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High school lessons extend far beyond the classroom

Posted on by Vaseline
High school lessons extend far beyond the classroom

My daughter Kaitlyn is an English teacher at Monsignor Bonner/Archbishop Prendergast High School. She is also in the middle of her doctorate in education. I’m not writing this to brag about her ambition, intelligence and perseverance (as proud as I am) – I’m writing this to explain why my daughter often questions me about my high school education at Bishop Kenrick High School and its effectiveness of it. She appreciates details, stories and fun facts that can add to her knowledge base as an educator in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and as a doctoral candidate with a passion for education.

Unfortunately, I have to admit that I don’t remember much.

Oh, I remember things I haven’t learned after four years, like French. A shout out to Frances Coady, one of the top students in my class (which, by the way, had over 500 children), who looked at me with compassion when Sister Matilda called me to the front to answer questions. I could barely understand what Sister Matilda was saying, and Frances, God love her, saw my confusion and gave me the answers. I will always be grateful to her for saving me from Sister Matilda’s wrath.

Other things I didn’t learn? Algebra – unfortunately Frances was in track 1 for all other classes except French (no track needed) and couldn’t save me from Sister Rose Madeline. And the anatomy of a frog – I took a hard line against dissecting the poor thing – and Mr. Brunner, not a very strict teacher, let me pass. And geography, which I’m convinced was dropped from the curriculum when I was in college because I don’t know most of the state capitals. Or where Russia is located.

I did retain a few classes, especially from Mr. Joe McElhone (social sciences), Mrs. Carole Chernecky (theology), Sister David Francis (chemistry), and Sister Patricia Miriam (literature, my favorite subject). So for the most part, my high school career is a huge void of knowledge.

A huge void of knowledge, but overflowing in good times.

Okay, not every day was a party. Some days I had to do countless laps at the gym for basketball practice, or laps around the school for softball, or run up and down all those stairs because of forgotten items in my locker, or ignore homework assignments and catch-up reading assignments. But for the most part, other days made up for all those annoyances.

Evidence of that? I never pretended to be sick to miss school. I also didn’t skip on Senior Skip Day. But in our defense – we couldn’t quite figure out the official day – was it 79 days from the first day of school or the last day of school, and if so, which day was considered the last day – last full day, half day, or graduation? It was all quite confusing, so my friends and I just skipped truant day and went to school.

So while my academic career at Kenrick may have fallen a little short – mostly my fault, I must admit – the other aspects of high school life ranked high in my books.

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An attack on humanity – also known as a fire drill. (Photo provided by Bishop Kenrick Class of 1979 Reunion Committee)

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I went from a relatively small 8th grade class—I graduated from St. Patrick School along with forty other kids—to a sea of ​​humanity. No joke. My graduating class was the largest in the school’s history: over 500 children. The exact number has been questioned, but it ranges from 513 to 525. Either way, that’s a lot of kids.

But while the class of 1979 holds the record for most children in a graduating class, it should be noted that during the three years prior and three years after our graduation, each class had approximately 500 children. I may have just passed Algebra, but I know basic math and that’s the equivalent of 2,000 kids a year in that building in the 1970s.

Yes.

So when we go from a manageable 41 children in a class at St. Pat’s to more than 500, it’s a wonder any of us have found our way – figuratively and not literally. It was impossible to get lost in Kenrick – there were four choices: up, down, left or right. There’s nothing confusing about that building. The only thing kids never found was the pool (yes, it didn’t exist, not even on the 4th floor).

Finding your way in high school meant one thing: finding friends and finding your place in that community. Focusing on those kids who “get you,” who understand you and see past your mistakes, quirky habits, and emotional rollercoaster rides, has gotten me further in life than any B on an algebra test (which for me by the way, that didn’t happen). I’m proud that the friends I really bonded with in high school are still a big part of my life today. So when it comes to my impending high school reunion (details below), I’m going with Sue Mig (and Cathy Stone, if we can get her out of her home base of Canada, and maybe even Susan Woodie, even though she’s a years old). younger and didn’t graduate from our school), but that’s not who I’ll be spending my time with at the reunion.

The “perimeter” players in my Kenrick career – the kids I had lessons with (ironically, most of my best friends were honor society material, so not at my academic level), the girls on my basketball and softball teams , the kids at my lunch table, and my homeroom friends.

These are people I spent my time with at Kenrick – who I didn’t interact with socially – but who have continued to touch and influence my life. People like the aforementioned Frances Coady, who probably doesn’t even remember giving me the French answers. But I have never forgotten her kindness and generosity.

My basketball teammates who showed up for my brother’s funeral over Christmas break and stood across from me at the cemetery. My coach Lois Lorenz Weber wasn’t there – didn’t even talk to me about my brother’s death – not even “I’m sorry for your loss.” But my teammates made sure to hug me and even found a way to make me smile during a bus trip to a holiday tournament in Phoenixville. Thank you Lisa Thornbury for your hilarious rendition of ‘The Christmas Song’. Compassion and laughter can mean a lot to someone who is grieving.

Chris Falcone and I discovered a shared love of doing crossword puzzles during our fifth period lunch. I can’t remember why we did that, but we did. And in doing so, I learned the importance of relying on friends when answers are elusive.

Brian Rafferty, who always asked me every morning after every softball game, “How much?” He didn’t ask how many hits I got – no – he asked how many times I hit. Fastpitch hitting was not my strong suit. But that simple question helped me see how important it is not to take things too seriously, no matter how frustrating. After all, I was second in the lineup: I knew Lisa Schmidt and Gina Walker (clearance) would send leadoff hitter Paula Kurkowski home.

Kevin Joseph Lawler greeted me in class every day with a kind word and a bright smile. Being around Kevin has taught me the grace of acceptance, and how a kind smile from a pure soul can soften the roughness of a bad day. He may have taught me the lesson I would need most in my adult life.

Maybe I missed the magic of algebra and only mastered one sentence in French (Je ne sais pas: I don’t know), but make no mistake: I learned a lot from Kenrick. But the biggest lesson? I learned early on to surround myself with good people and to rely on those people when needed. I learned that there was power in exposing my weaknesses. And I’ve learned that just being nice to people goes a long way toward making good things happen.

The Bishop Kenrick High School Class of 1979 reunion will take place on November 30, 2024 at the Maenner-Chor Club, 920 Haws Avenue, Norristown, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The cost is only $20 ($25 at the door); cash bar and refreshments, and there will be a food truck on site. VENMO @ Maria-Smeykal 7076 or
make checks payable to BKHS Class of 1979 and send to 769 Autumn Lane, Schwenksville, PA 19473
Respond by November 15, 2024. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/bkhsclassof79/media

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