Mary Reese: Memories of My Years at the South Elementary School

By , Second Grade Teacher at the South School

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So many memories....so many principals...and so many changes over time.

When I came back to the after being an elementary student there, I was a student teacher from Boston State College (now part of U Mass Boston). I was so excited yet nervous working in the building with my own principal, Miss Mary Daly. I loved my time student teaching in grade 1 and grade 4 from September to December of 1972 with Mrs. Doble and Miss Sturgis.

In the spring, after finishing my last semester, Miss Daly hired me to finish out the year for a first grade teacher, Mrs. Kerman, that left to have a baby. It was so exciting having my first class, developing lessons and creating bulletin boards. I must have done a good job because Miss Daly recommended me for this first grade beginning in the fall of 1973. My lifelong dream had come true....I was a teacher! And so began my career...

Everyone remembers their first class and I am no exception. I am still in contact with two of those students....Maura Crowley and Julie Swenson Giroux. I remember teaching a unit on the circus and I still have photos of the children in costume performing in our makeshift 3-ring circus. The lions were in their cages (kneeling on the desks), the ringmaster kept everyone in control and the clowns had everyone laughing. The Circus Theme Music played over and over because we rehearsed so many times.

I was married in October of 1973 and Julie Swenson attended my wedding. I was so touched that she wanted to see her teacher, the new bride, at church. I believe there is a photo of that too.

At the end of that year I was informed that I was being transferred to the Chemung School (now the Hansen School) because my room was needed for a new class and the South would only have two first grades not the three that we had at the time. I remember being devastated. I didn't want to leave. The Chemung needed another grade 1 but really didn't have a classroom available. I was to be in the library. When I finally accepted that I would be moving, fate intervened and a grade 2 teacher, Mrs. Rogers, announced that she was leaving to have a baby. Miss Daly said that I could stay and move to grade 2, room 6. And so began my many years (37) in room 6.

The next year, I was fortunate to have some of my first grade students move right along with me to second grade. Six of the nicest students were my students for another 180 days. Yes, the two girls I mentioned went with me to second grade. I discovered that grade two was a wonderful place to be. The students were just that much older. They understood routines and expectations better than the first graders. However, this was not to last. The following year it was back to grade 1 but I stayed in room 6. The year after that (1976) it was back to grade 2 and there I have been ever since.

During these years in second grade I had the pleasure to teach alongside my own second grade teacher, Mrs. Eileen Murphy. I don't believe I was ever able to call her by her first name though. She was a wonderful lady and I did socialize at her summer home in Chatham before and after her retirement.

My good friend, Barbie Smith began teaching with me in the late 70's. We had so many fantastic experiences during out tenure together. Many were both professional and personal. Our children were all born within a year or two of each other and we did many trips with the children together. One parent, Mrs. Kathy Jolley, gave us the keys to her chalet in New Hampshire and we packed up the kids, drove three hours into New Hampshire and had a wonderful time in the mountains and at the lakes. We were fortunate to repeat this experience more than once.

By this time Miss Daly had retired and Dr. Fisher was our principal. So many things changed under Dave's direction. Miss Daly ran the school with an iron fist for teachers and students. Rules were rules and one did not question her. Dr. Fisher had a different approach. We could now carry coffee cups to our classroom and we were allowed entry to the supply closet anytime we needed something. That definitely didn't happen before. Under Miss Daly, a supply book had to be submitted before 9 a.m. on Wednesday for any supplies requisitioned for the week. Even then, Miss Daly was known to write “You ordered pencils last week. Are you eating them?” And no, you did not get any that week. Now we could go in and actually choose and take any supplies we needed. Wow!

In the 80's I had three babies. I'm still not sure how I balanced home life with school life. Actually, I was so fortunate to have an excellent day care provider, Lilly Maynard, that lived right around the corner from the school and my mom and dad, George and Mary Murphy, just up the street from the school. So if I was running late in the afternoon because there was always one more thing to do or get ready for the next day, neither minded if I arrived late to pick up my children.

Over the years, educational buzz words continued to change. In the 90's we were into the whole language model of teaching. I will say this was the best time to use one's creativity in developing thematic units. Barbie and I developed units, one after another. We developed units on the ocean, dinosaurs, Native Americans, penguins, letter writing unit, multicultural studies, and so many more.

Everywhere I went I'd buy another book or puzzle or model to add to the unit of study. This might explain the 30+ plastic tubs that I just finished cleaning out as I get ready to retire next week. Everything in the unit connected~field trips, literature, math activities, and writing. Barbie and I received approval to take the second graders to Horseneck Beach to Explore the Shore as a culminating activity to the ocean unit. Scavenger hunts and beach treasures are the highlight of the trip. Even though we changed to Scussett Beach a number of years ago, students and families alike all agree it's the best field trip ever.

Classes of students continued to come into my life and along with their families bonds were formed. If a student asked me to come watch a sporting event they were in, I'd do my best to go. I'd go to the hockey rinks, the soccer field, the baseball field, many First Communion ceremonies and even a few birthday parties.

For a number of years, every summer I would prearrange a reunion of sorts with my outgoing class. We would met to play mini golf and chat before they started third grade. My hope was that it might relieve a little of the “first day jitters” in September. Many times if I had one sibling in a family, another would enter my classroom in the next few years. Eventually, I had children in my room that were the sons and daughters of former students. This year I have 2 students, Amanda Paukner and Ashton Scibetta, that are the children of former students. Interestingly enough the two parents (Lorraine Powers Paukner and Stephen Scibetta) were in my room in the same year too.

In the mid 90's, Barbie Smith took a leave and I was so fortunate to then teach with Barbara Mills. We became fast friends and still work, and laugh and socialize together. I have been a very lucky teacher to have terrific co-workers all these years.

In the 90's I had a student named Brian McKenna. I had his mom, Lori Giroux McKenna, as a student in 1976. We were working on biography projects in March of that year and Brian chose Ruby Bridges to read about. The children had to do a written report and a project too. Brian and mom wrote a song about Ruby Bridges. Brian sang the song for his project and did so well that he was asked to sing for many other classes too. A few years later, Lori McKenna came to my classroom with the real Ruby Bridges. It seems the song she and Brian wrote made it's way to Ruby and they connected. What an honor it was to meet her and get her autograph.

In 1995 I was so fortunate to be nominated by Barbara Tardanico, a teacher at the South, for an educator award through Norfolk County Teacher's Association. Not only was I nominated but I won. It was quite an honor to receive the Laura Warcup, Distinguished Educator Award. I was thrilled!

In the early 2000's many of the staff that I had taught with for so many years, started to retire one by one. Dick Thorne had been assistant principal for 28 years. Peter LaBouliere took over after that but decided to step down after a few years. Dr. Fisher approached me about the position and I have loved every minute of it. Each day I begin the day greeting the early arrivals and at the end of every day I see the last of the students board a bus or get picked up by a family member. I fill in when the principal is out and find many ways to assist staff, run programs, schedule events, and help out with drills.

Dr. Fisher retired in 2004. We were on to a new principal after 28 years. Things were going to change again. Dave Patota took the helm but only stayed at the South for two years. During his tenure, I was nominated for Massachusetts Teacher of the Year along with several other South teachers. Again, quite an honor.

Also during this time I had a student named Shannon Barkey. Shannon needed to be able to quietly leave the classroom several times a day. I had started to use a very simple non verbal system of communication for my students when they needed to leave the room either for the nurse or the restroom. Each student had an index card colored red on one side and blue on the other side. If they had an emergency that required going to the nurse, they would hold up the card with the red side facing me. If they needed the restroom they would hold up the blue side. With a simple nod of the head, the child's need was acknowledged and the lesson was not interrupted. Shannon's mom was so impressed that her daughter was not made to feel different that she contacted the organization they were working with and they created an award for me in recognition of outstanding service above and beyond the normal call of duty. Sometimes it's the little things we do...

Ron LePage became the interim principal for one year after Dave Patota left. Ron was a veteran principal, retired, but a wonderful stabilizing force for that next year.

The following year, Mark Chitty was hired and Mark stayed with us for three years. All the while technology, curriculum, report cards, common core standards, and rubrics kept changing. It always amazes me that “best practices” are just that but someone, somewhere thinks the pendulum needs to keep swinging and that will make our students better, brighter, and more prepared. Teachers know what “best practices” are...let them teach!

Last year, one of our parents, Jennifer McSweeney, also a former South student, had kept in touch with another student of mine, Jennifer Crosscup. Jennifer Crosscup Harley now lives in England. She wondered if her son's school, The Hall Meadow Primary School, would be able to “link up” with students from my room to become pen pals. It was a great experience and it was so much fun to write to Jennifer's son, Luke Harley.

Three years ago I was anxious to begin a 50th anniversary celebration for the South School. The school opened in 1958 and I began my research early in 2008 so SOUTH SCHOOL could celebrate for the 2008-2009 school year. Many events were planned and accomplished by Flag Day 2009, the official end of the celebration. We created four new tile walls with the students and staff creating the artwork for the tiles. We restored the nature trail that had been made in the 70's and buried a time capsule that will be opened in the year 2024. We made posters by the decade that now hang on the walls of the cafe and created a beautiful DVD for viewing. It was a great year and one of my proudest accomplishments.

This year, Maureen Mulvey started as principal of the South Elementary School. She has done a wonderful job and I wish her many happy years at the South. Interestingly enough I began and ended my career working for woman principals.

For a number of years my second graders would work on a project that spanned half of the school year. We would start by creating a time line of their life, add an investigation about their name, complete an All About Me poster, design a name marquis, and add a variety of written work, both poetry and narrative about the child. At the end of the year all the work is assembled on a presentation board with the help of Mrs. Kathleen Reese (we call her the other Mrs. Reese, my mother-in-law). The children and the families treasure these “Special Me” boards for years to come.

Once a parent asked me if any of my students had become famous. I was caught off guard by the question and had to think a bit. Well in the years since I can say yes, quite a few have become famous or I'd prefer to say successful. Although, I would not say that I am taking any credit in their success it is nice to know that I was on part of their journey. From my very first class 1973-74, Michael Viola, a well known musician. From the class of 1975-76, Lori Giroux McKenna, a well known folk singer. From the class of 1995-96 a well known editor of the Stoughton Patch...Jeffrey Pickette (great job!).

Many are doctors, nurses, lawyers, police officers, and teachers. Some own their own businesses and others are stay at home moms. I always love to hear from former students and with e-mail it doesn't matter how far away they live. I've received e-mails from former students that now live in North Carolina, Florida and the western part of Massachusetts. It's always great to hear from them.

My best estimate is that I have taught 760+ students over these 38 years of teaching and there are many more stories to learn. Maybe I will learn some of these stories in retirement!