The first was the Holy Family Day Home for pre-school and Kindergarten. It was (and still) administered by the Sisters of the Holy Family. I learned about God- in English!- and made my friends. I remained at the day home until grade 4.
My elementary/jr. high years were spent at Mission Dolores School, run by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. It was the best 8 years of childhood- made great friends and the teachers were most inspiring...notably Miss Hansen, Sister Catherine Rose, Miss Weaver, Sister Andrew Marie and Mrs. Fiordo. It was great to be part of a school that was connected historically with the old Mission. Truly they were great days during the tumultuous 60s.
High school: Riordan High School. I enjoyed my stay mainly because I was introduced to drama. I had an extraordinary drama teacher, Mr. Barbieri. I participated in six plays while there...An Italian Straw Hat; Mame; The Madwoman of Chaillot; Oliver!; Quack! (an adaptation of Moliere's Physician In Spite of Himself); and West Side Story. While at Riordan I also suffered what a lot of high school students do...bullying. It was depressing, scary and very demeaning. Jocks think they own the world and sad how they end up living on the laurels of their high school victories.
Regardless of the bad times, my experiences in Catholic Schools have formed the person who I am. Tolerance, social justice, care for our world- to name but a few things the sisters and brothers and dedicated lay faculty taught me, has helped me in my vocation as educator. Times have changed, but children are still innocent and look forward to learning. And how wonderful learning has become with technology. As I grow older, I hope to impart wisdom, humor and some sense of importance of being with the children, the future, I teach.
To the Catholic Schools around the world...an alternative to public and private education...God bless you!
