Cathedral Preparatory School - Literulae Yearbook (Erie, PA)

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, , Teacher Legends Vxvheri ,ist eil wttdt they remembered most about ilfi.i't'ieilrr.il Prep, most graduates mentioned the ii, .ilm etluiiigitrorw, the championship athletic teams, 'tae rtteitse sfihciigtl spirit, and the abundance of ff-trct Curricular activities. Since most of the time in fi gn school was spent in the classroom, however, most graduates' thoughts turned towards the teachers themselves. Certain teachers, especially, stood out in the minds ot Prep alumni because of their unique qualities as educators. Among these memorable faculty members were Father Kond- Qielsli, Stster Virginia l-lofmann, GSB., Mr. VVenY rick, Miss Makwell, and tvlr. Zambrowski. Combine ing untgue teaching methods, dedication to the students' growth spiritually, academically, and ath- leticallyi, availability for indtvidual guidance, and riilirround school spirit, these teachers have proudly been labeled as teaching legends!! at Cathedral Prep. The first teaching legend most students heard about was Father 'iDuke Kondzielski. While in eighth grade prospective Prep students were al- , rr I i u . , . . tr ill .Ft ,' , pi ' i ttf' - .Ili-ia ' H . Mr. Wenrick tqitttr-f, th - ztutlrtrit liijirly fit fi fall, try rf-lqtiriq one -L f if, 1 ,rf yn , ie., Expecting a student t' : for qirftufrffr Fiihei Diikr'f'ff V 'tiffit ,rt trrr t if-iirlirid l-'lf' fllffn rillrjirrlg the if ' V' i Q- th hint 26 ready familiar wtth terms like liDuke , Nguidancef' and Ubuddiesff After receiving their schedules they eagerly looked to see if they were enrolled in Father Dukes class. More often than not, the un- wary Freshmen would be disappointed, they got Father Kondzielski instead. How soon they learned! Graduating from Prep in l959, Father Kond- gtelski carrie back to teach at his Alma Mater in l967. He wanted to teach Freshmen because they were not radical like their older counterparts and had minds open for growth and suggestions. To Father Kondzielski, an important part of teaching was imparting knowledge to the students. lust as important, though, was making himself avail- able to them. Thus, Father Kondzielski's individual guidance became the hallmark of his teaching ca- reer. Giving up free periods and staying after school, Father Kondzielski would spend time with any student who needed to talk. l-le also made himself available outside of school, students often visited him at his home, HDukeopia, to talk about problems or just chit-chat. Father Kondzielski be- came a close friend to the many students who sought his companionship. These students, affec- tionately known as Hbrowniesn or Hbuddiesf' often popped in on Father Kondzielski years after they had him in class. Father llDuke became a legend lor his closeness to the students, he was a priest and a teacher, but he was also a Ureal person. By the time Prep students became Sophomores, they were introduced to a new teaching legend, Sister Virginia, one of the few remaining nuns at Prep. Teaching at Prep at various times since l946, Sister Virginia has seen both the low and the high points of the school. She remembered when the entire school was packed in the gym for quarter sessions, and the Freshmen had to sit on the floor, but she also witnessed Prep's growth over the years. the addition of classrooms, an auditorium, and a science wing. Through her many years of teaching English, German and forensics lwhich she helped organize in l953l she herself became a hallmark of Prep's commitment to excellence in education. The key to Sister Virginia's success as a teacher was her dedication to the students. Whether it be academically or spiritually, Sister Virginia helped her students fulfill Bishop Gannon's dream for Prep: to produce Christian gentlemen who were equipped with the academic competence to make their mark upon the community. Academically, Sister Virginia believed that Urepetition was the mother of studies. She drilled her students indefatigably in grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary: instilling in them the need to com- 3117 QP 43'

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fi. v 5- - - . , --M ,Q -ww 'mf N . xxx' Left: The former guidance office :ig s p1il',,:..f, J, I 4 fa. .,, Below: What was previously 1 f I rl -r ' if yur.-rf,f,f, A V -r,-, - Guidance Department Endures Adversity As the plans for a computer lah reached the final stages, it became apparent that the lab would displace the Guidance Office. The administration based the decision onthe need to keep down the costs of electrical wiring and the installation of an conditioning. The central location of the rooin satis' fied these considerations and afso provided an additional security feature since it barred access from the outside, This decision, however, affected the Guidance Department quite significantly, It entailed inox na both Father Nowalcs office and the guidance ref, erence rooni. The problem was resofsed alien the dressing rooni offstage was conseiteil into an ef fice for Father Nowak, and the upper part ef Rear-i lO8, which convetitetttls adloined Father S elhce was designated as the Guidance Gftice reference IOOFIT. Having weathered through that inaier inaxe 'fre ,..i Guidance G ji rttowt WG ' c. c -- ff, ance -Xue-T 'D 'er' Jie N A eaatd he 'as .3 sdfr 1' rrtew eas arp: JG reg' 5 s fee'e:afv f'e'11ec: Vs. we The G, ac: ce feng changes s Q git PMQOS Q' . 'ea ln 'J ta ' LSC: SKTL' K w- - qi .-1 l

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municate clearly and effectively whether they bee came doctors, attorneys, bishops, or telephone repairmen, True, she expected hard work lrom her students, but this hard work paid oll in the long run, as many ol her lormer students attested. Sister Virginia also helped her students grow spiritually and socially. She respected her students and demanded the same lrom them. When she was required to reprimand her pupils, she would do it in a lirm, yet endearing, manner, calling them llMehiti- bel, llFaulpelZ, or llboeser Bubf' She believed that the boys worked better in a well ordered disciplined environment. Her strictness never dam- pened her sense ol humor though, as on the day when a couple ol pigeons interrupted her class and did their business on a lew students. Alter the mess was cleaned up, Sister Virginia and Monsi- gnor McDonald, the Headmaster at the time, agreed that the pigeons should be given glasses and books so they could do their studying outside onthe window ledge where they belonged. Many ol Sister Virginia's students claimed she was the best teacher they ever had, and all ol them agreed that she played a very signilicant part in their lormative years at Prep. When it came to school spirit, no teacher exem- plilied it more than Mr. Wenrick. Graduating lrom Prep in l965 and teaching here since l97O, Mr. ,i ' ' 4 I it l I U bl' s f - A ' . I ks m ,sw A . , .M rlrr x i.. my r Wenrick was a perlect example ol Prep sprrrt r,r,r soriilied. In the classroom, at rallies, and at qflrr Mr. Weririck exuded an enthusiasm whirh igrritrld even the most timid Freshman or the riiost lrlthargrf Senior. His stories, especially, played a pivotal role irr his teaching. ln the classroom these narratives llf' lighted the students, proving the point that learriirig could be painless. At rallies, these same stories were sure to raise the spirits ol the Sixth Mari. All that Mr. Wenrick would have to say was let me tell you alittle story . . . and the adrerialiri in the student body would start llowing. When asked why he had such phenomenal spire it, Mr. Wenrick replied that he really loved Prep and wanted his students to excel to their limit. He noted, too, that these students, in return, kept him young by encouraging his youthlul enthusiasm, lt was this unique blend ol Prep spirit that made Mr. Wenrick a legend in the minds ol the students. Miss Maxwell was perhaps the most lanious ol all Prep legends. Every student lroni the Youngest Frosh to the oldest Senior- and even some grade students - knew and leared her name. They were terrilied ol the lirst time they would have to walk into Room lO4. Most ol her exstudents agreed, however, that her llborkl' was worse than her biteg and many upperclassmen admitted that they liked -QQ., After her many years al teaching Sister Virginia is still able ta though the error is .luis recorded enioy a 'lbloopern on a student paper, Despite the chuckle, , r f r 'ff f f 1 A , I . forwgrf' iff: ,ily 'ffl ii, A , r ,nr .ffffwrf-MP , ,v i 5 ,I J rJltrfl'J ' l'f'Jf VQ ff V ,Jff.,li,,f.., .wif f r ',l'lll 'l J' f 1 Fuji 'rf-r t 7 rrf if rr ,f rr if fr 1, l,rr J . tlviirlr kf-r lor infer lfxqrl rir'J'Vi r' f, ,'2f Qutsracf ol 'ca fitiliffx ii, iff' 2 'C the l',l'il,llfy' Qxtlv Q , shc- helped .vit f f plarrrred the 'rc i r ly she was on the B r dary Educatro' gi e lnsurance Efiil'ia ge iects that she or-r i being rnvol.ert Jr Would you buy 5 'i if' X' S? S-'IM