The first bell hasn't rung yet, but the hallways at Carmel Catholic are already buzzing.
Each morning, teachers stand in classroom doorways greeting students by name. A staff member stops a sophomore to ask how a math test went. At the central Crossroads of Carmel Catholic, students pause to share good news, ask a quick question, or deliver a fist bump before heading to class. In a freshman classroom, a birthday sticker and lollipop are waiting for the day's guest of honor.
None of these small moments of connection are part of a formal program. Most take only a few seconds.
Yet taken together, they reveal something important about Carmel Catholic: the adults here make a conscious effort to know students, support them, and help them find their place within the community.
Principal Dr. John Ahlgrim ‘83 sees those interactions every day.
"The thing that amazes me is how our teachers greet students with authentic and energetic greetings every morning," he says. "I honestly think this must feel like a family reunion every day."
Many Corsairs take notice. Some embrace the welcoming atmosphere from the start while others may initially see the outreach as “extra”; most all come to see how the little things matter. And how those brief interactions add up to make them feel like they matter.
Senior Lucy Lamberti '27 understands how those small encounters accumulated over the course of four years.
"When I first came to Carmel as a freshman, I immediately felt like I was part of something bigger," she says. "Now as a senior, I realize how much that feeling came from the people around me. Carmel's teachers, faculty, and staff didn't just welcome me; they invested in who I could become and took the time to truly know me as a student here."
Rooted in a Christ-centered mission, Carmel Catholic's culture is built on the belief that every student should be known, valued, and supported. While families are often drawn to the school's academic excellence, faith formation, athletics, and extracurricular offerings, the relationships often leave the most lasting impression.
For freshman Spanish teacher Lori Young, helping students adjust to high school begins with creating an environment where they feel comfortable being themselves. Whether excited or nervous – or both – entering 9th grade, all are trying to figure out where they fit.
Mrs. Young believes the little things matter and rolls out the red carpet as she meets students new to Carmel Catholic.
Birthdays are celebrated. Milestones are recognized. Spanish Tip Tuesday videos are created after school to air on Carmel Digital News broadcasts. Mrs. Young takes pride in engineering memorable activities that are not tied to a lesson plan. In fact, former students still stop by asking for the birthday sticker and lollipop that has become a tradition in her classroom.
The goal is not simply to teach a subject; it is to help students feel seen.
“I want students to feel genuinely valued, respected, and comfortable in my class,” Mrs. Young says. “When students know their teacher truly cares, they feel safe asking questions and making mistakes. I strive to foster an encouraging, welcoming environment where every student feels they belong, and above all, genuinely wants to be there—which means everything to me.”
Elsewhere, Business teacher and Coordinator of Pastoral Care Tomm Smithe approaches student relationships with the same intentionality. Between classes, he can often be found greeting students in the hallways, checking in on someone who had a challenging week, or celebrating good news shared by a student.
His philosophy is straightforward.
"How can people feel they belong if nobody knows their name?" he says. “How can I believe it if I hear the word of God, but don’t see examples of people putting that love into action? On that same note, how can I become something I can’t see?”
Knowing names may sound simple, but students quickly recognize the difference between being noticed and being truly known. A greeting becomes more meaningful when someone remembers the test you were worried about yesterday, asks about your performance over the weekend, or follows up on a conversation from weeks earlier.
Smithe views occasions to offer a smile or check in as a natural extension of Carmel Catholic's Christ-centered mission. They are everyday opportunities to recognize the dignity of each person and put faith into action.
That same spirit extends beyond classrooms, all the way to one of the most important spots for students on campus – the cafeteria.
Food Service Director Scott Davis has become known for amplifying student accomplishments wherever they happen. Athletic achievements. Academic successes. Theater performances. Birthdays. He looks for reasons to encourage students and let them know someone noticed their efforts. (A free cookie or candy bar may also be included).
“I love to celebrate their wins,” he says.
Just as importantly, he pays attention when students may be struggling. “I go out of my way to try and brighten their day,” he says.
A quick conversation. An encouraging word. A simple act of kindness.
“The Carmel community continues to amaze me,” Mr. Davis says. “Students are free to be themselves and encouraged to explore their interests in and out of the classroom.”
What's striking is that none of these individuals describe what they do as extraordinary. For them, investing in students is simply part of being a member of the Carmel Catholic community. Together, they help create an environment where relationships are valued and where students know there are adults who genuinely care about their success and well-being.
Alumnus Patrick Lyman '15 describes Carmel as a place that helped shape him intellectually, socially, and spiritually. More than a decade after graduation, he still returns because of the connections he formed and the community that continues to welcome him back.
“I come back to Carmel because it feels like a home base along my life journey,” he adds. “I am forever grateful for my time at Carmel, and I am so thankful that they continue to welcome me back time and time again.”
Fellow alumna Katie Aspegren '06 shares a similar perspective. To her, Carmel Catholic was never simply a school. It felt like a second family. The impact was so significant that she hopes her own children will one day experience the same community that shaped her.
"I want my kids to know that same feeling of walking into a place and knowing they belong," she said. "Carmel becomes a part of you, and in many ways, it always feels like coming home."
That enduring connection may be one of the clearest reflections of Carmel Catholic's culture.
Students rarely arrive with an automatic sense of belonging. Like any community, meaningful connections take time to build. What makes Carmel Catholic distinctive is the number of people willing to nurture and champion that process: teachers who take the time to relate, staff members who ask what a student wants from life, mentors who offer encouragement, and classmates who support one another.
It happens one conversation, one greeting, and one act of care at a time. For many Corsairs, those little things end up making all the difference.