St. Bede School teacher retires after 33 years
Gael Davitt has corrected her last test, had her last parent meeting and handed out her last report card. After teaching at St. Bede the Venerable School for 33 years, she is retiring.
An icon in the Catholic education system, Davitt is one of the longest tenured faculty members in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. She estimates she has taught over 2,000 students since arriving at the La Canada Flintridge school in 1974.
"It is difficult to leave after so many years, but it is time to move on," said Davitt, who will be missed by the faculty, students and parents who have grown to appreciate her supportive teaching style.
In Davitt's honor, a retirement party was held recently at Chuck and Linda Swick's home with more than 150 people in attendance. Her last day of school was culminated with a student and parent brunch held at the school. Gael and her husband John, past President of Glendale College, plan on traveling together and spending more time with their four children and 11 grandchildren.
Crespi breaks ground for fine arts/media building
Crespi Carmelite High School broke ground for a new fine arts and media building on campus June 1 in Encino. The 17,605 sq. ft. building will add a chapel, media and fine arts center, counseling center, faculty work room, campus ministry and student activities, cafeteria and a student commons area for social gatherings and theatrical performances.
Six hundred students currently attend the all-boys' school which opened its doors in 1959 under the leadership of then-principal, Carmelite Father Gus Carter, who was present for the groundbreaking. The school is the recipient of a six-year WASC Accreditation and is one of the first Gurian Model High Schools in the country offering teaching techniques specifically geared for boys. The completion of the new building is expected in August of 2008. Social justice ministry workshops offered
Parishioners interested in starting or strengthening a social justice ministry at their church have two opportunities to attend upcoming workshops at the San Fernando Region pastoral office. The workshops sponsored by the social justice committee of the San Fernando Regional Pastoral Council will be held June 21, 7-9 p.m., and June 23, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Participants need only attend one workshop.
The sessions will include presentations on how social justice is an integral part of the Catholic faith. To register, contact Juana Torres, (818) 571-9598 or jmtorres@clunet.edu. Translation is available in Spanish if requested in advance. The San Fernando Region pastoral office is located at 15101 San Fernando Mission Blvd., Mission Hills.
St. Mel students outfit LAPD bomb dogs
Officer Jackie Hickey of the Los Angeles Police Department bomb squad paid a visit to St. Mel School in Woodland Hills June 12 with her trusty canine companion, J.J. (Jackie Junior), to receive a check for $1,209.84 raised by the schoolchildren.
During the month of May, students in the third, fourth and fifth grades collected a total of 120,984 pennies as a community service project to buy safety vests and paw protection pads for police bomb squad dogs. Five bomb-sniffing dogs work for the LAPD which accepts donations for safety equipment. According to Officer Hickey, the schoolchildren's donation was the largest amount ever collected to outfit the dogs. |