CT PHOTOS/JOE SIMON

Sisters of the Precious Blood from left: Beverly Bodnar, Jeannine Klocker, Rosemary Ganbeaux, Marla Gipson, Donna Lietti, Marjorie Schroeder, Gerri McGeorge, Dee Keller; Father Terry Meehan joins them.

Mother Teresa School marks milestones

By David Eck

SAINT ANDEW DEANERY — When Mother Teresa Catholic Elementary School opens its 2007-08 school year, it will have something it has never had before: alumni.

The nine-year-old school graduated its first eighth grade class during an emotional four-hour ceremony June 4. The graduation and a dinner were held at the school’s new Sister Anne Schulz Student Center, which was named in honor of the school’s only principal.

Michael Bien, a graduating 8th grader and original kindergarten student

Of the 23 graduates, nine were members of the school’s original kindergarten class.

"Being part of the first class was a really special thing," said Mary Alice Lutz, an eighth grade graduate who was in that original kindergarten class. "We got to experience a lot more and give a lot back to the school."

As the school grew, adding one new grade each year, the first class set an example for the younger students.

"Our role was pretty much as being leaders and helping the younger kids grow," Lutz said. "We were always the leaders and trying to be the best role models we could be for everybody."

The graduation featured a slide show with photos of the first class from K-8. The night also included a Mass and awards.

It was an emotional time.

"I was very close to this group," Sister Anne said. "We had a bond. They would do anything for me. They were always on my side. I was proud to see them go, and again I was sad."

Some of the students said they came together as a group with Sister Anne as they moved through the growing school.

"Sister Anne has been with us, at our side, the whole time," said Mallory Gantenberg, another graduate who began in the kindergarten class. "She’s been there with us through everything."

Lutz said she cried for hours after the ceremony ended.

"It was the saddest night," she said. "It tells you how special the place is to us.’’

A day earlier, about 500 people, including students, parents, teachers and members of the school’s founding families dedicated the student center. Father Terry Meehan, pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Monroe, celebrated the Mass and conducted a formal blessing of the building.

"We dedicate this new student center here at Mother Teresa Catholic Elementary School," Father Meehan said during his homily. "We bless the many people who worked so hard to make this day happen."

The school’s annual kindergarten graduation preceded the Mass. About 40 kindergarteners wore graduation caps, sang a couple of songs and received special diplomas.

The 16,648-square-foot student center features a theatrical stage, a gymnasium with two basketball courts and a concessions area. The student center is adjacent to existing school buildings. The school sits on about 24 acres in Butler County’s Liberty Township.

The campus also includes two classroom wings with large gathering spaces, multi-purpose rooms and offices. The inside of the buildings are painted blue and white, the school colors.

Sister Anne opened the school as its first principal and teacher in 1998. She continued serving as principal-teacher for the first three school years.

"Sister Anne is the rock the school is built on through her unwavering faith, nurturing, authenticity, and endurance," Tony Reed, the school facilities committee chairman, and one-time board chairman, said during the dedication. "Sister Anne keeps the ‘Catholic’ in Mother Teresa Catholic Elementary School."

Dubbed "Our Milestone Year," the 2006-07 school year saw the school come full circle.

One of the newest Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Mother Teresa began with that single class of 20 kindergartners. Parents and others who had worked for years to found the independent Catholic school gathered at the school, cameras in hand, to record the first day.

The opening culminated nearly two years of work by a small group of families who met regularly in living rooms. Faced with few Catholic classrooms in the area, they had a single mission: open a Catholic school. Working through details, the group obtained a school location, completed a state chartering process, worked with the archdiocese, and hired a principal.

Sister of Charity Kathryn Ann Connelly, who was superintendent of schools for the archdiocese at the time, became active with the group early on.

"It was probably one of the milestones of my career as superintendent," she said. "We had such an energetic group of parents who just wanted Catholic education and a Catholic school for all the right reasons."

She has followed the school’s progress over the years.

"To me that was really an exciting time," she said. "It was a brand new concept, and people had the desire and the heart to do it."

The pioneer families say they relied on faith.

"There was no blueprint," said Ken Angel, who was part of the original group and has been active with the school since. "I always felt we were blessed. I truly believe the only reason that school’s there is because of Jesus Christ. Every time our backs were against the wall something happened that worked in our favor."

For example, the group was advertising for a principal and Sister Anne called.

"I came for the interview, and they hired me on the spot," said Sister Anne, who had been principal at Precious Blood School in Dayton. "They told me the history. They told me, from this nucleus you would create a school."

The opportunity was appealing.

"Very few principals get do this," Sister Anne said. "I was really able to get my creative juices going."

The school was originally located at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Monroe. That site featured four classrooms in the lower level of Our Lady of Sorrows Church.

"I knew what I wanted, but it evolved," Sister Anne said. "I fell in love with the kids right away and the parents. We were all in it together. We were treading the path together. Through that we were able to create what we have today."

The school quickly outgrew the four rooms at Our Lady of Sorrows, and purchased land. Construction of the first building began in 2001. As the building neared completion, parents spent hours wiring heaters, laying flooring, painting and landscaping the new building.

Students moved into the building after Christmas break during the 2001-02 school year. It featured eight classrooms, a gathering space, a multi-purpose room and office space. After three years in a crowded basement, the school finally had its own home.

"We thought that the building was so big," Lutz said. "It was more than double the size of the basement."

Students had a place for lunch, and could have gym class inside during bad weather. There was also a place for inside recess.

A second building opened in 2005. The student center has been in the works for several years.

As the school grew, more and more parents became active. Regardless of how long a person has been part of the school, everyone’s effort is equally important, Angel said.

"I learned really how insignificant I was or an individual is when putting their all into a great cause or common goal," Angel said. "I’ve learned to put myself last."

Looking back, the creation of the school has touched hundreds of families. It will touch hundreds more.

"Mother Teresa Catholic Elementary School is taking on a life of its own now," Angel said. "It was the most humbling experience I’ve ever been associated with. I consider us lucky to (have been) in that spot at that time."