It was the end of the day at St. Bernadette School in
Springfield, and most students were flooding out the doors.
But not everyone was so eager to leave. A group of second-
and third-grade girls clamored up the steps to a top floor
classroom for Virtue Club, a program that teaches about
virtues in a fun and hands-on environment.
The club came about through the hard work of a
mother-daughter duo, Melissa Pohlmeier and her eldest
daughter, Rebecca. Melissa had wanted to start a club like
this for a long time, but between her pregnancies and taking
care of young children at home, the timing didn’t seem to
work out. Then last June, Melissa was diagnosed with cancer
and realized she would not be able to start the club. Rebecca
surprised her mom by saying, “Well, I can do it.” Rebecca got
to work bringing her mother’s vision to life, while Melissa
focused on getting well.
Since the school already had a Virtue of the Month program,
Rebecca decided to pair each month’s virtue with a female
saint and craft. By the time she presented the proposed
program to the principal, she had a binder full of lesson
plans, craft ideas and sample scrap book pages. Her idea was
approved.
The next step was to invite students to join the club. She
decided to open it up to second-graders preparing for their
first holy Communion and third-graders who have just received
the sacrament. At first, Rebecca anticipated around five or
six would join. So when the Little Sisters of the Poor sent
her 31 books on their founder, St. Jeanne Jugan, for a lesson
on respect, Rebecca and Melissa thought they would have lots
of extras. They were stunned by the interest from the
students, and the club now has exactly 31 members.
“St. Jeanne Jugan said that if God fills a home, He will not
abandon it,” said Melissa. “We started saying, ‘Well, if God
fills Virtue Club, He will not abandon it.'”
The students’ enthusiasm for the club has only increased over
the course of the school year.
“I like that we make all these activities and everyone is so
nice,” said third-grader Blanche Landry, who decorated a bird
house with a quote by St. Jeanne Jugan. “(St. Jeanne) helped
the sick when no one else would.”
The fun activities and friendly environment put the girls at
ease. During craft time at a recent meeting, one of the girls
started to sing a hymn and was joined by her classmates. When
the song was over, the girls continued quietly with their
work. Eighth-grade volunteer Lucy Landry said to Rebecca, “I
have no idea what just happened, but (I’m) pretty sure the
Holy Spirit was just here.”
The group also provides the students with an opportunity for
quality time with the older girls. Susan Albert, one of the
parent volunteers, said she has seen the positive effects the
club has had on her daughter. “She is really receptive to the
message, because it comes from older kids they see in the
hallway and she looks up to them. She is really motivated to
memorize a verse or think about it, because she wants to do
it for Rebecca.”
Rebecca says she is having the time of her life and is
learning just as much as she is teaching at the monthly
meetings.
“I have always wanted to be a teacher when I grow up, and it
has given me an area where I can just be myself around
younger kids,” said Rebecca. “The girls make my day. When
they come up to me in the halls and give me a hug or say ‘Hi
Rebecca! When is our next Virtue Club?’ it just makes my day
to know that they are excited about it.”
Next month, the girls will make heart-shaped soap for the
virtue of forgiveness. It is a lesson that Rebecca hopes will
resonate with the young girls and help keep both their hands
and their hearts squeaky clean.
