their Gator.

TECHNOLOGY

Christie Zink

Email: christiez@shsfreeport.org

Mrs. Zink is a graduate of St. Scholastica, with a degree in Information Technology and Systems Management.  A parent of SHS since 2010, she joined our staff in the fall of 2019.

She lives just south of New Munich with her husband Matt and their three children, Ethan, Noah, and Sydney and their dogs Oreo and Bella.   Mrs. Zink enjoys running and is also our Sacred Heart Sprinters Coach.  When she is not busy with her active family, she enjoys traveling, photography,  and spending summers on the lake.

OTHER DISTRICT STAFF

  • Art  – Mrs. Carrie Schultzenberg
  • Music  – Mrs. Anne Welle
  • Phy Ed  – Ms. Katie Meyer
  • Speech – Mrs. Emily Zachmann

SCHOOL BOARD

  • Jenelle Herkenhoff                       Term July 2022- June 2025
  • Jamie Engelmeyer                        Term July 2021 – June 2024
  • Julie Job                                         Term July 2022 – June 2024
  • Tamara Welle                                 Term July 2020 – June 2023
  • Jessica Renneker                          Term July 2023 – June 2026
  • Lindsay Frieler                               Term Jan 2024 – June 2024
  • Christie Zink – Secretary

 

Click here for Board Minutes