Volume 1, Issue 2, Spring 2000

Dear Friends,

Thank you all for your generous support of our most beautiful St. Joseph School. My first year was truly a wonderful experience, especially being able to meet and work with the dedicated, loving parents, friends and parishioners of the St. Joseph Community. Your friendliness, your caring ways and your generosity are tremendous gifts to the children.

The St. Joseph staff has added Spanish as part of our seventh and eighth grade curriculum. Mrs. Claire Antippas, our new Science, Spanish and sixth grade homeroom teacher is also providing an after-school Spanish club for students in grades four through six. We are in the process of building a well-equipped Science Lab.

Mrs. Joanne Clericuzio, our new Math instructor and seventh grade homeroom teacher accompanied a Math team to Quinnipiac College for the Math Counts competition. It was an enriching experience competing with so many top-notch private schools throughout Connecticut.

Mr. Samuel Divine, our new Language Arts and eighth grade homeroom instructor, is planning the grand opening of our new school store. We are having a contest for a catchy name for our store. Mr. Divine is also working with the students on compiling a Literary Magazine comprised of original and interesting works.

Our Future Musicians Band is doing so well. Fifth grader Anna Kozlowski played with the Concert Band and sixth grader Joan Maloney played with the Honor Guard at the Millennium Celebration at Oakdale in Wallingford. Anna will be going to the Old State House in Hartford and to New York City with the Southern Honors Band.

We are continuing to grow in all areas. We are growing in population. Thank you for all your help and support. It is because of friends like you that we keep growing as we do.

Carmel Brown

Principal

As done in the previous year, volunteers of the year were honored at the Annual Archdiocese HOPES (Help Our Parish Elementary Schools) Dinner held at the Aqua Turf in Southington, CT. This year the Volunteers of the Year from St. Joseph School were Mr. Michael Witek and Mrs. Deborah Hyder. Both gave countless hours of dedication and hard work to make the 1998-1999 school year the success that it was!

The St. Joseph Cheerleaders recently completed their season and were together with the St. Joseph Basketball team at a banquet held at Actors Colony Inn in Seymour.

The cheerleaders competed this year as a dance team and did a great job. They participated in three area competitions - Ansonia High School; Connecticut Spirit Association at Quinnipiac College, where they took home first place trophies and at Southern Connecticut State University, where they got a second place finish. In addition to competitions, the team also cheered on the St. Joseph Basketball team at their league games and at the Archdiocese of Hartford Tournament in Waterbury.

The team members are Rebecca Berman, Loriann Reyher and Katie Witek, all 8th graders who were Tri-Captains, Sara Gabriel, 7th grade, Elyse Cannata, Katianne Rosbrough, Rebecca Walkinshaw, 6th grade and Katie Calvin and Margaret Serafin, 4th grade. The girls are coached by Rachel Gregorio (St. Joseph Class of 1991) and Sharon Gregorio. Our next year’s captain will be Sara Gabriel.

We are hoping to increase the size of the team for next year and it will be a Cheerleading Team, not a dance team. Any girl who will be in grades 4th through 8th next year is eligible. CCD students and/or parishioners in those grades are also welcome to participate. If you are interested, you may call Sharon Gregorio at 734-4830.

St. Joseph School Development held its first live and silent auction at Warsaw Park on Saturday, March 4, 2000. Preview of the myriad of treasures from an original signed print of Vince Lombardi and twenty Green Bay Packers to numerous beautifully-made theme baskets began at 6:00 PM. The live auction began promptly at 7:00 PM with an autographed photo of Bart Starr by the two auctioneers, John Novak and Robert Acquavella. We were extremely fortunate to have the help of Rhonda Novak and Allison Acquavella (below) who organized the fundraiser and worked so diligently from its inception to its completion.

Rebecca Berman

This year has been the busiest I can remember. Our school has been involved in so much. We have wonderful dedicated teachers, a principal that truly cares, and a student body that makes up a great big family. We have a Computer Lab with the latest technology, Science Lab in the works, art, music, gym, band, Spanish Club, Cheerleading, a Basketball team and choir. Community service is always a part of our school. As Student Council President, I was able to experience first hand what reaching out to the community is all about. We did the Coats for Kids project, Toys for Tots, we were on the radio, and we are looking into helping with the animal shelters. Hopefully, we will do a clean-up environmental project in the spring. Our school has always prepared students for the challenge of high school, and this year is no exception. We were able to participate in the Science Fair, Spelling Bee and Math Counts.

For its second year as a parish team, St. Joseph Knights Varsity basketball team did well. Led by Co-Captains Rob Haddad and Jonny Tedder, the Varsity Knights finished the season with a 7-3 record in the Valley Parochial League. Coach Michael Witek and Assistant Coaches Tom Lenart Jr. and Mike Witek all agreed that even though the team had more than its share of injuries and illnesses, they hung in there and played well.

A newly formed Junior Varsity team was added to the program this year. Coached by Varsity Coach Michael Witek and son, Mike (a former captain on the Knights) the Junior Varsity Knights finished the season with a 5-4 record. All this was very impressive for a first year team. Emphasis for this team was placed on sportsmanship and fundamentals. Tri-Captains were Bobby Ayers, Pawel Janucik and Jason Berman. Both teams played at the new Boys and Girls Club in Shelton. The 2000-2001 season hopes to have as much as 10 teams in the league.

This was the last year for the coaches. Coach Witek wishes to extend a special thanks to the parents for their support, cooperation and the opportunity to coach their children and to the players for their attentiveness and efforts on and off the court.

The teams are actively looking for replacement coaches. Anyone interested should contact the school at 734-3821.

In looking at a schedule of classes at St. Joseph School, we see many subjects. Competent qualified teachers teach these subjects to all students enrolled in St. Joseph School. The students sit and work in clean, well-lit classrooms using neat chairs and desks. All these things help to educate our children - to make them great Americans and especially, good Christians - our Baptismal vows - to spread God’s word - fulfilled.

St. Joseph School has been doing this so well for 75 years. However, the last few years have been financially draining. You ask why? If you pause a moment, the answer will come to you. Cost of living - that’s why! Every area has been affected. Apply that to 75 years existence of St. Joseph School.

All through the years, not just at Easter and Christmas, we are asked to contribute to many causes (your mail and mine attest to this) and most of the time we do. Wouldn’t it be even better to make a contribution to a very worthwhile cause - St. Joseph School, Ansonia? An organization so well known to us personally, and know that the contribution is being put to good use?

St. Joseph School is still on 36 Jewett Street, Ansonia. The yellow brick building on the hill but remodeled several times on the inside, and using only updated books, materials and machines. If everyone reading this Newsletter would contribute at least $100.00 this year (4 or 5 figure money is also acceptable) to the St. Joseph School Fund, how much lighter St. Joseph School’s expenses would be (never mind being able to introduce even newer ideas). Your contribution would help pay for part of the utilities and salaries (10 full-time teachers, 4 part-time; a principal and secretary).

I am a St. Joseph School alumnus. I thank God everyday for my wonderful Alma Mater, St. Joseph School, and I do contribute financially and socially to St. Joseph School. Would you please do likewise, today? May God bless you for spreading His word!

Sincerely,

Martha Lachowska
Class of ‘38

P.S. A phone call to Mrs. Brown, the principal, will enable you to tour the school.

___ $250 - $499 Knights Club

___ $100 - $240 Red & White Club

___ $50 - $99 Friends of St. Joseph

___ $5 - $49 Donor

I / We consider myself/ourselves: FRIEND ALUMNI PARENT GRANDPARENT (PLEASE CIRCLE)

NAME........................................................................SCHOOL...........................................YEAR....................

ADDRESS..........................................................CITY..........................................STATE..........ZIP.................

Please make checks payable to: St. Joseph School Development Fund

36 Jewett Street, Ansonia, CT 06401

ALL CONTRIBUTIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE

Here are some ideas which will bring profit to our school.

This program helps non-profit groups, like our school, raise money. If you are a "SNET All Distance" customer, St. Joseph School will receive 5% of every dollar you spend on SNET long distance calling. It is cost free for you. There are no charges or hidden fees. Call 1-800-635-7638 to enroll. Just give our St. Joseph School number C2701.

Our school is also enrolled with AT&T. We receive 5 points for every dollar you spend on long distance calls. These points are used to buy technology. If you use AT&T, please call 1-800-232-8200 and give our School ID# 00231118. Again, it is cost free for you, no charges or hidden fees.