Sister Grace (Sister Theophane)

There are people and places we return to in our minds. We return to them because they give us solace and strength, and because they have served to make us who we are. One of the most memorable people in my life is Sr. Grace, or Sr. Theophane, as we knew her at the Immaculate Conception School in 1962.

Funny, formidable, friendly and firm: these are four words that described Sr. Grace. She did not brook nonsense, but she loved to laugh. She expected the best from her students, but not perfection. She punctuated our days with amusing stories, and a rare, self-effacing wit. One story I recall was about a mother who had unexpected company for Sunday dinner. She took two of her children aside, and told them to say, “No, thank you,” when the platter of chicken was passed at the table. When it came time to serve dessert, the mother said, “As for those who refused to eat their chicken, you’ll be having no pie!"

Photo: Sister Theophane with little Tommy McEniff

courtesy of the Walsh family

We considered it a great privilege to meet Sister coming across from the convent, and carry her book bag into school; or to spend time in her company while she was on duty at recess. Sr. Grace certainly taught us academics, but she also taught us to sing. Periodically, Sister supervised the entire student body in hymn singing, allowing the other sisters to provide religious instruction to children from the public school.

Her support and guidance did not end with being my teacher in 3rd and 4th grade. Sr. Grace welcomed me into her second grade classroom to observe when I was completing my undergraduate degree at New Paltz. This opportunity helped me to complete course requirements and develop my skills as a teacher.

Sister once paid me an extravagant compliment: “She can do anything she wants to do!” I heard her tell my mother. These words have been a powerful touchstone for me in difficult or discouraging situations. Now, I would like to return the compliment: Some of the most important things I have done were inspired by Sr. Grace. I hear her in my teaching and in the hymns I sing. She is part of that inner dialogue that defines me as a person, and that has shaped me for service in this world.

I have come to know that teaching, more than anything else, is about relationships. These relationships may last only a short time for a teacher. But they last a lifetime for the child who lives in us all. As a teacher, I try very hard to remember this, and I am grateful for the relationship I had with Sr. Grace, a warm and generous person, who has meant so much to me.

Nancy L. Nowak (Thompson)
nowax@bellsouth.net

Nancy earned a B.S. from SUNY New Paltz in Education and English, an M.S. from Lesley College in Human Service Management, and an M.S. in Elementary Education from The University of New Haven. She is a National Board certified teacher, and has been employed by the Palm Beach County School Board for over 14 years. She is a niece of Amenia's much loved teacher, Joan Murphy.

Sister Helen Proper

Sister Helen Marie Proper, formerly Sr. M. Scholastica, was a member of the Sisters of St. Dominic of Blauvelt, New York. She was a nun for 54 years until her death on August 23, 1996 at the age of 75.
Sr. Helen Marie Proper was born August 12, 1921 in Amenia . Her parents were Earl and Margaret Proper. She entered the Sisters of St .Dominic from the parish of the Immaculate Conception in September 9, 1942, received the Dominican habit on August 24, 1943, professed her first vows on August 25, 1944 and her perpetual vows on September 2, 1947.
Sister’s many years of active ministry were devoted to teaching. She was a dedicated educator as teacher and principal in many schools in the Archdiocese of New York. She taught in Our Lady of the Assumption School in the Bronx from 1945 to 1948; St. Dominic’s School, Blauvelt, NY from 1949to 1950; St. Benedict’s in the Bronx from 1951 to 1957 and St Mary’s School , Bronx, N.Y., from, 1957 to 1962.
Sister also taught at the St. Pius School, Bronx, N.Y. from 1962 to1964, Immaculate Conception School, Amenia, N.Y. from 1964 to 1967, St. Luke’s School, also in the Bronx and St. Colamba (?) School in Hopewell Junction from 1985 through 1991.






Sister was principal of Immaculate Conception School from 1970 – 1985. She was highly respected and much loved by the students in Amenia and, in fact, by the entire community.



Sister Helen Marie Proper returned to St. Dominic’s Convent Infirmary in 1991 and ministered in varied volunteer servi ces at the Motherhouse. She was also very faithful to her ministry of prayer for the intentions of the sisters, the Blauvelt Community and its benefactors until her death on August 23, 1996.

Sister Helen Proper has a sister, Betty Scarlotta of Granville, New York, and two brothers - Earl Proper Jr. of Sun Coty, Arizona and Raymond Proper of Amenia. She was predeceased by her brothers, Vincent, John and Francis.

Dick and Edna Miller- Both Parents were Teachers

Mary Miller Fitzgerald, Webutuck class of 1978 writes:

I was elected (by my sister Martha and brother David) to write a few words about our parents, Dick and Edna Miller, both of whom were teachers.

What a great idea to remember the teachers! If it wasn't for the teachers we would not be where we are today. It just happens to be teacher appreciation week at my son's school here in Sarasota, so I am blessed to have been a child of teacher parents and know how hard they work and how much they deserve to be pampered for a week.

Good and Bad Points

Having parents as teachers has good points and bad points. It was great having them close by everyday knowing if there was a problem they were there to help in any way they could, but having parents in school - you could not get away with anything.
I can remember one day in 4th grade when I was caught wearing pants in school. Required dress had always been dresses for girls and pants for boys. We had P.E once a week and the girls could change into pants for the class then back into "street clothes" for the rest of the day.

Even though they had changed dress code and all the girls were wearing pants to school, my Dad said that Martha and I still had to wear skirts/dresses to school. After P. E. one day I didn't put my skirt back on. It didn't take long for my Dad to find me and my skirt went back on.

Even having parents as teachers was very difficult. I think they were harder on us than the other kids. I remember doing many extra reports and memorizing The Preamble Constitution of the United States of America for passing notes in class.

Having them at home as parents/teachers was great. We always were the first to know when it was a snow day! We also had help with all our homework. I used to think my Dad was the smartest man in the world. (I still think he is.)
My mom was great to have also helping with homework and the music part of our lives. We all played the piano and an instrument and sang in the choir.

I wouldn't change any part of our growing up with parents as teachers. We all respect and appreciate the teachers of America. It’s a tough job and my hat is off to them.

Mary

The Mysterious Pumpkin Meeting

Principal Eileen Sicina, left, advises staff on the uses of magic pumpkins. From left to right: Dick Miller, Doris Smith, Eileen Reiling, Karen Jaquith and Shirley Conklin


Edna Miller remembers:

Dick and I were both from upstate New York and met at Wassaic “State School” (now known as the Taconic Learning Center). We were in a group of thirteen new teachers hired in 1952 – Dick was the Physical Education teacher and I taught music. Our group of teachers socialized together and often had an apartment or rooms at Mrs. Benson’s farm in Dover Plains. After several years I began to teach in the Dover School system where I taught music to all the grades from kindergarten through high school, as well as band and chorus. Several years later Dick took the position of P.E. teacher at Webutuck, where he also coached baseball , Little League and Babe Ruth as well as high school basketball, (earning the long-time nickname of “Coach”).

Dick took courses to get his principal’s license in the 1960’s and served as principal of both the Amenia and Millerton Primary Schools until he decided to return to the classroom being tired of “only seeing kids in trouble”.
I spent several years working part-time or substituting while the children were little, finally becoming the music teacher at Webutuck where I taught until 1985, Dick until 1986.

The secret to our successful marriage and family was that we strictly kept school business at school….and family issues at home.



Anyone who ever visited the Miller’s big old house always found it full of kids, their friends, plans for trips, music, and a dining room table with many, many small dishes of pickles, relishes, olives and jams to go with the ample food, and extra chairs for visitors. There was never a word about school, unless there had been a very funny or crazy incident there. Edna made the pickles and relishes from vegetables picked by the children in Dick’ garden just out back.
Ann Linden

Ella Staunton- everyone knew her

My Favorite Teacher was Ella F. Staunton

Her home was in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. and she went home every weekend during the school year.
Miss Staunton’s first school was in Amenia Union, one-room schoolhouse, District #2. She boarded during the week with the Collin Smiths who ran the local general store.
She not only taught the basic studies but also oral hygiene, the appreciation of music, and banking. We each had an account in a Poughkeepsie saving bank and she took our few cents every week to deposit.
Ella Staunton wanted us to see the outside world and took the four of us who were graduating to Albany to the (New York State) Museum and the Government Building. I can remember sitting in the Governor’s chair. My last year of school there she drove four of us to Washington, D.C. to see the sights. It was a thrill for me to be able to take a snap shot of President and Mrs. Hoover. We also went to Mt. Vernon.

While teaching in Amenia Union, Ella organized a 4H Club for us. I was secretary. We made items and exhibited them at the Dutchess County Fair – also canned vegetables, etc. I have many ribbons but did not keep them.
Later Miss Staunton taught at Sinpatch school and then at the “brick school” in Amenia. She taught my daughter, Celeste Monahan, in the first grade and when the school finally added a kindergarten, she was the teacher. I believe this is what she really trained for.
Miss Staunton is buried in Union Cemetery in Amenia Union along with her parents.

Amenia Union schoolhouse student body in 1931: from left, Peter Prendergast, Mildred Moyer, Paul MacDonald, Doris Wheeler, Virginia guiden, Elsie MacDonald, Ester Gourlay, Evelyn Murphy, Geraldine Whitney, and Carloyn Murphy (small child in front)

Ester Gourlay Pollard is a member of the Amenia Historical Society and long-time member of the Indian Rock Schoolhouse Association. Having lived in the area for many years, she is a great source of historical information. She will be a lecturer at St. Thomas church in Amenia Union this spring, recounting her memories of the Grange in Amenia Union.

Gertrude Foley and Marion Kinney- My Favorite Teachers

Mrs. Foley

My favorite teacher when I was an elementary student at the Amenia High School was Mrs. Gertrude Foley. She taught grades 3 and 4 which were in the same room. This was in the years 1934 and 1935 and I had just transferred from the Waterbury Conn. school system to the New York system. Prior to that I had begun Kindergarten in Detroit, Mich. This was my third school in as many years. It was the Depression era. I now lived just north of the school on the Roland Palmer farm, being managed by William McEnroe. I walked along Route 22 to get to school. Sometimes I roller skated.

I was 8 year’s old when Mrs. Foley welcomed me to her classroom which was a really comfortable place. She made me feel good about myself and my ability to learn. I always looked forward to going to school. I remember, especially, the cursive writing exercises and the times table drills, among others. I also remember that she and her family lived across the street from the school and that made me feel good that she was always near-by.

Marion Kinney
On entering High School, which was in the same building, I had to choose a major. I chose a Business curriculum. A newly graduated Business teacher had just joined the faculty, Marion McDonald. She was petite, soft-spoken, knew her subjects well, and made you feel you belonged in her classroom. As most of her classes were Regents finals, we could feel very confident of being successful when we got to that test, as long as we had done our part. “Miss McDonald” was my favorite teacher while I was in high school and enabled me to successfully achieve my Regents Diploma and my High School Diploma, copies of which I have kept to this day. She married local farmer George Kinney, had 2 children, and later taught Kindergarten in the Webutuck Central School system. As a South Street neighbor our families were friends over the years; and, she was godmother to one of my children.

Both ladies, in their quiet, positive ways of teaching made me like to be in school, and enjoy learning. And in those years, New York State was ranked #1 in the country for its educational system. These ladies were two of the reasons why.

Arlene Iuliano served as Amenia Town Supervisor and is currently the Amenia Town Historian. She had a successful career in management at the Taconic D.D.S.O., and is the mother of five, grandmother of ten and has four great -grandchildren.

Violet Hope Simmons: 1911 - 2001- A Remembrance

Vi Simmons was the best teacher I ever had.

She was tough, challenging, opinionated and intimidating.

On my first day in ninth grade, after everyone had been seated, she stalked to the front of the room and informed us that we were “the rudest class I’ve ever seen,” because only two of us had greeted her as we entered the room. I am sure none of us ever failed to say “good morning” to her from then on.

As a student, I regarded her with awe. The breadth of her knowledge was amazing and her enthusiasm for history was contagious. She expected us to read the New York Times, which was difficult for me because my parents wouldn’t have it in the house. We compromised on the Herald Tribune, since the Daily News, in her opinion was only good for wrapping fish.
Practically every day, I carried home an arm load of books so I could complete the reading since we did not use a textbook. I first learned to analyze primary sources and understood that historians often disagreed about their interpretations. Class discussions were lively and frequent.
My relationship with her changed to one of friendship when I was in college and she underwent eye surgery in Boston. She was candid about the difficulties her lack of vision posed. It often seemed to us, as students, that she knew everything that went on in class, though we weren’t sure how. Now I understood how important that “good morning” was from each person. It was her context, her way of taking attendance and sensing our mood.

When I became a history teacher, Vi Simmons was my inspiration and my mentor. She believed that every child is capable of learning and every child must be challenged to think. Every now and then, when my students are engaged in an effective discussion, I remember Miss Simmons standing in front of our class with a little smile on her face and I understand.

Janet M. Reagon
Janet Reagon began teaching Social Studies in 1981 – the year Miss Simmons retired.

article originally published in The Millerton News 3.8.01

“Legacy of Excellence”…The Violet H. Simmons Scholarships

When Miss Simmons retired in 1981 after 48 years of teaching at Webutuck, her former students, colleagues and community members established The Violet H. Simmons Scholarship Fund to award a scholarship to outstanding graduates who demonstrated academic excellence and leadership potential. This year the 33rd Simmons Scholar will be named at the Webutuck Awards Ceremony.

More recently, due to the generosity of the late Barbara Thorlichen Riefle, a former student of Miss Simmons and a Webutuck graduate, VHSSF has been able to offer a Summer Enrichment Grant to deserving college students to study abroad, travel, or participate in a program they could not otherwise afford. Students have studied photography and filmmaking, traveled to Cuba, China, Brazil, and Africa, and worked with the children of incarcerated women.

“This gift to music students at Webutuck represents a great benefit because it targets younger students,” said Janet Reagon. “Now VHSSF can assist people when they are still in high school, as they graduate, and while they are in college. This certainly helps continue the legacy of excellence that Miss Simmons inspired.”

A Catalyst for Community Giving
The Webutuck High School Summer Enrichment Music Fund has been established by a gift of Dan and Nancy Brown of Amenia to the Violet H. Simmons Scholarship Fund to provide music students at Webutuck with the opportunity to attend summer music programs or obtain private lessons. As with all VHSSF funds, the money will be administered by the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, Inc., a regional community fund with offices in Great Barrington, MA.
For more information call Berkshire Taconic at 413-528-8039 or go to http://www.berkshiretaconic.org/

Please share your memories of Violet H. Simmons! Go to comments below.

John Quinn: I Remember Grade School

...

John Quinn has been a staunch supporter

of Indian Rock Schoolhouse from the very beginning

My elementary education took place in Edgewater, New Jersey, a 15 minute ferry ride from New York City. It was in Public School No. 2, a small but modern two-story brick building between fittingly named Undercliff Avenue and River Road. Public School No. 1 was three miles down the pike at the other end of town.
Of the eight teachers I had, I really only remember Miss Beck in the first grade and Mrs. Warren our eighth grade teacher and also the school principal.
There was no preparatory program like nursery school or kindergarten so starting school was an abrupt change from my sheltered life at home.

The day started with the high-pitched noise and bustle of youngsters in the schoolyard.
Then suddenly a quiet and order signaled by the electric school bell and the appearance of our teacher, Miss Beck standing by the school door. Miss Beck appeared to us seemingly the same every day: a dark wool skirt that hung down to the high-laced boots; generally a cardigan sweater over a plain blouse and her grey hair gathered in a bun behind. The tone was set – we were going to learn. We sat up straight in ordered rows, hands clasped on our desk tops, eyes following Miss Beck at the front of the room.
Besides introducing us to the building blocks of the “three R’s”, we were learning the simple social skills of discipline and getting along with others.

The Day at P.S. 2
We came to find an excited pleasure in raising our hand with the answer and realizing the rewards of a good performance. If the week had gone well, Friday afternoon Miss Beck would take out a book well known and loved by the pupils and read a story or two to the class.
Another of our extra-curricular joys were the classroom chores parceled out through the week - raising or lowering the window shades, cleaning the blackboard erasers, watering the plants, passing out things to the class.

Miss Beck was always there
Miss Beck was always there before we got to school and was gone only after we had left. But we seemed to know that she lived alone in a house part way up the Palisades. There was a rugged path through the woods to her house that looked down on the road.
Miss Beck was still teaching fortunate Edgewater youngsters when the Quinn family moved from the town.

Mrs. Warren and the Blue Grotto
My first recollections of Mrs. Warren are as principal conducting the school assembly of all the grades. Held in the gym, assemblies involved a prayer, salute to the flag, several songs and a reading or talk about current happenings. I remember one assembly when Mrs. Warren told us about her summer vacation trip to Europe, and about her visit to the Blue Grotto – an island cave in Italy. She described how you had to crouch over in the boat to enter and then how the grotto opened. She told us how the boatmen sang Italian melodies and demonstrated by singing and teaching the song “Santa Lucia”. It became one of the favorite of our assemblies.

Another of her innovations was having us gather in the gym for the weekly radio broadcast of Walter Damrosh and the WEAF Symphony Orchestra in a program aimed at introducing school children to classical music. We learned to identify the sounds of the orchestra instruments and got to know the story behind a number of various compositions.
Our eighth grade class of several dozen boys and girls never seemed to faze Mrs. Warren. The rote and routine of normal school subjects were enlivened by a spirited give and take between pupils and teacher. And this informal rapport went beyond the classroom. She had introduced Manual Training or Shop for the boys and Home Economics – sewing and cooking – for the girls

Class for the Flat-footed

One year, after the school doctor’s physical check-up of the children, a flat feet class was inaugurated and a shoeless Mrs. Warren led a group of us similarly affected in a pigeon-toed parade around the room and then in an exercise picking up marbles with our toes. I’m not sure it did any of us any good but through it all, Miss Warren lost none of her high sense of dignity.

George's birthday
It was in 1932, the bicentennial of George Washington’s birth when we graduated. The George Washington Bridge was opened over the Hudson and at the same time Public School No. 2 was renamed for our nation’s first president.

Mrs. Warren had readied part of the Greatest Generation for the world out there, even for a rather dispirited game of Spin the Bottle at a party of ice cream and cake after our commencement exercises.

John Quinn is a Trustee Emeritus of the Schoolhouse Association. He has written articles, press releases and even a book about schoolhouses (“Memories from a Country Schoolhouse”). He lives in Leedsville with his wife the irrepressible Margaret Duffy Erskine Quinn.