Of Popsicle Socials…
It may have been the most pleasant weather ever for Tues-day’s Popsicle Social, the ‘unofficial’ start of the school year. After a quiet summer, the screeching of kids playing on the playground equipment while new and returning parents met is such a welcome sound. Tomorrow (Wednesday) starts our first half day of school. We are excited to be beginning.
All of our staff but one is returning. Mrs. Renee Joiner, our third grade teacher, decided to stay at home to care for her four children. Though we completely understand, we will miss her enthusiasm and energy on our school faculty. Mrs. Dana Aubuchon, former second grade teacher, will be moving up to third grade. Ms. Jennifer Givens, our new hire, (and an UMSL Newman Center/UMSL alum) will be teaching our second grade. The rest of the faculty remains the same.
So once more, St. Ann School embarks on the mandate given by Ann Lucas Hunt when she donated the start up funds and the land for the new school – “to see the education of the children and the care of the flock.” May God bless our school year and may we continue to make an impact in the lives of our students and families.
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Speaking of making an impact, I received the following email from a former St. Ann Alum. (this is the first chance I had to get it into the bulletin.)
“Because it soon will be the feast of St. Anne and for old times’ sake I looked up my alma mater and just want to say hello. I graduated from St. Anne’s in 1941 and entered the Passionist seminary, ordained 1955 and sent to Japan 1957 where I have been in pastoral work since. There may be a few classmates or friends still in the area. George Graham was the last I am aware of. Until his death he lived in Normandy.
Is the Schulte hardware still there at the Loop? As you probably know, the Passionist Seminary was just beyond Lucas and Hunt on Natural Bridge. When I entered I walked from my home carrying my suitcase. At that time, before the church was built, the school auditorium was used for Mass and the old stone church built by Fr. De Smet was still there. I took secret pride that my name was written in the plaster in a corner of the steps going up to the bell tower. As a server to be assigned to ring the church bell was a real thrill. (You could hold on to the rope and let it carry you in the air.).”
Fr. Denis (James) McGowan, C.P.
Ikeda City, Japan