Catholic Chronicle

Clyde St. Mary to add preschool program

Laurie Stevens Bertke — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0000

CLYDE—Sharon Kinnear, principal of Clyde St. Mary, has announced the school is introducing a preschool program for 4- and 5-year-olds for the 2010-2011 school year.

The school advisory board and the parish finance committee have both supported the idea and are now ready to incorporate the program into the K-6 school system.

“This is a great service and great price for working parents and will also be beneficial to the school,” said Ms. Kinnear.

Acceptance is to be on a first come, first served basis with the school accepting a maximum of 14 students into the preschool program. Extended day is also to be offered for the preschoolers if needed.

For more information, call the school at 419-547-9687 or e-mail stmarysec@opman.com.

Bishop approves new model for Catholic education in Fremont

Laurie Stevens Bertke — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0000

FREMONT—Bishop Leonard P. Blair has approved the creation of Bishop Hoffman Catholic School in Fremont for the 2010-2011 academic year.

The new school is to incorporate two elementary schools and one high school into a new model for Catholic education in the city.

A committee of Catholic school professionals and volunteers known as the Holy Family Formation Team (HFFT) reviewed six potential organizational models throughout last year, and the proposed model for reorganization of the local Catholic schools was presented to Bishop Blair in December 2009.

Bishop James R. Hoffman, a Fremont native and son of Fremont St. Ann, served as bishop of the Diocese of Toledo from 1981 until his death Feb. 8, 2003.

“We are very pleased that Bishop Blair granted our request to name the consolidated school after Bishop Hoffman,” said Father Thomas Extejt, pastor of St. Ann. “He was devoted to Catholic schools, as I know well from my 19 years as pastor of parishes with schools in Toledo’s central city.”

Under the new model, the current Sacred Heart parish school is to become Bishop Hoffman School — East Campus for grades pre-kindergarten through three. The current St. Joseph parish school is to become Bishop Hoffman School — West Campus for the fourth through eighth grades, and the current St. Joseph Central Catholic High School is to become Bishop Hoffman High School for grades nine through 12. As classes will no longer be held in the St. Ann school building, the parish will find an alternative use that is consistent with the purposes of a Catholic community.

The HFFT committee, which includes representatives of all local parishes, believes that the plan holds the most promise for superior growth opportunities for their young people, financial stability for the schools and a just pay scale for teachers and staff.

Carol Collins, the facilitator for the process said she witnessed a deep appreciation for the formation team’s Catholic faith, and a very strong and vital commitment to Catholic education. “This unification is a next step for them, as they work to provide a superior Catholic education for the students in the Fremont area,” she said.

Father David Bruning, pastor of St. Joseph, said, “I am pleased that Bishop Blair has given approval to the hard work of our Holy Family Formation Team in submitting this proposal. Much work remains to be done, but we are on the right path for our schools."

Father Ken Lill, pastor of Sacred Heart, acknowledged that while much work has been accomplished, there is more to do for the unification. “I am excited and optimistic about the future of education in the Fremont community,” he said.

The process of selecting a superintendent to lead the reorganized school has begun. The superintendent is to be responsible for hiring administrators, teachers and staff, developing curriculum in accordance with diocesan guidelines and making decisions on salaries, tuition rates and parish subsidies.

Clyde St. Mary names distinguished graduate

Laurie Stevens Bertke — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0000

CLYDE—Carol (Kuss) Wymer was presented the Distinguished Graduate Award at Clyde St. Mary Jan. 31.

Sharon Kinnear, principal of the school, made the announcement during the 10:30 a.m. Mass, at which Dr. Wymer and her family were present and spoke.

Dr. Wymer earned the top grades in her class at Clyde St. Mary and was the 1984 valedictorian of Fremont St. Joseph Central Catholic High School. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Dayton and earned her Ph.D. at Pennsylvania State University. She completed a post-doctoral research fellowship at the plant science institute in England for three years and gave a presentation at Oxford University in England and one in Germany.

Dr. Wymer is now a university professor at Morehead State University in Kentucky. She was the project director for a $200,000 grant with the National Science Foundation and chairperson of a faculty committee that designed and published curriculum for teachers of grades K-8.

She and her husband have hosted exchange students from Germany and Colombia, giving them an opportunity to study in the United States and experience the country and culture.

Dr. Wymer belongs to Jesus Our Savior Parish where she has been parish council president and has served on the formation committee. She is involved in the children’s liturgy and is group leader of an adult discussion group.

She is the daughter of Tom and Janet Kuss of Clyde.

Fremont St. Joseph student chosen for Senate Youth Program

Laurie Stevens Bertke — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0000

FREMONT—A Fremont St. Joseph Central Catholic senior is one of two students in Ohio to be selected as a delegate to the 48th Annual United States Senate Youth Program(USSYP).

Christopher Liebold

Senators George V. Voinovich and Sherrod Brown announced Christopher Liebold, a Green Springs resident and student at St. Joseph, and Joseph Bizjak of Reynoldsburg are to represent the state during the USSYP March 6-13 in Washington, D.C.

Christopher is senior class president of St. Joseph where he is also on the honor roll. A member of the band, soccer and track and field teams, he also has participated in Quiz Bowl and Mock Trial and was a state participant in the Science Olympiad. He is a reporter for the SJCC Alumni and Friends newspaper and is on the pastoral team. Christopher plans to attend Ohio Dominican University to major in Environmental Studies/Political Science with an interest in law school.

Christopher and Joseph were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be part of the group of 104 student delegates attending the program’s 48th Annual Washington Week.

The USSYP was created by Senate Resolution 324 in 1962 and has been sponsored by the Senate and fully funded by The Hearst Foundations since inception. Originally proposed by Senators Kuchel, Mansfield, Dirksen and Humphrey, the impetus for the program as stated in Senate testimony was “to increase young Americans’ understanding of the interrelationships of the three branches of government, the caliber and responsibilities of federally elected and appointed officials, and the vital importance of democratic decision making not only for America but for people around the world.”

Each year this competitive merit-based program brings 104 of the most outstanding high school students — two from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity — to Washington, D.C. for an week-long study of the federal government and the people who lead it. The overall mission of the program is to help instill within each class of USSYP student delegates more profound knowledge of the American political process and a lifelong commitment to public service.

In addition to the program week, The Hearst Foundations provide each of the 104 student delegates with a $5,000 undergraduate college scholarship with encouragement to continue coursework in government, history and public affairs. Transportation and all expenses for Washington Week are also provided by The Hearst Foundations; no government funds are used.

The chief educational officer in each state selects the delegates after nomination by teachers and principals. This year’s delegates were designated by Mrs. Deborah S. DeLisle, superintendent of public instruction.

While in Washington the student delegates are to attend meetings and briefings with Senate leadership, other senators and congressional staff; the president, a justice of the Supreme Court, leaders of cabinet agencies, an ambassador to the United States and top members of the national media. The students also are to tour many of the national monuments and several museums.

Clyde students perform Christmas outreach

Laurie Stevens Bertke — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 05:00:00 +0000

CLYDE—In the days leading up to Christmas, students from Clyde St. Mary have been busy reaching out in service to others in their community.

Kindergarteners from Clyde St. Mary perform “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” for area nursing home residents and senior citizens. (Photo courtesy of Clyde St. Mary School)

Kindergarten through sixth-grade students entertained area nursing home residents and senior citizens Dec. 16 with their performance of “365 Days of Christmas” at the school.

St. Mary students also participated in the Caring for Clyde Kids Community Toy Drive, a program chaired by school secretary Kay Dick. The goal of the drive, now in its 17th year, was to provide toys to 400 children. Through the Clyde Food Pantry, the toys are distributed to students residing in the Clyde-Green Springs School District through Dec. 22.