St. Marys School May
Newsletter
Once again we have come to the end of another school year. As I type
this letter, we have eleven school days left. Over the past nine months
I have written about holidays, retreats, field trips, Christmas around
the World and the Spring Spectacular, and that just scratches the
surface. It really is amazing how much we manage to cram into one
school year!
On May 3 the seventh and eighth graders received the sacrament of
Confirmation. The traditional donut reception for the confirmandi was
postponed until May 11 due to the fact that the eighth graders left the
next morning, May 4, for their class trip to Puerto Rico. They returned
on May 7. By all accounts they had a fantastic time. The eighth graders
visited the other classrooms to tell about their adventures and to
answer questions. They visited historic sites and natural wonders, took
a night swim in a bay filled with luminous plankton.
On May 5, the fifth and sixth graders went to the Health Fair at the
fairgrounds. On May 6, the kindergarten through fourth grades went to
the Victoria Theater to see a presentation of “The Gruffalo’s Child”.
It was a very funny play and it was difficult to see who enjoyed it
more, the children or the adults.
Last Tuesday, May 12 the staff and volunteers enjoyed an appreciation
luncheon given by the Board of Trustees. Everyone was given a box of
Ghyslain chocolates. (Frankly nothing makes me feel more appreciated
than chocolate!) Teacher Appreciation Day was actually a week earlier,
but because some of those who were to be appreciated were in Puerto
Rico with the eighth graders, the luncheon was held a week later.
However on the actual day our good principal provided chocolate in the
form of candy and cake for the staff who were not in Puerto Rico.
Obviously he has caught on to the fact that the way to our hearts is
paved with chocolate.
The seventh and eighth graders are in Chicago this weekend visiting Fr.
David Kelly and learning about his ministry helping troubled youths.
The students are planting vegetables and flowers on the mission grounds.
I mentioned retreats earlier. This month the third and fourth graders
will have an in-house retreat led by the Maria Stein Retreat Group on
Monday, May 18. The fifth and sixth graders will go to Maria Stein on
May 20 for their retreat.
Eighth grade graduation is May 26. Eight students are graduating this
year. We will miss them and wish them well as they begin high school.
May 28 is field day and the last day of school is May 29.
Mrs. Linda Waltke is retiring at the end of the school year. She began
teaching at St. Mary’s in 1972. She taught for one year then took her
first “retirement” to raise her family. She returned to St. Mary’s in
1979 and has taught here ever since. Her teaching assignments ranged
from first grade to fifth grade. Her current assignment is a combined
class of third and fourth graders. She has been a teacher for 37 years,
all of which have been at St. Mary’s. She has been thoroughly dedicated
to the children of St. Mary’s. When her husband passed away, she was a
young widow with two young sons. At that time many of her relatives and
friends urged her to leave St. Mary’s to teach at the public school so
that she could have a better income and retirement. Well, happily for
us, she refused. She felt that God had called her to teach in a
Catholic school and that He would take care of her. We certainly have
been blessed by her presence and all that she has done for the
children. Now at this point you probably expect me to say something
about how we will all miss her. Well, I would if she were really going
to be absent. She has already committed to hours of volunteer work at
the school. (I called first dibs!) You see that is the thing about the
students and staff at this school. They become so firmly planted in
your heart that it is impossible just to leave. Currently there are
three retired teachers who are here as volunteers and spend almost as
much time here as they did when they were on staff. Mrs. Waltke will be
recognized for her service at the 10:30 Mass on June 7. Immediately
after, there will be a brunch held in her honor. Please come and wish
her a happy retirement.
Well, as I said this is the last newsletter of the 2014-15 school year.
On behalf of the staff and students of St. Mary’s, I would like to wish
you a peaceful and restful summer.
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