NEWS
|
St. Joseph Jr-Sr High
School Hilo,
Hawaii
NEWS |
|
 Recognition of Years of Service   This year the Catholic School Department of the Diocese of Honolulu has chosen to recognize those Faculty/Staff members with thirty or more years of service to Hawaii's Catholic Schools as well as those who have arrived at the milestone of 20 years of service. We express our deepest gratitude to all of our dedicated faculty and staff members both new and old who make St. Joseph School such a special place.
Adele C. Lyman / 40 Years of Service. Adele joined the staff in March of 1961 as School Secretary, Registrar and Director of Records and Admissions. She has worked for eight principals over the past forty years. Adele inspires us by her courage as she continues to battle cancer. She asks for our prayers. Sr. Charlene, O.S.F. / 36 Years of Service. Sr. Charlene has served in the Catholic schools of the Diocese of Honolulu since 1965. She holds her Masters Degree in Library Science and works as Librarian and Audio-visual coordinator for the High School She also works as advisor to the Seventh Grade and serves as a Eucharistic minister for St. Joseph Church and brings Holy Communion to patients at Hilo Hospital. Sr. Stephen Marie, O.S.F. / 35 Years of Service. Sr. Stephen Marie was born and raised in Hilo and attended St. Joseph School. She made her profession as a religious sister in 1950. Since 1966, she has served Catholic schools in the Diocese of Honolulu. She is a former principal of St. Joseph Elementary, and now serves as Guidance Counselor. Loved by all the students, we thank God for the gift of Sr. Stephen Marie. Deacon LeRoy Andrews / 34 Years of Service. Deacon Andrews joined the faculty of St. Joseph's in 1966. He has worked his way up the ranks as classroom teacher, department chairperson, campus minister and vice-principal. He became principal of St. Joseph High School in 1990. A deacon is called to ministry of service in the Church. Deacon Andrews asks for prayers to be a good principal and faithful servant. Gerry AhYo / 31 Years of Service. Gerry AhYo joined the staff of St. Joseph School in 1969. She is known and loved by everyone. Mrs. AhYo wears many hats. She serves as custodian, security person, office worker, cafeteria monitor, mail clerk and messenger. During the summer months she supervises major cleaning and janitorial projects. In her battle with cancer, she inspires us by her strength and courage. Pamela Lyman / 30 Years of Service. Pamela Lyman was first hired to the faculty of St. Joseph School in August of 1970. She first taught in the elementary school. She now serves as Science Department Chairperson, Na'imiloa Advisor and Biology teacher. She is always looking for ways to improve the curriculum through attendance at in-service opportunities. Mrs. Lyman is a firm believe in life-long learning. Mr. Rodney Cambra / 20 Years of Service. Rodney started his employment in the 1980-81 academic year. He came to us from the Hawaii Police Department. he has served as History and Government teacher and Chairperson of the Social Studies Department. Additional duties over the years have included Athletic Director, Basketball Coach, Senior class advisor and Dean of men. He is known for his sense of fairness in working with the students and is a friend to everyone. Susan Wehrsig / 20 Years of Service. Susan Wehrsig joined the school community in 1980-81. She is an outstanding teacher. She has taught Freshman Composition, English Literature and Advanced Placement courses. She also wears many hats: Chairperson for the Language Arts Department, Academic Dean, Senior Class Advisor, Curriculum Coordinator and Dean of Women. Mrs. Wehrsig has worked hard to enhance the academic quality of the curriculum.  St. Joseph Junior-Senior High School and Urawa Jitsugyo Gakuen of Urawa, Saitama, Japan have successfully completed the first stage of a sister shool program that will continue for at least the next two years. At a special welcoming assembly St. Joseph Principal LeRoy Andrews and Urawa's Principal Makoto Ouchi signed the agreement that they hope will open up many educational opportunities for students and help them develop deeper cross cultural understanding and friendships.
This inaugural exchange program lasted for two weeks. Principal Ouchi was accompanied on his visit by English teacher Mrs. Akiko Enomoto and teh Urawa Jitsugyo Gakuen students. The students were hosted in the homes of families of St. Joseph Japanese language students. Each day the students from Japan attended Japanese, English as a Second Language, and content area classes with St. Joseph students. They participated in school activities, such as the annual Turkey Trot, and special after school programs prepared for them by SJHS teachers and students. These enrichment classes included Hawaiian language lessons, ti leaf making, kapa printing, hula and ukulele lessons, and Halloween face painting. In addition, students from both schools went on field trips to Kona and visited the Hokule'a in port in Hilo. They even got an unplanned Hawaiian nature experience courtesy of the recent floods. The sister school agreement calls for a return visit to Urawa Jitsugyo Gakuen by St. Joseph students next fall. Urawa Jitsugyo Gakuen is the same school whose students attend English language programs at United hawaii College in Hilo. During the past few years these students have visited St. Joseph for one day conversational exchanges and for several friendly soccer games. The sister school program grew out of these contacts wiht the encouragement of President Kunori of United Hawaii College, as well as ideas developed by St. joseph teachers under the auspices of the Fulbright Memorial Fund teacher exchange program. In addition to the Urawa group, St. Joseph also has another special visitor fromjapan this year. She is Ms. Aya Takumi of Hiroshima, Japan. Ms. Takumi is an International Intern volunteer teacher who is serving at both St. Joseph Junior-Senior High School and St. Joseph Elementary School throughout this school year. She will help students learn more about Japanese culture and language. Visiting classes from kindergarten through grade 12, she teaches about everyday life in Japan, instructs students in cultural activities such as origami and calligraphy, and assists with Japanese language instruction. She is also offering students a free after school Japanes conversation class two days a week. Ms. Takumi is the third International Intern volunteer teacher in as many years to serve at St. Joseph. Each volunteer teacher has been hosted in the home of a local family, and offers her services free of charge to the school.
|