School's Out!

   That building known as "the old school" was a pillar of the community but also a friend.

     That old school served as a catcher for so many rubber baseballs that found their way into a black square painted onto its back section in the big St.William parking lot. My friends and I spent many sunny afternoons throwing those rubber balls at that square as we also stood in front of it with our baseball bats trying to slap that pitch before it smacked the venerable bricks of the school.

   I spent lots of sunny days  running around on that asphalt,ruining my hips(😁) but enjoying baseball  through the game of "Fast Pitch" with friends. I bet there are still rubber balls on the old school roof.

    That big school building stood there reflecting the lights from a ferris wheel, a Tilt-A-Whirl and all the attractions provided by the carnival that used to occupy our lot every August. While its been a very long time since the carnivals, it is among my forever memories of the school.

     I experienced two principals in my student life at St.William. The aforementioned Sister Paschaletta and at the finish,Sister Eloise whom I would interact with post student. I interviewed her as a local news reporter covering a break in at the school years after I had graduated. Sister Eloise was a kind,soft spoken but firm principal. Unlike the more business like nun in Sister P. , Sister Eloise was a pleasant change....and not the last principal I would experience as you will see later.

    The school secretary is a very important person in the grammar school orbit. She is the go between, the safe space betwern you and the authority of the principal. You came to her when you skinned your knee or you felt sick or you had to bring her something you were instructed to deliver by your teacher.  She was, in a way, your mom away from mom and it helped if she were sociable and caring.

    The School secretary most famous in St.William lore was Mrs.Small. Heads still bow at the mention of her name! I think she might have come with the construction of the school and was as much a part of it as the bricks. She was there a long time! A gentle woman with white hair, Mrs.Small was St.William School  for generations. Her husband Adrian even worked there as custodian. We also had Mr.McCarthy and Mr.Duhane.

     We had school busses in those days and male students were obliged to serve as "bus boys" to ride with a driver and attempt to keep order among your fellow students. So though I lived across the street there was a period where I rode the bus each morning and afternoon. I was not among those who used the position as a power base. "I'm gonna report you" was the go to line for the bus boy. I was less into being a tattletale than some others though I am sure I turned in a report or two , at least to show I was on the job..

     And while I didn't get to walk out with my class on the last day of school , I did walk out of church in my blue cap and gown with them the night we graduated, putting the punctuation mark on my time as an average to good  student at St. William.

      But I returned and that's what I will be remembering next.