In the Early Childhood classes at Saint Constantine, we start our days in Circle Time. After morning prayers and a bit of free play in the classroom, Circle Time is a “grounding time” for students. We pray, we sing, we work on memory verses, we discuss our day so far or the things that are to come, and then we talk about classroom jobs. Each student has a job. From Door Holder to Light Manager, the jobs are important in keeping the rhythm of the class running smoothly.

As a Tuesday and Thursday teacher, I’ve come to notice something interesting about our job system. We have some students who attend only on Tuesday and Thursday, and we have some students who only attend our Monday, Wednesday, and Friday program. On the days that I teach, there are a couple of jobs that are filled by our 2-day students or are simply not completed. This variance in our job list has led me to understand how important work can be for the community as well as for the individual — how work can provide purpose and develop virtue.

When our students are assigned a job in the class, they take it on with pride and vigor. If another student has decided to take on that role without asking, it can be taken as an offense. The Light Manager wants to manage the lights, or the Door Holder truly wants to hold the door! It is beautiful to witness these young students take on their job with gusto and ownership. At first, they need guidance on learning to do it well, but then they generally work hard to do it the right way until their next assignment. While they are helping the class to run smoothly, students are also learning the value and virtue of doing something and doing it well. So just as the virtue of work may lead to other virtues such as industriousness, fortitude and determination, their work has a multifaceted benefit for themselves and for the community at large.

On the surface, these tasks in preschool seem mundane. Yet, when someone is absent, the loss is visible. The Book Manager is needed, the Chair Manager is needed, and even the Boot Manager is critical. These students have a true purpose at our school. As educators, we have a great opportunity to help our students understand their purpose. At Saint Constantine, we see it in action. The high schoolers are tutoring fellow students who may need a little boost with a hard subject, the gardening students are making our school an oasis in the middle of the city, and the preschool students are learning to care for those around us by holding the door for each other.

As a teacher, I see their job assignment as a small step closer to Heaven. Just to be clear, the focus is less on the actual job, and more on how one does the tasks that are entrusted to them. Many a saint has given us advice on the importance of work, and even Christ spent much of His life quietly laboring alongside Saint Joseph. As humans, we long for purpose, and as Christians we know our purpose is eternal life. Our daily tasks have value, whether that be studying for an exam, teaching a lesson on Color Theory, or holding the door for others. The attitude with which we do our daily tasks is where virtue develops, and it leads us toward sanctity. So, the next time you see a preschool student struggling to navigate a heavy wagon through a narrow doorway or down a crowded sidewalk, know that they are on their own path to holiness!