Sister Mary Beth Schraml (Principal)

"I am Sister Mary Beth Schraml, a School Sister of Notre Dame, serving as the principal of Loyola Catholic School’s primary unit.

I grew up on a family farm near Madison Lake (Duck Lake County Park was once our pasture) with Dad who loved music and could fix anything that had a motor; Mom, a professional seamstress and creative quilter; and three siblings—Gayle, Gary and Marie.

Mom and Dad provided us with a Catholic education at All Saints grade school and Loyola high school and passed on to each of us a heart for people, a sense of wonder in creation, a “wandering” spirit (we all love to travel), the gift of music, and a love of reading and learning.

Following high school graduation I entered the School Sisters of Notre Dame, an international congregation dedicated to unity, Eucharist, and the transformation of persons and the world through education.  It is a profound and wonderful gift to be one of over 3000 sisters who serve the God and God’s people in a myriad of ministries—all directed toward oneness with Jesus and service to others--in 35 countries on five continents.

I’ve enjoyed living in SSND community and teaching children in first and second grade for over 30 years, in St. Paul MN; Waterloo IA; Vermillion MN; Cresco IA; Winona MN; Madison Lake MN; and here at Loyola.  In some schools I served as assistant principal or principal as well.  I have served as principal of the primary unit at Loyola Catholic School since 2007.

Some of my favorite things (in no particular order)
~historical novels, German chocolate cake, waterfalls, butterflies, singing, cryptoquotes, road trips, Easter, little kids’ giggles and smiles, the Grand Tetons, stars, Sunday mornings, Alaska, tulips, the first day of school…

Some of my unfavorite things (in no particular order)
~cooking, winter driving, brussel sprouts, snakes, the last day of school...

My life is one blessing after another!  It is a great joy to join my Sisters in the mission of educating future generations…not only in reading and writing and math…but even more importantly, in ways to live as Jesus calls us.   It is a delight to “be there” as young people discover the wonders of God and the wonders of themselves as persons created and unconditionally loved by God, called to care for each other and for our world.  It is a grace to be “sister” to all those who bless my life.

Education Background
Attended: Mount Mary College, Milwaukee WI, Wheelock, Boston MA
Degree: Elementary Education, Masters in masters Child Development and Early Childhood Education