by Ben Quach ’27
Whether you’re a returning student starting a new school year, a faculty or staff member getting used to a new class of students, a freshman beginning your high school journey, or a new faculty or staff member acclimating to the Bellarmine community, we’ve all had a chance to settle in over the past month.
Among our new staff members is Mrs. Michelle Schmitz, the new Executive Assistant who works in the Principal’s office in Lokey. I recently had the opportunity to meet and talk with her to learn about her background and role at Bellarmine.
When asked about what it means to be Executive Assistant, she wittily responded, “That’s what I’m learning. I help with calendars, make appointments, assist people in getting to them, manage conference rooms, and handle all the things that need to happen for meetings and collaborations. I take minutes and support the principal, assistant principal, and the president’s executive assistant—just wherever they need me. I strive to make things smoother and easier for folks, and I aim to be efficient. If we don’t need to do something, we shouldn’t; but if we do, let’s do it the best we can.”
Mrs. Schmitz appreciates the change of scenery from her previous position at Santa Clara Unified School District to Bellarmine’s campus. Describing her former office, she said, “The building wasn’t very nice, and I looked out onto an expressway. I just had a little cramped area. So, it’s wonderful to work in a very supportive and beautiful environment.”
Reflecting on why she chose to work at Bellarmine, she shared, “I grew up here in the Santa Clara area. I graduated from St. Lawrence Academy in 1988, and many of my friends went to Bellarmine. The respect the community has for Bellarmine is profound, and everyone recognizes how solid an institution it is. While working at Santa Clara Unified, being a public school, only part of the student body was honored. As a public institution, there isn’t faith involved, so coming here and seeing that the whole person is celebrated—rather than relegated to a drawer—has been refreshing. Here, faith is celebrated: all faiths. I see people who are Sikh, Hindu, Buddhist; all sorts of beliefs are honored. I sometimes felt I couldn’t even wear a crucifix at my last job. It’s important for students to have every tool available to them to navigate school and become leaders in the world. I see that here—support for future leaders and influential students. Our most significant tool is our faith, whatever that may be for each of us, and I love that various celebrations are honored and respected.”
On the topic of faith, her favorite part of Bellarmine is the morning masses, which allow her to attend church services at work. She goes to the chapel on Tuesdays and Thursdays during CT, where she participates in daily mass, and also attends the 7:30 Friday morning mass. She loves singing during the mass and is also a member of the Santa Clara Chorale, looking forward to their tour in Greece next summer. The Chorale is currently planning their Christmas concert.
Mrs. Schmitz has nothing but praise for the school and its grounds, stating, “The grounds and the building I work in (Lokey) are really nice. The temperatures are comfortable, and it’s pleasing to look at through the big windows.” She declared, “I feel blessed to have come to work at Bellarmine. It’s amazing. The kids are incredible, and the staff and faculty are wonderful. It’s a special place, and I feel lucky to be part of it.”
Impressed by the scale of the school’s activities, she remarked, “I’m looking forward to what graduation looks like here. Nothing is done low-key, even the Party in the Quad. They mentioned carnival games, and I thought there would just be folding tables with some cardboard cutouts. But no, here come the rentals and the inflatable attractions! I’m looking forward to seeing all the different celebrations and important moments at Bellarmine, capped off with graduation.”
Already feeling accepted as part of our community, Mrs. Schmitz emphasized the work-life balance that Bellarmine supports. One of her core values is family—she’s been married for 30 years and has three children. One of her life goals is to emulate her late mother. “On the day I left my job at Santa Clara Unified, I had to step away because we had just found out my mom was really sick. I came here during that time, trying to figure everything out.”
She’s grateful for the community’s understanding during her time of grief, saying, “Everyone was so supportive. I thought, ‘You don’t know me; I’m brand new. This is what’s going on in my life.’ They said, ‘Take whatever time you need.’ I feel really blessed and at home here. People have told me, ‘You belong here,’ even though I’m new—and I love that I belong.”
She spoke about how we all have life goals—wanting to reach new heights, do our best, and get into college. With our current schedule, she feels it’s important to have that downtime for staff and students to get what they need during Community Time.
Finally, when asked what her message to the whole school would be, her response was to encourage everyone to take care of themselves and not get overwhelmed by their own expectations: “Don’t sweat the small stuff. Everything is small stuff. Just protect your mental health and reach out if you feel overwhelmed. There are many people who care about you, so find a trusted adult and let them know what’s going on. If that doesn’t work, find another one.”