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"Our motto is, 'We take pride in our school and have high ideals,'" stated Sister James Marie Carras, PBVM, who has served as principal at St. Ambrose School in Latham since mid-2004. 

For her, the relationships that are formed at St. Ambrose have no boundaries.

"We all help each other," she said. "The little kids adore the older students and the older students look out for the younger ones. That's part of the tradition here. We really care about everyone."

Third-grader Angelica Cassidy confirmed this.

"It's really fun here and you make a lot of friends," she said.

Angelica and her classmates had just finished a math quiz in which the objective was to solve as many multiplication problems in one minute as they could. It is just one of the ways the teachers at St. Ambrose motivate their students with challenges that are also fun. 

Second half-century 
The school, opened in 1957, goes from pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade and has 216 students, an enrollment that has remained steady in recent years. It has two pre-K programs for four-year-olds and two Kindergarten programs. One of the Kindergarten teachers is Sister Mary Stephen Vamosy, PBVM, who has become a mainstay of the school.

"I've been here a number of years," she said. "The joy, the excitement - every day is a completely new experience."

Sister Mary also highlighted the relationships she has shared with all of the students.

"Each class is unique. It's just fun to see how much they can learn."

From the various art contests they enter to the Drug Awareness Program for sixth- graders, the students at St. Ambrose are usually participating in an activity beyond the school building. 

Jerrison Forent, an eighth grade student, said she will carry the St. Ambrose ethos to Catholic Central High School in Troy next year. "I'm really going to take with me how close we are with each other, and how close we are with God and what they teach us here."

Sister James takes great pride in maintaining the faith at St. Ambrose.

"Our Catholic identity is very important," she said.

The fourth R
For eighth-grade teacher Mary Delf, the work is an ideal fit. For 10 years, she has taught religion and math at St. Ambrose.

"I can use my faith as not only a guide for my day, but a guide for [the students'] day," she said. "I can talk about Jesus in math class!"

Loyalty is another theme that prevails in the school. Aside from Sister Mary and Mrs. Delf, there is Cathy Viola, who has been with the school for 17 years. 

"Why wouldn't I stay?" she told The Evangelist. "I just love it here."

Mrs. Viola currently gives music lessons to every grade except pre-K, teaches social studies for grades 6-8, leads the choral group, directs the drama club and serves as a lunch monitor.

"I love the kids," she said. "I get to go on every level."

St. Ambrose School makes her proud, said Sister James.

"This school has a lot of family atmosphere," she stated. "I see the families and say to the teachers, 'You're doing something right.'"

However, the school is not her only passion. 

During the winter months, Sister James, along with Sister Stephen, can be found dancing in the aisles at the Times Union Center in Albany during Siena College's basketball games as the famous "Rally Nuns."[[In-content Ad]]

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