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ST. JOSEPH
NEWSLETTER
JANUARY 1999
NEW PRINCIPAL FOR ST. JOSEPH
Dear Friends,
I am thrilled to be the new principal of St. Joseph School because it is a
warm, family-oriented Parish school in the faith-filled Catholic
tradition. After graduating from Derby High School, and receiving both my
Bachelor's and Master's Degrees from Southern Connecticut State College, I
taught in the Seymour school system for almost fourteen years. In 1987 I
returned to St. Mary School, this time as a teacher. The last five years I
spent at St. Mary/St. Michael as Assistant Principal. So you can see that
my heart and spirit will always be rooted in the Valley, and in Catholic
education. I intend to extend myself to provide a good Christian family
atmosphere together with a solid academic program. I will strive to
develop true communication between home and school.
During the past five months of my, new administration, many exciting
things have been implemented. We presently have a networked computer lab
equipped with twelve Pentium computers, a printer and a flatbed scanner,
staffed by Mrs. Mary Ann Tema. We are striving to build the computer lab
so that students will have their own computer station. Each classroom will
soon have two computers donated by Mr. Richard Barsczewski and networked
by Mr. Richard Krueger.
On the day of Computer Lab, half of each class works in the computer room,
while the other half is given library skills by our hard-working volunteer
librarians led by head librarians Mrs. Kathy Samela and Mrs. Rachelle
Barsczewski. Both women organized a successful Book Fair, which provided
the school with 150 free books. Mrs. Joanne Onofrio and Mrs. Diane
Walkinshaw, volunteer parents, keep our hot lunch program going each day.
The Extended Day Program is supervised by Mrs. Lise Krueger. Working
parents can leave their children before school from 7:30am and after
school until 6:00pm. Three computers have been installed in this room.
The Future Musicians Band has been instituted for the first time ever.
Eleven members, directed by Miss Kim Schotten, made their well-received
debut at the Christmas Concert in December. The Concert, presented at
Warsaw Park, was led by Mr. Joel Matson, our music teacher and director of
the well-known Valley Ecumenical Choir. Miss Martha Lachowska meets
regularly twice a week for the entire school Choir and also for Sunday
Children's Choir.
Rainbows for All God's Children, a support peer group for children
experiencing divorce or death within their families, has also been
introduced this year. Fifteen children are currently enrolled, and each
session is led by one of four trained volunteer facilitators.
Art is provided once each week with plenty of creative projects thought up
by Mrs. Mary Reyher. We are exercising and using lots of energy each week
with Steven Shortell, our gym instructor.
Our Student Council is very active with dances, collecting goods and food
for St. Vincent de Paul and hurricane victims, and having used book sales.
They are currently saving funds to provide the school with a good camera
and to make playground improvements.
We continue to compete with a boy's basketball team and an award-winning
cheerleading squad. For the first time, St. Joseph School has a Ski Club
organized by Mr. Michael Witek. Moms, ddodatki and faculty members, in
addition to the students take advantage of this adventurous group.
The Development Committee has held its first successful tag sale in
October and has just finished selling Entertainment Books as Christmas
gifts. We are planning a talent show in April.
Our dedicated staff for Pre-K through grade 8 makes the St. Joseph
Community a warm, loving atmosphere. This is just the beginning of many
exciting happenings. Being able to work with so many enthusiastic people
is what will make St. Joseph School one of the best schools in Catholic
education.
Sincerely, Carmel Brown, Principal
* ** ** ** ***
Dear Alumni, Parents and Friends,
For the past 73 years, St. Joseph School has been educating children.
Our graduates have gone on to be Police Officers, Nurses, Doctors,
Attorneys, Teachers and Graduates of West Point, to name a few. Regardless
of the profession they have chosen, one thing remains the same. That is,
the FOUNDATION. St. Joseph School has always striven to instill good
academic skills, exercising good moral judgment and strength in your
faith. As you are well aware, times are forever changing. Just pick up a
newspaper and read the headlines. Our children and grandchildren are
constantly faced with tough situations that really put their morals and
judgment to the test. Some of these situations can have an adverse affect
on their lives if the wrong choice is made. We all love our children and
know that one of our job as parents and guardians is to prepare them as
best we can for their future. And you know that the best time to prepare
them is while they are young.
I'm sure that you would like to see all the time and efforts you put forth
at home to prepare your child, continued and reinforced at school. Here at
St. Joseph School, that is one of our goals. The classroom is only one way
we do this. We have many other programs that go hand in hand with what I
have just mentioned. Bear with me while I mention a few: The St. Joseph
School Choir, The Future Musician Club (school band), Student Council,
Rainbows (a support group for children who have had a death in the family
or have separated parents), and Extended Day Program (before and after
school). We also instill school spirit, good health and good sportsmanship
in the Ski Club, Cheerleading Squad and Basketball Team. Mostly all of
these programs are run by volunteers, and many of our children take
advantage of them.
St. Joseph School is also faced with the constantly rising costs of
utilities, textbooks, and increases in the costs of benefits for our
teaching staff. We are also looking to expand our Computer Lab and update
some school equipment. This, coupled with some needed building
maintenance, puts us in need financially. Many of you volunteer and
support our Bingo. The words "Thank You" can't even touch our gratitude to
you for your support. Unfortunately, we must still ask our alumni, parents
and friends for contributions. This is not a pleasant task, but a
necessary one. I know how proud you are of your St. Joseph School and that
you would like to see the great work this school does continue. Please
show your pride, faith and support by pledging a donation and/or sending
your child to St. Joseph School if he/she is not already attending.
Remember, all we can do for our children is our best!
Sincerely,
Michael S. Witek
St. Joseph School Board/Chair
* ** ** ** ***
LET'S GO KNIGHTS !!!
St. Joseph School Cheerleaders have entered many competitions for over
fifteen years. The 1997-1998 season was the most successful to date. They
entered seven competitions and brought home trophies from all seven,
placing in the top three. For only the second time in the school's
history, the squad placed in the top three in the Archdiocese of Hartford
Competition at Sacred Heart Academy in Hamden. This qualified them for the
New England Regional Competition in Hudson, New Hampshire on April 3,
1998. With great support from the parish and the community, the girls were
able to raise funds needed for the trip. Thanks to their dedicated
coaches, Rachel Gregorio (class of 1991) and Tiffany Bums (class of 1995),
the team made us very proud and took Third Place in a very close
competition against the top teams in New England.
The 1998-99 squad includes girls from grades 5 through 8. They are Jessica
Napoleone and Kelly Gabriel, Rebecca Berman, Jessica Hyder, Jamie outlaw,
Katianne Rosbrough, Rebecca Walkinshaw, Joan Maloney, and Elyse Cannata.
Continuing the tradition, the girls competed on January 30, 1999, at the
Fourth Annual Connecticut Cheerleading Classic at Wolcott High School. Out
of the top seven teams In Connecticut, our girls brought home the Third
Place Trophy to add to their ever-growing collection on display in the
school's trophy case. In addition to competitions, they cheer at all the
basketball games.
* ** ** ** ***
GOOD OL' DAYS
One day I was checking some books at the Barnes & Noble BookStore, when
suddenly I overheard a discussion about Catholic grammar schools. I looked
around and noticed a group of people sitting at the instore coffee bar. I
did not intend to listen to these people's conversation, but they were
louder than normal. They recalled how they were punished for the smallest
misbehavior, first by the nuns at school, and then again by their parents
at home when they tried to complain to them about the teacher's action.
They recalled how they had to do extra homework and had less time to play.
They mentioned how they had to help the sisters in cleaning their
classrooms and corridors because there was no janitor at school. They also
recalled how they had to go to confession every month and participate in
school devotions and Sunday Masses.
I couldn't concentrate on the book I had in my hands, so I continued to
listen to the alumni of the Catholic schools. Of course, there was some
criticism in their words. Those past days were so different in meaning and
values from today's standards. But, I was pleasantly surprised that their
stories were quite often combined with happy laughter. Sometimes, there
was even a moment of "confession" when someone sadly recounted that his or
her spiritual life ended when he/she started to neglect the values taught
by the sisters. My strong impression was that these people cherished their
Catholic grammar schools, and even missed them in their lives. Some were
older people remembering their schools with joy and happiness after many
years.
I hope dear Alumni of St. Joseph School in Ansonia, Connecticut, that the
same is true with you. I hope that most of you cherish your memories about
your school-our school! For some of you, let this be the time to forget
what was wrong, and forgive those who might have hurt you while you were
in school.
I know that you have lots of good stories, and you can recall many
pleasant moments. Treasure these moments in your hearts. Share them with
people around you. Remember the efforts of your teachers who offered their
entire life for your sake. Your life was enriched by seeds of good morals,
proper ethics and Christian love. You gave them growth. I hope that all of
you were able to harvest one hundredfold in your later lives.
Dear Alumni, you have graduated from St. Joseph School, but I know you
haven't abandoned the school. Your hearts still beat in the classrooms,
your thoughts still wander around the corridors and the church. We
remember you walking the same stairs and playing in the yard.
Today, we need you to be with us even more. We need you! Please support
our school, talk positively about Catholic education, encourage people to
send children to Catholic schools, and volunteer your time and talents to
the growth of your school. And please, support us financially.
Unfortunately, the times when school tuition was a dollar a month are over
... and do not forget to come and visit us. Especially, when we have a
school play, a Fair or an Open House. Be always part of us- St. Joseph
School. We are proud of you. We hope you are proud of us.
Fr. Marek Sobczak, CM, Pastor/ School Director
* ** ** ** ***
VOLUNTEERS HONORED
This past year, Mrs. Sharon Gregorio and Mrs.
Charlene Bums were honored as Volunteers of the Year at the Annual HOPES
(Help Our Parish Elementary Schools) Dinner at the Aqua Turf in
Southington, CT. These two women were among 130 recipients of the HOPES
award for their dedication and hard work to make St. Joseph School succeed
in so many ways, especially the weekly bingo, monthly marathon bingo and
our great cheerleading squad.
Congratulations Sharon and Charlene. |
