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St.
Mary’s May Newsletter
By Kathy Ayette
Usually when I write a column, I like to begin with a funny little
anecdote. Today it is quite impossible for me to do so. Our hearts are
very heavy at St. Mary’s due to the unexpected and untimely passing of
one of our own, Steve Blocher. Budgets at Catholic Schools tend to be
rather tight, and often it is only through the kindness and dedication
of volunteers that our students are afforded lessons and experiences
beyond the basics. Steve was a volunteer par excellence. Many of you
may have known Steve through his business Blocher Enterprises. Perhaps
he even did some decorative concrete work for you. When he was a young
man, he was a professional musician. For over twenty years, Steve
shared that talent with our students. He was the director of our
biennial school musicals. And what awesome musicals they were. It was
hard to believe that the actors/singers were fourth through eighth
graders. If you asked the students, I am sure that they would assure
you, that no Broadway director ever pushed his actors/singers any
harder. Steve was serious about those musicals. On the “off” years he
would teach the children basic music. As I got ready for class, I was
often treated to jazz, Christmas carols, and various types of music as
he practiced on the piano before school. He also shared his building
talents. For our Christmas program he constructed the stable. I think
what I will miss most are his smile and wry observations on everything.
Almost everyone I have talked to, said that when thinking of him, it is
his smile that they remember fondly. Right now there is an aching hole
in our collective heart. In time, we will heal and realize how blest we
were that Steve Blocher was part of our school family. Rest in peace,
Steve.
School is winding down. In fact it is hard to believe that as I write,
we have eleven school days left. (Teachers and students always count
school days as opposed to just days!) The eighth graders are currently
on their class trip to Toronto. This class accomplished something, that
quite frankly I can’t remember any other eighth grade class
accomplishing. They had all their mulch sold and delivered before the
class trip. That was no small feat! Most years the students return from
the trip and start delivering the last of the mulch. This week, the
seventh graders have been trying on their new role for next year as the
top class. They have been selling pretzels, watching some of the
smaller students and leading the school in the Regina Coeli, a special
Easter prayer honoring Mary.
Some students think science is hard and no fun, but not the third and
fourth graders in Mrs. Pierri’s class. This year they have enjoyed a
variety of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). I
have seen some of their projects displayed in the hall and wished I
could have participated. Right now, they are working on a tower
challenge, which is to build the tallest possible tower using crafts
sticks and cups. However they have been given certain constraints to
follow. (After all, it wouldn’t be a challenge without constraints,
right?) Next week, they will be learning about area and perimeter while
designing and building obstacle courses.
Speaking of obstacle courses, field day is the last Monday of school,
May 22. Members of the student council are busy planning the games and
activities. On field day the council members with their advisor, Mrs.
Foster, will run the field day activities. For lunch that day, the
students will be treated to a cookout.
The next day, May 23, the eighth graders will graduate. This year we
are graduating eleven students. As is our tradition, graduation will
begin with the celebration of Mass. After Mass, there will be a
reception honoring the graduates. As the students complete this leg of
their education, the faculty, staff and their fellow students wish them
well. We know that they are ready to embrace the challenges and
adventure
of their high school years. They will always be welcomed at St. Mary’s
and forever remain in our hearts. We will miss them and look forward to
seeing them at our Thanksgiving homecoming.
The last day of school is May 26. It is hard to believe that the school
year is coming to a close. Of course I say that every year! On behalf
of the staff and students, I would like to thank all those people who
have helped us in some way this year. If I were to name them all, well
it would be a whole ‘nother column! Have a nice summer!
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