St. Joseph Schools transform into 'Team Reagan'

Friday, Apr. 14, 2017

OGDEN — “A very active, caring, friendly student,” was how Carole Burbridge Layman, a spokesperson for Saint Joseph Catholic Schools, described Reagan Schellhase, a sixth-grade student who was diagnosed with leukemia at Christmastime.

Although Reagan was a new student at Saint Joseph Elementary, that didn’t prevent the whole school from pouring out their support and love for her and her family after hearing the news that, due to her chemotherapy schedule, she wouldn’t be able to return to school for some months.

“When someone is sick we want to make sure that we do everything we can to help them,” said Burbridge, whose daughter Katie is one of Reagan’s classmates.

The support that came from the school was more than just get-well cards.

“My daughter [Katie] suggested that we should do something for Reagan, so I approached one of the alumni of the high school, and he donated hundreds of shirts with the names of all the kids in the elementary forming Reagan’s face,” Burbridge said.

The students, faculty and administration honored Reagan and her family during a visit on April 6. The school community waited for the family at the school entrance, wearing the shirts, forming heart shapes with their hands and displaying banners that read “Team Reagan.”

Despite the fact that Reagan has had a hard time with the chemotherapy treatment, that day she had a big smile and a light in her eyes as she came out of her parents’ car. Even though she was physically weak, she made her way up the small hill to the school entrance, where her classmates anxiously waited. When she reached them, she was enveloped in hugs from her classmates.

“We wanted to show them that we care and we support them. We are all ‘Team Reagan,’” Burbridge said.

“Being reminded that she is a part of this community … being reminded that they are here for her and that they care for her, that she is part of the group even though she is not physically here, is amazing,” said Bryce Greenhalgh, Reagan’s uncle, who was present to show support for her and to thank everyone at Saint Joseph’s for their love and care for his niece.

Angela and Allen Schellhase, Reagan’s parents, were touched by the displays of affection.

“I want to thank ... each of you for being here for Reagan,” said Angela Schellhase as she gave each of the students a key chain as a token of their appreciation.

The sixth-grade class presented Reagan with a special blanket that had several knots, each of which represented a prayer the students said for her.

“We prayed a rosary for her wellbeing,” said Megan Leonardi, the school’s religion teacher.

During the visit, Angela Schellhase asked Reagan’s classmates whether they had questions, and the students asked several about what cancer and chemotherapy are, and whether Reagan was going to live.

“The type of cancer that Reagan has is treatable, so our hopes are really high that she’ll be able to come back next school year,” Angela Schellhase answered, adding that Reagan’s treatment will continue for the next two years. 

“Most likely you’ll be graduating from eighth grade and Reagan will still need some treatment,” Angela Schellhase told the students during the visit.