Madonna welcomes new principal

WEIRTON - Changes are usually a sign of progress and that holds the same for Weirton Madonna High School as they recently welcomed Steve Grasser as the new principal.

Grasser, originally from the suburbs of St. Louis, Mo., has more than 26 years of experience in the Catholic education system and is bringing that knowledge to Weirton Madonna. He spent time as an educator and 10 years in administration handling the discipline at JFK Catholic High School in St. Louis.

Grasser said the opportunity to come to Weirton and be the principal at Madonna came along at just the right time. He said his children have finished school and he and his wife that if an opportunity to move to a different part of the country came, they would take it.

"I have previously traveled through West Virginia and it's a beautiful state so I was looking forward to the opportunity to live here," he said.

One thing Grasser said he is impressed with is how well the students have initiated some of the small changes at the school and taken responsibility. He said some changes have been made at the school to protect the instructional time as well as Catholic education values and students involved in activities have found a way to make it work.

Some of the things going on at Madonna right now include video conference, online and live classes through Wheeling Jesuit University, according to Grasser. He said there have been some minor glitches that need to be worked out but students have prepared for the classes and been resilient through the process.

"This type of edcuational exposure will help the students prepare for the type of classes and education they will face in college and give them significant college credit for classes as juniors and seniors at Madonna," he said.

Grasser said he is aware that Weirton is a football town and he can appreciate that, but he is also pleased to see that nearly all of the other sports, including volleyball, are also supported just as strongly by the students! , parents and the community. He said there was a phenomenal school spirit and healthy interclass rivalry exhibited recently at one of the pep rallys.

"For those students who don't play football, their sport whatever it may be, to them, is just as important as football and it's good to see support across the board," he said.

Another thing going on at the school and many schools is common core curriculum. Grasser said schools are now looking for ways to integrate each subject with each other which will include math, reading and writing across the board instead of just one subject. He said this type of learning will better prepare students for college.

Grasser said he would like to focus on consistent, increased communication and exposure to alumni. He said he would like the alumni to feel fully connected to Weirton Madonna so they understand that their legacy is being carried on and there is value in what they've left behind.

"As administrators in Catholic education, we have one goal: everything we do for our students must make them college and career ready in a Catholic invironment, which is really the bottom line," said Grasser. "A Catholic environment is a key part of our education system. We want to offer excellent education rooted in Catholic values."

Grasser said it is his goal to see the values and expectations put on students at Weirton Madonna and Catholic schools everywhere carry on with them to college and throughout their lives along with what they've learned.

"We hope while our students are living in the world they will help form the world," he said.

Grasser said there is always the expectation of progress with change and there will be an adjustment period, but that doesn't mean there was anything wrong only that there has to be a constant cycle of improvement that the world and Catholic edcuation cannot exist without. There is a saying, he added, that if something stays the same it is moving backward and that is not what he wants for Weirton Madonna.!

In! the coming weeks, Grasser said the school will be preparing for several activities he hopes to continue at the school such as the Fulfilling the Dream Dinner Auction. He said right now plans are in place to host the event on Nov. 30 but additional details were not yet available.

(Dickson can be contacted at adickson@weirtondailytimes.com)