HELLO ALUMNI AND FRIENDS!

What Is This All About?

After graduating students from Holy Family School for more than 40 years, we have decided to reach out and let our graduates know about the wonderful things that have happened and are happening at Holy Family Catholic School.

The best way we can do that is through an Alumni Newsletter. Sit back, relax, read, and enjoy!

Alumni Club

The Development Committee of the School Advisory Commission is working on locating all Alumni.  We would like to establish an Alumni Club where graduates can rekindle old friendships. If you know any Alumni, please ask them to forward current information, such as an address, years graduated, and a current name to the school office.  Or, you can Email the same information to an address set up just for this purpose: HFSALUMNI@AOL.com

Administration

Who is leading our school today into the 21st Century?

Sister Florence Ann Marino is beginning her 6th year at Holy Family School.  She is a member of the religious community, Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  She grew up on Long Island (when it was really “country”).  She has taught in schools in Clinton and LaPlata, Maryland; Brooklyn, New York; and New Jersey.  This is her 2nd time around in Florida.  She taught for 12 years, and this year she will complete 25 years in Administration.  Every year there is something that always brings new excitement to her vocation - she feels that education of youth is not a ‘job’, but a calling!  She enjoys the computer, staying in touch with friends (mostly through Email), reading, going out to dinner, and watching a good movie (snacking on popcorn!).

Father Robert Schneider is the Pastor for Holy Family Catholic Church.  Fr. Bob began his tenure with the parish in July 1996.  His hobbies are going to the beach, sports, and exercising.  He also plays the accordion.  He is active in the clown ministry.  He enjoys eating sushi.

Teachers Spotlight

How many of you remember these names?  Mrs. Patricia Hosack, Ms. Barbara McKenzie, Ms. Pam Ferguson, Ms. Kathy Kessler, Mr. Bob Greenough, Mrs. Pamela Miner, and Ms. Marty Brinsko?  These teachers have a combined 190 years of teaching at HFS.  How fortunate we are to have their dedication to our school and children! 

Mrs. Hosack is in her 36th year at Holy Family.  She is the 6th grade teacher and Assistant Principal. She and her husband love to spend time with their three granddaughters and are very proud of their new grandson.  She enjoys reading good literature to children and likes to keep busy with beautification projects at home. One of her favorite quotes is, “Patience is a virtue”.  You can Email Mrs. Hosack at mimih56@aol.com.

Ms. McKenzie is starting her 36th year at HF.  When she isn’t teaching 4th graders,  she enjoys reading, shopping, going out to eat, and traveling (especially to FSU games).  She is also a Buccaneer, Storm, and Devil Ray fan.  Her new favorite pastime is exercising.  She is a holiday person who loves to decorate and dress to celebrate all the special days of the year.  You can Email Ms. McKenzie at mckenzie.barbara@hotmail.com.

Ms. Ferguson has the best job of all.  For 26 years she has welcomed the kindergartners into Holy Family.  Her hobbies are quilting, crafts, and music.  She enjoys pizza and Big Gulps, and basically every food group.  She collects candles, fabric, Thomas Kinkade prints, and “smelly stuff”!  You can reach Ms. Ferguson at pf4kids@aol.com.

Ms. Kessler has been at Holy Family for 27 years.  She is multi-talented, teaching Language Arts/Art/Social Studies.  Her hobbies are art, reading, sewing, decorating, and exercise class.  Her favorite colors are rose and black.  She loves to eat shrimp, pasta, veggies, and anything sweet.  You can Email Ms. Kessler at KesslerKathy@hotmail.com

Ms. Brinsko is celebrating 25 years at HFS.  She is the 8th grade teacher.  When she’s not avidly supporting her Pittsburgh Pirates, Steelers, and Penguins, she enjoys reading, biking, and gardening.  Her palate is most tempted by ice cream and ANYTHING chocolate.  You can reach her at imrep@gte.net.

Mr. Greenough has been a member of the teaching staff for 22 years.  He challenges the 7th graders.  He enjoys traveling to Europe, cooking, collecting Swarovski crystal, and horseback riding in the mountains.  He loves to sit up late night on weekends and watch old movies.  He loves to eat Italian food and apple pie with a slice of cheddar cheese.  You can reach him at rgreenough@hotmail.com.

 Mrs. Miner, the 2nd grade teacher, has been at HFS for 20 years.  She started teaching in 1973.  After teaching for 3 years, she left to start her family and returned in 1984.  In the last 5 years she has started teaching children of the students she had the first time around.  She enjoys walking on the beach, reading, and watching football, especially  the Noles and Bucs.  She loves all kinds of food, especially Italian and anything chocolate.  She can be reached at pam_miner@hotmail.com.

 If you have any special memory or story you would like to share with these teachers, please do so.  They would love to hear from you

Current Statistics

• For the 2000-2001 School year, we have 183 families for a total of 253 children from Kindergarten to 8th Grade.
  

• Classes are in session Monday-Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m..
   

• The Extended Day Program, started in 1990, begins at 2:45 p.m. and runs until 6 p.m.
  . 

• A Summer Care Program runs each summer beginning the first Monday after school is out until a week or two before the beginning of the next school year.
  

• The present faculty and staff comprise 15 lay teachers (including 3 teaching assistants), a computer/Spanish specialist, a guidance counselor, a school lunch program director, a library/media specialist, a curriculum and staff development specialist, and maintenance personnel. 
  

• The Extended Day Program has its own director and 4 staff members. 
  

• The school community has the benefit of the support and involvement of the parish priests, permanent deacons, the director of religious education, the music director, the youth minister, and the parish administrator.

School Curriculum, etc.

Facilities

Those of you who graduated in the early years of the school would be impressed with the parish facilities today.

 * The school building dedicated in 1961 remains in place with an addition added to the east end of the building in 1977.  This addition includes a multipurpose room and changing rooms and office for PE on the 1st floor.  The 2nd floor houses the library/media center/computer lab.  An art room was added in 1977; in 1985 the kindergarten classroom was expanded to meet the physical needs of students enrolled in a full-day program. 

 * In 1984 the new church was completed and the old church building was converted into a much-needed activity center named the Jerome E. Diffley Parish Center.

 * In 1998 a Master Plan for future development was finalized.  Included was the renovation of the Diffley Parish Center into a much-needed preschool and assembly room.  New entrances and exits were also completed.

 * In August 2000, the Early Childhood Center was opened in the renovated Diffley Parish Center.  It can accommodate 60 children.  We have 20 eager, smiling three and four year olds as our inaugural class.

 * Future improvements include a much anticipated gymnasium for the school

Parent Support

In order to expand parental involvement in school policy and decision-making, a school board was formed in 1982.  Today the School Advisory Commission works with the Administrators, giving advice and making decisions about the direction of the school.  There are three standing committees that carry out SAC’s responsibilities.  They include Finance, Long-Range Planning, and Development.  This newsletter is a project of the Development Committee.

In 1985, the Moms and Dads club was inaugurated to assist the Administrators in community-building and fund-raising.  Currently known as the Home & School Association, the major fundraisers for 2000-2001 include the sale of Entertainment Books (September 2000), a Golf Tournament (10/5/00), a Jog-A-Thon (10/26/00), and an Auction (2/24/01).  If you are in this area during February  2001, you might consider attending the Auction.  For more information closer to the event, you can see the church bulletin,  call the school or church office, or Email this newsletter with specific questions.

Alumni Spotlight

In 1996 the school initiated the annual presentation of the NCEA Distinguished Graduate Award to an outstanding Alumnus.  To be named, the individual must have graduated at least ten years previous to the nomination year; he or she must have exhibited a spirit of service and his/her life should reflect credit upon the Catholic School education he/she received.  HFS has conferred this award to following alumni:

 1997- Anne Harman, Class of 1979.  Anne is the Director of Music at St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Tarpon Springs, FL and a faculty member of St. Leo College.

 1998 - Seana Zientek, Class of 1988.  Seana is a Child Life Specialist at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas, TX.  She is involved with the Young Serra Community of Dallas, a group of Catholic young adults focused on prayer, fellowship, and service. 

1999 - Dr. David McKalip, Class of 1979.  David was at the University of California Medical Center in San Francisco, CA.  He is now practicing in St. Petersburg, as a pediatric neurosurgeon.

 2000 - Abby Nold Rudderham, Class of 1980.  Abby is a teacher of gifted children in Pinellas County and an active Holy Family Parish member.

 If you are aware of anyone who might qualify for this award in the future, please share that information with Ms. Brinsko.  She can be reached at the school office number or her email imrep@gte.net.

Catholic Schools Week

Next year between January 28th and February 2nd, HFS will celebrate Catholic Schools Week.  On Sunday, January 28th, the Distinguished Graduate Award for 2001 will be presented at the 9am Mass.  Afterwards the school is opened for an art display by the students  for parish members, school families, friends, and ALUMNI to visit.  If you would like to see for yourself the changes that have taken place in your Alma Mater, please join us.  

 On Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday there are a variety of in-school activities.  On Wednesday, the school holds an Open House from 9 am to 1 pm.  Parents and grandparents are invited to come to lunch with their children/grandchildren that day.  On Friday we celebrate our school liturgy at 8:45 am. 

 On Friday afternoon we continue the Academic Bowl tradition.  A Blue Team competes against a Gold Team.  Each team is made up of 3 students from each grade, K through 8, and are challenged to correctly answer questions from every area of their education, from religion to PE!  It’s a wonderful way to cap off a great week. Guests are welcome to attend.

Endowment Fund

The Holy Family Endowment Fund is a tax-exempt fund held by the Diocese of St. Petersburg.  The Fund was started by Fr. Diffley in 1984 and has grown to more than $500,000 today.  Gifts to the Fund help secure the future of Catholic education for our children.  All donations are extremely valuable to our school.  Donations of $1,000 or more are recognized on a plaque in the school.  Many types of gifts are accepted, including cash, IRA transfers, property, bequests through wills and estate, life insurance, business gifts, matching gifts, etc.  Gifts may be made all at once or over time.  Additionally, most gifts are tax deductible.  Please consider your ability to leave a lasting contribution to the grace-filled catholic education of our children. 

 If you have any questions about the Fund, and/or wish to plan a gift, please contact our school administrator or parish pastor.

A message from the Principal

This is an exciting time for us here at Holy Family School.  Our dream was to begin an Alumni Newsletter in the year 2000.  Only through the insistence and persistence of a dedicated, past graduate, Dianne Guettler Flannery, were we able to bring this dream to a reality.

 We are very proud of our school, and are happy to be able to have this opportunity to keep you up to date on the wonderful changes going on here.  We are also happy to share with you interesting ‘tidbits’ about faculty members you might have had when you were here.  Check out our website and let us hear from you.  I hope that God has blessed you with many happy memories; for you, our Alumni, we are most grateful.

-- Sister Flo