Former Public School Teacher Finds Catholic School Gives Students Better Skills to Cope with Emotions and Stress
While she may be the newest Kindergarten teacher at Saint Rose of Lima Catholic Academy in Rockaway Beach, Jennifer Zavatsky isn’t new to teaching — or to Catholicism.
In fact, her familiarity with both is what led her to quit teaching public school and reconnect with her Catholic roots, all in an effort to help kids get better at something crucial: managing their emotions.
As behavioral health experts know, finding more ways to help children cope is critical: in 2023, more than 5.3 million children ages 12-17 (20.3% of all adolescents) had a current diagnosed mental or behavioral health condition such as anxiety, depression, or behavior/conduct problems.
“Young children have trouble keeping their emotions to themselves, and they need a lot of help and support,” says Zavatsky. “But you can’t talk about God in public school, or talk about Jesus at Christmas, so as a public school teacher your ways to help them are a lot more limited, and kids need all the help they can get.”
Zavatsky grew up in a Catholic household and attended Catholic school at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs in Forest Hills — “Most of my teachers are still there,” she laughs — and she says the school’s spirituality helped her through difficult times in her own childhood.
“For example, in first grade, I was very confused when I was told that my grandmother was given six months to live,” recalls Zavatsky. “Going to Catholic school helped me cope with and manage my emotions, and process the aftermath of my feelings after my grandmother passed.”
Zavatsky’s classroom at Saint Rose of Lima is full of modern teaching tools, including ClassDojo, which helps parents stay updated on what their children learn each day. But she also incorporates techniques from psychology and spirituality to help her students communicate and grow.
“When kids feel frustrated, I can say things like ‘Can you give me an open mindset?’ but I can also say, ‘What can you ask God for help with right now?’” says Zavatsky. “Being able to use tools like breathing techniques and prayer gives us twice as many ways to give kids the support they need.”
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
