2010 newsletter - St. Benedict Catholic Church and School

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The St. Benedict School
Alumni Newsletter
Published by the St. Benedict Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs
Volume 1
August 2010
Issue 1
Rev. Daniel F. Swift, Pastor
Mary Ellen Lilly, Principal
Greetings Alumni (all 2,500 of you)!
We hope you are doing well and that you’re
as excited to receive this inaugural edition of
the St. Benedict Alumni Newsletter as we
were to put it together. This issue (the first of
what we hope will be many) is filled with
interviews, milestones, great pictures, school
happenings, and a whole lot more.
Please enjoy and be sure to check out p.2 for
details on our annual Parish Fair
(we hope lots of alumni and their families join
us for this always fun day).
Alumni Picture immediately following the 3:00pm
Tribute by the Entertainment Tent
From Liz Reno Lonardo, Class of 1969….
1961…St. Benedict was a brand new school. It started with only lower grades, two of each of
class, with about fifty children in each. Every year, thereafter, another class was added until we
were a school of 1-8. But my class would always remain the oldest; so when we graduated 8TH
grade, we had the honor of being the first to do so. This followed a series of firsts for us…we
were the first class to receive Holy Communion with the first Priest (Father Blaska), the first to
receive Confirmation, first to graduate St. John Vianney, etc…anything we did was a first!
My parents owned a small 12-acre farm touching the adjacent woods next to St. Benedict and a
small, one-acre ranch that borders the school. I was married in St. Benedict Church in 1978 to
my best friend and soulmate, Rick, and we have lived on that ranch for the past 32 years.
Back then the surrounding area was pretty much farmland, St. John Vianney a distant dream
(the land it sits on was a peach orchid), and Kathy Court across the street, a farm owned by Mr.
Shier and his sister Lena; every Sunday they would drive to Church in their Model T Ford…it was
quite a sight. They also had an extensive collection of beehive boxes across the street from the
Church, that I unfortunately discovered while horseback riding one summer afternoon.
The house where the present-day music teacher lives, Mrs. Ellen Remick (who has the voice of an
Angel), was owned by the Church, and I believe, leased to local farmers. They grew eggplant
and sweet peppers there. Over the years some SBS graduates had summer jobs there picking
the crops.
Our first principal was Sister Mary Margaret. I remember her as having a lot of patience and kind
eyes. In 1964 our principal became Sister Mary Delores. As kids we thought her greatest
accomplishment was the introduction of “food for sale” in the cafeteria…once a week we all got to
bring in a quarter and get a boiled hot dog. That was a big treat back then.
My grandmother had a particular affinity toward the nuns.
I think she admired their
self-sacrificing natures. At Thanksgiving she used to make them apple and pumpkin pies, which
we would deliver to their convent on Holmdel Road. When I was in third grade the pies must
have been especially good because that’s the year I received my one and only report card with
straight A’s on it (thank you Grandma!).
There were no organized sports of any kind back then; there weren’t even gym classes or
playground equipment. Every now and then Sister Mary Paul would bring out a reddish colored
ball for us to play with. The only problem was we had no basketball hoops or volleyball nets and
the ball was always partially deflated. Things sure have changed.
In class we sat in alphabetical order so your best friends usually ended up being the kids that sat
near you, since you were always with them. My last name was Reno, so my friends throughout
school were Lisa Sarno, Frances Santagata, and Lillian Pittius. The classes were so large I don’t
think I met Ann Bennett or Donna Clement, first rowers, until we were upperclassmen.
As the years went by the dresses got shorter and shorter. I don’t mean the girl’s uniforms
either…I’m talking about the nuns’ black robes, which started out sweeping the floor. Eventually
they even let their bangs show through their bonnets. We kids thought that was a big
improvement.
Continued on Next Page
From Liz Reno Lonardo, Class of 1969….
Con’t…
Every morning before class we all gathered in the Church. We entered in two lines, girls on one
side, boys on the other. We all knelt as a group thanks to the nuns’ handheld clickers. One of
the rules that had to be obeyed in Church was that girls had to wear their beanies. It was a
small, round hat, but it never stayed flat on your head. If you didn’t remember a bobby pin, it
was
impossible to keep in place. And if you forgot your beanie, you had to sit in the back of
the Church away from the group. As you may guess, I sat in the back of the Church a lot…
probably why I’m still comfortable sitting there today.
My parents were one of the first contributors to help the school and Church be built. Their names
used to be (and may still be) on a plaque in the hallway. My mom was a class mother and had
the job of calling the parents on snow days and she also used to go on class trips with us. The
class trips were very memorable, as they were great fun. Some of the best ones were our
excursions to Allaire State Park and Train, the Museum of Natural History, The Planetarium, and
my personal favorite…our 8TH grade trip to New York to see “Fiddler on the Roof,” followed by
dinner at Mama Leone’s.
The first graduating class learned to make do with what we had, but most importantly, we
learned that there are consequences to your actions (and inactions). St. Benedict and my
parents also helped form the moral outlook I still have today. Respect for others, especially
elders, was ingrained in my head from an early age, as was a deep understanding of right vs.
wrong. I am so thankful for this…the lessons I learned have guided me through my life in many
ways. I also learned the importance of never forgetting your beanie.
On a more recent note, my husband and I received a letter from the Holmdel Zoning Board
informing us that St. Benedict was applying for approval for solar panels in order to safe energy
and benefit the environment. Rick insisted we go to the meeting to express our approval.
Bringing the school and Church into the future with state-of-the-art technology, helping save our
planet , and going green…what a great example for the present-day students.
St. Benedict School and Church has evolved with the times in extraordinary ways and I am
honored to be a part of its history.
Sister Mary Margaret
1ST Principal of SBS
Frances
Santagaga
Lillian
Pittius
Class Trip to Allaire Park
(Liz is 3RD from left)
Father Blaska
1ST Pastor of SBS
WHAT’S HAPPENING AT SBS…
.
For
starters, when our 516 students entered their classrooms this past September (that included 36
new students who came to us from the three surrounding schools which closed), they found brand new SMART
Boards adorning their walls. Despite massive state budget cuts, which sadly called for the elimination of
technology grants to NJ Catholic schools, St. Benedict officials refused to let our school become less
competitive academically with the surrounding institutions, both private and public. To that end, the School
Board allocated funds for the purchase for these highly-specialized boards, which replace old-fashioned chalk
blackboards and dusty erasers. Additionally, new laptops for the teachers and new desktops systems for the
computer lab were also purchased.
This year we also hired a part-time Social Worker, Noreen Potterton. One of her primary goals early
on was to help the new students from the shuttered schools make as smooth a transition as possible. Mrs.
Potterton received her Masters in Social Work from SUNY Buffalo. Prior to teaching, she was employed by
MOESC as a school social worker for the Child Study Team. Her role was to help promote student success
through individual intervention, group work, and program planning for both students and parents.
recently, on April 6th the school was granted a variance to install over 1,000 solar panels in a
ground array behind the school. This solar installation will generate over 70% of the energy that the entire
campus uses. The project will be done at no cost to St. Benedict, as it is paid for through Solar Renewable
Energy Credits (SREC’S) and a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). In 15 years time we will have received over
$100,000 in revenue sharing, reduced our energy costs by 20-30%, and own a solar “farm” that will continue to
generate power into the future. Our children will have the opportunity to learn the science of renewable energy
first hand, while also practicing a tenet of Catholic Social Teaching by caring for God’s creation. Now our school
colors are blue, white, and green!
More
Looking ahead, we are currently conducting a feasibility study to construct an addition between the 1st
nd
and 2 wings. This addition will serve many needs for our students by providing a large room that could be
subdivided into 4 smaller classrooms. It would also provide a multi-purpose room to be used for lunch, with fold
down tables allowing the gym to be used for full-time physical education and expansion of arts programs. A
letter of inquiry has been submitted to a large grantor for help in funding this effort. Additional grants are being
sought for technology and overall curriculum enhancements.
SBS Then and Now
Then
Bookkeeping was done on a Commodore
64 (younger alumni, google this to find
out just what it is).
Now
Tuition…$50.00
The students have to drop off their cell
phones, iPhones, iPod Touches, etc., in the
front office each morning before heading
to class.
20 lunch tickets…$50.00
Blackboards
SMART Boards
In 1990 eight students were enrolled in
the after school extended day program
(EDP).
Presently, 100 students attend EDP on any
given day.
This being an Alumni newsletter, it is naturally filled with “all things Alumni.” But when thinking about what kind of
articles we wanted to include, our thoughts kept going back to the parents who gave us the privilege of attending St.
Benedict. They may not have been students themselves, but having attended our plays, our conferences, and our
sporting events, not to mention having paid our tuitions, they are as much a part of this school as we are. Though
they wouldn’t call what they did a sacrifice, because nothing was more important to them then giving us the gift of
Catholic education, truth be told, some did make sacrifices to be able to send us here. So to all you moms and dads
out there that worked so hard in order that we could be part of this wonderful Catholic community, “journeying
together living the Gospel message, striving to be children of God, friends to others, and true to ourselves,” thank you!
~
Each newsletter we’ll be featuring a different SBS “alumni parent;” for this edition, we’ve put the spotlight
on Caroline Cattani. We e-mailed her ten questions & below is the response we received. Thanks Mrs. C!
The time and thoughtfulness you put into your answers is truly appreciated.
We have been part of the SBS family since 1963 when we moved from Brooklyn to Strathmore in Matawan
with our two small children. I am a NJ native and wanted desperately to return to the state. St. Benedict was
a new parish established in 1959 and the school was opened in 1961. There was a waiting list for new students
at the time, so many of the Catholics, in the new sprawling communities, interested in Catholic school
education for their children rushed over and registered children even though they were not of school age.
Neither my husband nor I were Catholic-school educated, but both were nurtured and fortunately given the
gift of faith by our parents and religious ed classes held on Sundays after Mass. Most of my friends attended
Catholic School and it was something I always wanted for my own children because of the integration of
faith, morals, respect for self and for others in their everyday experiences on a daily basis.
The new school faced many challenges. Many volunteers were needed. We were asked to work bingo, help
organize and run the school library, cafeteria, and many fundraisers. We also drove children to nursing
homes so that they learned to reach out to others.
An active PTA was formed and did much fundraising for the school. I served one year as VP of the PTA and
learned to appreciate the hard work done by so many parents. When the first Parish Council was formed, I
was elected Chairperson Of Education. This included education in the school, religious ed, and adult ed…a
huge responsibility. We formed sub committees, and the school committee worked closely with the principal
in areas of education, teacher selection and financial matters.
In the 70's, Father Anderson reduced classes from 3 of each grade to 2. This was done for economic reasons,
decline of school age children, search for certified teachers, and the need for more office space for the parish.
We worked hard to keep the school competitive but had fun as well. I loved the fact that the teachers were
so dedicated to the needs of the children and open to the parents' ideas and suggestions. Of course, the
children came home with many tales about their teachers and we had many good laughs (being a teacher, I'm
sure my students had many tales and laughs about me also.)
Sister Monica, Principal, became ill in 1972 and Fr. Anderson asked me to step into the job. I had been
working as a reading specialist for the Matawan Aberdeen School District servicing students at SBS and SJS. I
had certifications and credits and decided to accept the challenge. We had a wonderful year and I loved the
interaction with the students, teachers, and parents. I did not continue the following year because I became
pregnant with my third child, Kate.
In 1977, I accepted a 2nd grade position at St Joseph School. I always loved the classroom and I had a special
place for the children who came into my life. I stayed there for 20 years, rooting for the Shamrocks, but
always keeping a very soft spot for the Rebels in my heart.
My three children graduated from SBS in 1975, ‘77, and ‘87 and all went on to higher education. Today, the
tradition continues…my granddaughter, Emma, is in 6th grade at SBS. Many other grandmothers of SBS
children are picking up their grandchildren after school each day…we should begin a grandmothers' club.”
Featured Legacy Family
A “Legacy Family” is any SBS family that is comprised of current SBS students whose parent(s),
grandparent(s), aunt(s), or uncle(s) graduated SBS before them. Passing the tradition of Catholic education
onto the next generation is a wonderful gift in and of itself; deciding to continue that tradition at your own
family’s Alma Mater makes it even more special. SBS is filled with legacy families and we’ll be featuring a
different one in each of our upcoming newsletters. For this issue we are highlighting the Mauro family.
Joe, First Day of School 1975
Elizabeth, Olivia, and Victoria
First Day of School 2009
Joseph Mauro, an Equities Trader for Jefferies, graduated SBS in 1983; at the same time, just one-mile up the
road, his wife, Jeanne Smith, graduated St. Joseph School. They had actually met in kindergarten when they
attended the same half-day program together. They continued to see each other over the years at birthday
parties, and of course, the aforementioned Rebel vs. Shamrock basketball games. The rest is history, one that
includes their three beautiful daughters, Victoria, Elizabeth, and Olivia. We are thrilled that when it came time
to pick a school for their girls, Joe came back to SBS; we hope that we can give his daughters the same
wonderful experience he had, so maybe his and Jeanne’s grandkids will come here too! And a special
shout-out to Joe’s mom, Lillian, who was once the school librarian, and to Jeanne, who works in the cafeteria,
helping things run smoothly each day. It goes without saying, Rebel Blue runs through the Mauro family’s
veins.
For a little fun, unbeknownst to their parents, we asked each of the Mauro girls what their favorite thing about
SBS is…read on to see how their answers compare to their dad’s who was asked what his favorite thing about
SBS was when he was a student here:
Victoria (entering 5TH Grade)… “Cheerleading”
Elizabeth (entering 3rd Grade)… “I don’t know a favorite thing…I really like it all.”
Olivia (entering 1st Grade)… “Hmmm, I pretty much like everything!”
Joe…I actually have a few…Mission Fairs and Field Days; the fact that when I was a student my mom
worked there (I like that my kids get that experience now that Jeanne is working at the school too). It
just always feels like home to me…between being a St. Benedict parishioner my whole life, attending
the school, and having my kids there.
And something to think about…when your son comes home and tells you he thinks the little girl in Kindergarten
is cute, you just never know……..
Two of our students, Sean and Marianne Carr, who are also part of a Legacy Family (their mom,
Eileen, nee Howigran, graduated in 1983) are missing a very special family member right now.
Their dad, Joe, is currently serving our country in Afghanistan. Please say a prayer for his safe
return, as well as the safe return of all our soldiers.
Dear Lord,
There's a young man far from home,
called to serve his nation in time of war;
sent to defend our freedom
on some distant foreign shore.
We pray You keep him safe,
we pray You keep him strong,
we pray You send him safely home ...
for he's been away so long.
Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.
- Helen Keller
The St. Benedict School Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs is looking for lost (and just
temporarily misplaced) alumni and are asking for help in rounding them up.
If you know the whereabouts of any alumni, please take a moment to send us their contact information –
or ask them to contact us directly – both of which can be done one of the following four ways:
1. By e-mail at sbsalumni@stbenedictnj.org
2. By logging onto our website at www.stbenedictholmdel.org and clicking on “School” and then “Alumni”
3. By regular mail at 165 Bethany Road • Holmdel NJ 07733 • Attn: Advancement and Alumni Affairs
By phone at (732) 264-4712, ext. 38
The information that is most helpful to us is:
ŠName (first, last, and maiden)
ŠAddress ŠYear of Graduation
ŠHome Phone ŠE-mail Address
ŠD.O.B.
Even if you think we already have an address, please send it anyway just in case we don’t).
Please Note: We keep all addresses confidential and they are used for the purposes of St. Benedict
business only. Requests for addresses by alumni who want to reconnect with their classmates are only
given out with approval from the person whose address is being requested.
Alumni…the past and future of our school!
Karen DeStefano Sherman (SBS Class of 1984; Holmdel High School Class of 1988; Villanova University
Class of 1992)…After earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting, Karen worked as a financial
analyst. In 1999 she married Ed Sherman with whom she has two sons, Russell (SBS Class of 2017) and
Jason (SBS Class of 2019).
Laura Lombardi (SBS Class of 1998; SJV Class of 2002; Fordham University Class of 2006)…Employed
as a Private Banking Recruiter for Credit Suisse; engaged to be married to James Coccaro on February
19, 2011.
Robert Laskowski (SBS Class of 1998; RBC Class of 2002; Drexel University Class of 2006)…Rob
currently attends Drexel University College of Medicine, where he is an MD/PhD candidate in
Neurobiology. He is a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity.
Joseph Lombardi (SBS Class of 2000; CBA Class of 2004; NYU Class of 2008)… Employed as a Video
Editor for JWTwo.
Jade Ostner (SBS Class 2001; SJV Class of 2005; Loyola University Class of 2009)…After graduating
Loyola in Maryland, Jade was hired to teach English in Bangkok. She remains there today, but will be
heading home before summer. We hope the next newsletter is filled with tales of her adventure.
Conrad Laskowski (SBS Class of 2000; RBC Class of 2004; University Of Maryland, Clark School of
Engineering Class of 2008)…After earning a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Conrad settled in
Rockville Maryland and is employed with KeyTech Inc., an Engineering Consulting Company.
Marta Laskowski (SBS Class of 2004; RBC Class of 2008)…Marta is currently a student at Washington
College in Chestertown, Maryland where she is majoring in Anthropology with a concentration in
Archaeology.
Rebecca Laskowski (SBS Class of 2004; RBC Class of 2008)…Rebecca is currently a student at
Monmouth University where she is majoring in Criminal Justice. She is a member of Alpha Phi Sigma
(National Criminal Justice Honor Society).
Alyssa Magnan (SBS Class of 2006) will be in the graduating class of 2010 from St. John Vianney
HS. She’ll be graduating with Honors, is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society,
and Key Club. She has been a Community Service Award recipient for 4 years, volunteering her time in
the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, and has played an active role as Team Captain for the Arthritis
Foundation Jingle Bell Run/Walk for 2007, 2008, 2009, raising over $5000 for the Arthritis Foundation. She
is a competitive dancer in lyrical ballet, jazz, and hip-hop and has volunteered as an Assistant Dance
Teacher. She is a member of the Fresh Effects dance team, performing for local nursing homes, Relay for
Life, and venues such as Six Flags Fright Fest, and Madison Square Garden Liberty and Knicks
games. She’ll be attending Ramapo College of New Jersey in the fall, where she plans to study
Psychology and eventually obtain her Doctorate in Psychology for Family Counseling.
Continued...
Cont...
Kyle Ostner (SBS Class of 2006)…Kyle was in the graduating class of 2010 from Matawan High School. In
the fall he’ll be attending Brookdale Community College where he plans to study philosophy and writing.
Kaitlin M. Zielaznicki (SBS Class of 2006)…After graduating St. Benedict, Kaitlin continued her Catholic
school education at Saint John Vianney High School and graduated this spring as a member of the Class of
2010. She is a member of the National Honor Society and is a Varsity Lacrosse player. She was recently
inducted into the Saint La Salle Honor Society for her academic accomplishments and continued charitable
works. She has enrolled in Manhattan College, an independent Catholic college, as a member of the Class
of 2014 and will pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Allied Health.
Lea Ostner (SBS Class of 2007)…Lea is entering his Senior year at SJV where she is a member of the
National Honor Society and the Drama Club. She recently had the lead role in the school’s production of
Fame.
~
Every once in a while we have students that spent a significant number of their school years with us, but
didn’t graduate with their classes because their families moved to a new area. They are our “Honorary
Alumni”…still part of our family and community, now and forever. If you know anyone that falls into this
category, please tell them we would love to hear from them. We tracked Kristin Goetz down in Florida; read
on to see what your former classmate has been up do since she moved away just before 6TH grade (and
eventually moved back, spending her Junior and Senior years at SJV).
Kristen Goetz (SBS 1989-1994; SJV Class of 2001; Syracuse University Class of 2005)…Before graduating
college with honors and a double major degree in broadcast journalism, Kristen worked for NBC in Athens,
Greece, in Productions during the 2004 Summer Olympics. In 2007, she earned a Master's Degree in
Colonial American History from St. John's University in Queens, NY. She is currently an intern for the United
States Attorney's Office in Jacksonville, FL and this December will graduate with a Law Degree from Florida
Coastal School of Law, Jacksonville, FL. Most exciting of all, in May 2011 she will be getting married!
Please submit your milestones for inclusion in our next newsletter to the following
e-mail address:
sbsalumni@stbenedictnj.org
Like most college/high school publications, any kind of milestone
(personal or professional), info on kids/spouses, volunteer work, and/or anything
else you can think of is great to include. A lot of us don’t know what you’ve been up
to since graduating, so please feel free to share as much information as you want
(including college info, post-graduate degrees, etc…).
Also, please don’t forget to include the year you graduated
and maiden name when applicable.
Can you…
???
Be the first to call or email our
Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs
with the correct graduating year and receive a
St. Benedict School T-Shirt!
Call us at (732) 264-4712, EXT. 38, or
E-mail us at sbsalumni@stbenedictnj.org
If you’d like to join us in our “green” and cost-saving efforts,
please send your e-mail address to us at
sbsalumni@stbenedictnj.org ;
this way we can send you future editions of the SBS Alumni
Newsletter via e-mail. Also, if you live nearby, you are always
welcome to drop off your empty printer cartridges outside the
front office (be sure to stop in and say hi).
Stay linked to one another at the official SBS Alumni Facebook site:
http://www.facebook.com/StBenedictAlumniAssociation?ref=ts
If you would like more information on Advancement and Alumni Affairs, have any ideas for
future alumni events and/or newsletters, want to organize a class reunion, or would like to join
our association, please either:
Call us at (732) 264-4712, EXT. 38,
E-mail us at sbsalumni@stbenedictnj.org
Or send a letter to: 165 Bethany Road • Holmdel, NJ • 07733-1699 (Attn: Advancement)
“Coming together, sharing together,
working together, succeeding together.”
~Author Unknown~