Rensselaer offers farewell to school

In Rensselaer, the term "Catholic education" has been synonymous with St. Joseph/St. John's Academy for 140 years. On June 13, more than 100 former students, teachers, pastors, patrons and supporters gathered for a Mass of farewell to that institution.

"We have come to say goodbye to our school," said Rev. Adam Forno, pastor of both parishes. "The closing of our Academy is a loss, and we need to grieve it."

The congregation included alumni from St. John's High School and grade school as well as those from St. Joseph's grade school. The two grammar schools combined in 1985; the high school closed in 1982.

Memories

People who graduated as far back as 1941 mingled with current students and their parents, lay teachers, and members of the Sisters of Mercy, who have taught at the schools since their founding.

During the Mass, sixth- and seventh-graders enacted "St. Joseph/St. John's Academy Through the Decades," a play about going to Catholic school during the 1950s, '60s and '70s. The actors dressed in period Catholic school uniforms that included priestly cassocks, altar-boy surplices and even a nun's habit.

At the end of Mass, 22 students lined up to sing a farewell song: "Joseph Was a Good Man," in honor of St. Joseph.

"The children did a great job," said Theresa Lasher Winslow, language arts teacher for the upper grades. She researched the histories of both parishes and wrote the play.

History

Nearly a century-and-a-half ago, the Sisters of Mercy were hired to teach the students at St. John's, establishing the Catholic tradition of education. Eventually, a high school was added.

In 1956, St. Joseph's parish, in the northern part of the city, opened a grade school of its own.

Father Forno told The Evangelist that the parishes decided to close the grade school after much deliberation regarding declining enrollment over the past decade.

Students react

Christian Dabney, a seventh-grader, said that the school closing was sad because "I wanted to graduate with my class next year." Instead, he will be going to a middle school in Colonie. "It just won't be the same."

"I'm sorry that I won't get to do all the fund-raisers that we do in eighth grade," said Camille Johnson, 12. "I was looking forward to going to St. Peter's Hospital [in Albany] to volunteer in their hospice program."

Sherilynn Pereira, 12, and Camille will attend public schools next fall, while Joshua Greminger, 13, plans to go to a Catholic school.

Missing school

Victoria Blacker-Barthel, president of the school's parent-teacher organization, said she couldn't stop crying during the Mass.

"I am so sorry to see this school close," she added. "Our faith is very important to my husband and me, and we want that same experience for our children. Kids today have so many challenges that they have to face. I think what we're going to miss the most is the continued spirit of support from the school that all our families have received. The school has always supported family values here. Both of our boys will continue going to Catholic schools, but this was really our parish school, part of our community. It's going to be very greatly missed."

Peggy Puls, a graduate of St. John's High and a pre-K teacher at the school for the past 18 years, said, "This is a very sad time for Rensselaer because what it really means is the end of Catholic education in our city. This community has enjoyed that for the past 140 years. It will be the end of an era."

(6/19/03) [[In-content Ad]]