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Who's Going Where Page !!
Don't forget to order your St. Mary's Tribute Video. Scroll down for details. NEW!:Unofficial Region 7 Catholic School Page
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Who's Going Where Page !!
Don't forget to order your St. Mary's Tribute Video. Scroll down for details. NEW!:Unofficial Region 7 Catholic School Page
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The "Webmaster's Note" of June 19, 2004 (below) is the last official entry for the cause to save St. John the Baptist Elementary School in Pittston, and St. Mary's School in Avoca. Obviously, with the closure of our schools and the decision of Judge Gailey C. Keller on June 15, 2004, the Committee listed on the above banner is no longer active.
Thank you.
Please click HERE if you wish to reach the new page.
June 4th, 2004 - Our Last Day of School
JUNE 15th, 2004
The Day Our Hopes were Extinguished
Now, as sad as we feel inside, outwardly we must turn our thoughts to making this a happier time for the children
The 288 children or St. John the Baptist School, Pittston AND St. Mary's Avoca
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The headline in the June 5th edition of the Times Leader read:
The Mass at St. John's was beautiful, the words of Father Strish - with his unshakeable faith in God and His will, and Mr. K - ever the optimist and strong leader - were both inspiring and hopeful as they put aside their personal grief for the sake of the children. In what certainly must have been difficult to do, Mr. Kaluzavich addressed the future of his children at their new schools: he informed the students that he expected to be hearing that they, the students of SJB, were now the "movers and shakers" of their new places of learning. But, as difficult as it was listening to Mr. K speak of our students being students elsewhere, it was listening to the beautiful voices of children filling the church with song that was so very, very bittersweet. To think that this beautiful group of children will no longer be together again is just so sad.
There were very few smiles- except for the sad smiles of understanding when we parents looked at each other or the smiles of the youngest students who, thankfully, don't understand fully that something so beautiful is ending.
Missing was the joy that usually accompanies a normal last day of school. We have never seen more adults crying - along with children - at any other time in our entire lives. No one wanted to walk away at the end. People lingered on, hugging, crying, taking pictures, and taking long, hard looks at the rooms and hallways which have been filled with so much love, so much friendship, so much joy, so much devotion for so very many years. The classrooms themselves seemed filled with grief and lonliness and yearning for just one more day, one more month, one more year. Looking at the bare walls, the blank blackboards, the empty bookshelves, always adorned with colorful books, decorations of season, and tools of celebration and learning, was nearly unbearable.
Most of the final good-byes were to Mr. Kaluzavich and Father Strish. One can only imagine what these two men were thinking or feeling as they stood near the SJB doors and hugged parent after parent and student after student, and posed for endless photos. Both looked a little more weary than we've ever seen them look, and their sad eyes belied the smiles they gave to each of us as we bid them farewell and thanked them for their years of dedication to our children.
There was one final good-bye to say as we left the building. There, in his usual station in the driveway, was Paul, our schools caretaker and general "guardian angel" for the safety of the children as we dropped off and picked up daily. Paul's daughter was a teacher
s aide at the school, and his grandchildren attended. He's been devoted to the school for many years. No one got into that driveway if you came too late and Paul thought there was a chance a child might be injured by your car. Paul, as dedicated as any of the teachers to the safety and welfare of the children, has never taught a class, but we've all gotten to know him and care for him throughout the years. And the past ten weeks were as difficult on Paul as they were on the rest of us.
In the end, we all had to walk away and leave it all behind. Oh, if we could only start over again. If we'd only had a warning, a chance, we would have done what needed to be done. We would have done anything. But no one gave us the chance, and no one gave us the warning.
And the Bishop took our hope away.
Remember, no one can take our memories away.
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288 smiling faces full of innocence, trust, and hope HOPE that we, the grown-ups, would save your schools before the Last Day Please know we tried our best But sometimes even our best efforts, our most fervent prayers just are not answered Someday we will understand why But for now, little ones There is something no one can take away- It is your innocence, trust and hope and FAITH Don't let it slip away Carry it with you wherever you go And never forget the days of joy and laughter At SJB and SMA |
Click Here to read what the children of St. John the Baptist and St. Mary's Avoca had to say about losing their beloved schools.
Guest Books are archived in reverse chronological order.
Guest Book 11 has the last entries for the Committee to Save St. John the Baptist and St. Mary's Schools.
Guest Book I
Guest Book 2
Guest Book 3
Guest Book 4
Guest Book 5
Guest Book 6
Guest Book 7
Guest Book 8
Guest Book 9
Guest Book 10
Our Last Entries
Guest Book 11