Academy of Mount Saint Vincent - Chastellux Yearbook (Tuxedo Park, NY)

Page 29 text:

Geometry took a front seat When MRS. VALERIE CLEARY, who has taught Math at the Academy for the last three years, said that ’This year at the Mount was a teach- er’s dream,’ she was referring to classes so sized that everyone had a front seat' and indi- vidual attention made it possible for difficul- ties to be clarified and problems solved almost as soon as they came to a student's mind. Be- sides this, small classes meant that students worked at the blackboard more frequently and used the Overhead Projectorto present home- work assignments. Again this year MRS. CLEARY taught an elec- tive ’Preparation for Marriage’ which included Home-making. Social Usage and Domestic Arts. Those who chose the course were well prepared for the Betty Crocker Homemaker- of-the-Year Competitive Examination as well as for the more remote future when they would have homes of their own. The warmth of Student-Faculty rapport is il- lustrated by the picture above left showing MRS. CLEARY. CHRIS CAWLEY and PAT KRAMER at the Hallowe en Basketball Game. One distinction MRS. CLEARY shared with no other member of the Faculty: her daughter, another VALERIE, was a Sophomore at the Mount, and a student in her Mother’s Math classes. 25

Page 28 text:

Sister Rita’s double role was challenging We have referred above to the fact that SISTER RITA was playing a difficult double role this year. To be Director of an Academy during its final year and to teach Chemistry. Biology and Math 12 would be impossible — and not a dream — for most educators, even if. like SIS- TER RITA, they had had experience in admin- istration and teaching. At times Presidents of Universities have arranged to teach so that through their contacts they would be able to know, reach and influence their students SR. RITA GUSHUE MRS. VALERIE CLEARY SISTER RITA works with a group of Seniors in the Laboratory and their students would know them as people and not just as names or titles. Perhaps this was one reason that led SISTER RITA to con- sider teaching these three courses. Another practical explanation is the difficulty of at- tracting a qualified teacher willing to teach all three courses for just one year. Whatever the causes, the effects have been gratifying for both SISTER RITA and the students whom she taught. 24

Page 30 text:

New Room, New Method, New Teacher, New Course Pictured with MRS. KELLEHER are CHRIS CAWLEY. KAREN STEGEMAN. CHRISTY MIRA. JOAN REYES. SUSANA KANE, and MARY RYAN MRS. LYDIA MARSHALL MRS. ANGELA KELLEHER When permission was given to the students to wear pant suits on Fridays, MRS. KELLEHER was the first member of the Faculty to take advantage of the permis- sion and wear them too. After teaching Typing and Notehand in SKYTOP for three years, MRS. MARSHALL inherited the Freshman Classroom in the new wing. The room was spacious and multi-windowed and MRS. MARSHALL made the most of its possibilities. There was room for an extra set of desks for notehand classes. There were long blackboards and bulletin boards for display of work. There was an overhead projector that could be used in teaching both Typing and Notehand. It was the last year — but for MRS. MARSHALL it was wonderful in many ways. A newcomer to the Mount and a very re- cent bride, MRS. KELLEHER included three Romance languages in her pro- gram: Spanish, French and Italian — and amazed all by her multi-lingual skill. With her youth, personality and teaching abili- ty. rapport between MRS. KELLEHER and her students was evident early in the year. At the Student-Faculty Basketball Game at Hallowe’en another of her tal- When Italy was chosen for the Easter Trip in 72, MRS. MARSHALL and MRS. KELLEHER arranged classes in Italian Conversation for interested students. Above MRS MARSHALL is meeting with one of her groups and is listening intently to a student's pronunciation as ANNE COYLE listens with interest and amusement too. ents was evident — she was a top-notch cheerleader. 26