Cathedral Griffin High School - Yearbook (Springfield, IL)

Page 55 text:

Student enrollment made the walls burst at the seams. Frs. Joseph Sum. Thomas Kin- ney and Eugene Lutzjoined the staff. Brother Patrick Cahill, who had come the previous year, took over the duties of freshmen foot- ball, basketball and baseball coach. Mr. Myron Layendecker became the first layman to direct the Glee Club. The class historian noted that the football team won only one of The Glee Club of1956 its nine games and the basketball team seven wins out of twenty-six starts. Still members of the teams were named to All City and All Conference Teams. Enrollment jumped to the point that the old walls of the Converse school groaned under the pres- sure. Rapid remodeling and many improvisations helped somewhat. Myron Layendecker V Bro. Cahill coached freshmen. Fr, Jos. Sum Fr. Thos. Kinney Myron would defy gravity when he pranced . . . in 1939 he got statewide attention for it. As a grade schooler, I was impressed Jim Kolis 46 gwewe Myron Layendecker- li precursor ofthe Limbo W 47 I llnlfl If er

Page 54 text:

Father joseph Canella, C.S.V. Father Jospeph Canella made hisghrst appearance at Cathedral in 1954. He introduced a course in remedial reading which was significant. Padre, as he liked to be called, was alwaysfond ofthe student who needed help. Over his years at Cathedral and then Griffin, Father Canella would also teach Spanish to which, as his students no doubt remember, he brought a great deal of color, spirit andfun. He succeeded Fr. Sullivan as Principal and it was during his term that the new school was planned and built. Father Canella was the spearhead behind the annual Mostaccioli Dinner which gradually became and remains a main fund raising eventfor the school and which celebrated its twentyqfifth anni- versary on March 4, 1984. Following the end of his prin- cipalshtp, Father Canella served as pastor of St. Mary is parish in Kankakee, Illinois, and then be- came pastor of' St. Patricks parish also in that city. When he completed his term as pastor of St. Pats, he asked to re- turn to Griffin. He spent his last years as a teacher, counselor and friend to thelfaculty and students ofthe school he loved. Father Canella passed away in his sleep . . Q-.ef.-Arai' on August 10, 1982, at the Griffin .. I faculty residence. Fr. Canella brought spirit and fun to the classroom. 9 I f at-Q The Mostaccioli Dinner became and remains the majorfund raiserfor the school. ,Xie if-5

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Student guidance work received new emphasis this year and reme- dial courses were expanded. These were the early years of edu- cation experimentation and new methodsw of teaching were begin- . Bowlzng appeared under the nmg to challenge the old. supervision 0fFr Hopkins Tri-Hi Student Councils: Ursuline Academ Fr. Kinney organized some- thing new with the Tri-Hi Student Council which brought students from Sacred Heart, Ursuline and Cathedral together for the first time. Girls from the two acade- mics also helped with the year- book. With the illness of Father Splekerman the years of the An nual Variety Show in its tradi the performance of the 1955 56 show tional form came to an end with f '