Pottsville, PADevelopment Newsletter Spring 2017

Nativity BVM, Inc. News

Value Then…Value Now…Values Forever…

Dear Alumni and Friends of Nativity,

Jesus tells us to “proclaim the Good News”. The Good News is that every person is a part of God’s plan of salvation. That is what Nativity BVM High School is all about, bringing people to God and God to people. We believe that Nativity makes a positive difference in the lives of those who are a part of our school family as we strive each day to live the good news.

Our current enrollment is 206 students, our 4th straight year of enrollment growth. The great things happening at Nativity High School are a direct result of the commitment and faith of our alumni, supporters and benefactors.

Thank you for your belief in our school, its values, its traditions and all we have to offer. You are a huge part of what makes Nativity so special.

Thank you for all that you do for Nativity BVM High School !

Sincerely,

Lynn A. Lechleitner Sabol ‘76Principal

Jennifer Forney Daubert ‘91Director of Development

Message from the Principal and Development Director of Nativity BVM High School

To the Editor,

There is a recurring daily theme in both my personal and professional lives of reflection on the importance of education and my personal gratitude for all that I have and continue to receive in my practice of medicine.

I am a firm believer that education is what you make of it, but also realize the immeasurable value of a firm foundation for providing that education. I am the proud product of kindergarten through college Catholic education. St. Ambrose and Nativity BVM bolstered the primary lessons my siblings and I learned from my parents and allowed us to flourish into successful professional adults.

My husband and I have had the pleasure this year of being reacquainted with St. Ambrose School, as our oldest son is attending St. Ambrose Preschool. The building has certainly changed since my days there, but the atmosphere is even greater now. Every child is cheerfully greeted by name upon arrival each morning. You can feel the commitment of the faculty and the excitement of the students as you walk the halls.

I have heard criticism that “St. Ambrose is great, but it is just too small.” To that I say this environment allows the dedicated teachers to really know the children and do activities and lessons that are less feasible or effective with larger class sizes. I applaud the current and past faculty and staff of St. Ambrose and Nativity.

In the wake of Catholic Schools Week, I would like to extend my personal gratitude for their many lessons, but specifically those of self-discipline, love of learning, sacrifice, and service to God and others. This education paved the framework for my continued practice of the Catholic faith, and my roles as wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend and physician.

If you have been contemplating Catholic education for your children, I would encourage you to explore these options, as I consider it one of the greatest and most fruitful gifts of my parents.

Margaret J. (Zawisza) Young, DO '02Orwigsburg

WHAT ALUMNI ARE SAYING

A letter from Margaret (Zawisza) Young, DO ‘02 to the Pottsville Republican Herald

Faculty Wish List:

We are currently seeking funds for items in all of our academic departments. Any help that you can provide us is greatly appreciated. Past support has enabled us to purchase additional text books (student and teacher editions), DVD players, DVD’s and art supplies. Thank you for your support of Nativity.

Health/Physical Education EnglishMath Social StudiesReligion LanguageSciences ArtComputers BusinessSchool Play

Thank you to Erin Boran ‘78 for her generous donation to the Art Department. It is greatly appreciated.

Francis Joseph Brennan PCHS’49

Cody Chaklos ‘11

Mary Ann (Hozella) Cholko ‘58

Mary A. (McGeoy) Cullen

St. Stephen HS ‘47

Susan L. Duffy ‘76

Peter Dunchick’65

Margaret M. (Foran) Gallagher PCHS ‘50

Edward D. Grabarek ‘58

Martin Gravish ‘60

Roberta (Hanney) Hein PCHS ‘54

Joseph L. Hess ‘69

Elaine (Kozura) Hodgson ‘56

J. David Kephart, Jr. ‘62

Katherine (Day) Lash ‘58

Mary Louise (Donahue) Leininger

PCHS’44

Philomena (Tobin) Lisphaw PCHS ‘52

Robert W. Long ‘62

Anne (Lipsett) Marshall PCHS

Colleen Cathryn (Wylota) Matalavage ‘67

John Miller PCHS ‘50

Daniel Edward Mulroy ‘58

Michael J. O’Connor ‘72

Michael O’Donnell ‘58

Mary O’Toole

William A. Pfeiffenberger ‘62

Agnes E. (McGowan) Reiley

St. Stephen HS ‘54

Robert D. Rizzardi ‘60

Daniel M. Samilo ‘64

Jeffrey M. Schreffler ‘87

Janice M. Sedicino ‘70

Rev. Msgr. John T. Sekellick

Jane F. Sieck ‘70

Michael Sophy ‘59

Elizabeth G. (Grandi) Spotts

St. Stephen HS

Thomas J. Sublousky ‘58

Victoria C. (Skrentkowski) Trusky

PCHS ‘48

Robert Wassel, Sr. PCHS ‘47

Richard A. Whiteash ‘73

In Memory of Those Who Have Entered Into Eternal Rest:

Please remember Nativity High School in your will and estate planning.

NATIVITY’S ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME

Congratulations to the following alumni who were inducted into Nativity’s Third Athletic Hall of Fame Class:

Michelle Forney Heenan ‘93Paul Longergan ‘85Ronald Matalavage ‘65Eric J. Muldowney ‘90Ronnie Parker ‘75Jaime Williams Troutman ‘01Ruth Weidman (Girls Basketball Coach)1996 District XI Class A Champion Boys Basketball Team

2017 Century Benefit CelebrationThe 2017 Century Benefit Celebration, including the installation of the newest members of the Golden Cross Society, will be held at the Schuylkill Country Club on April 22, 2017. Congratulations to this year’s inductees: Mr. Sol Cotler, Mr. Kenneth Huebner ’77 and Mrs. Mildred Fanelli Scarbinsky ’67

Congratulations to Mark Grapsy ’82 and Michael Grapsy ’82 on their induction into the

Allen-Rogowicz Chapter of the PA Sports Hall of Fame.

Over 200 slides in the “Class of 1966 Slide Show” ran continuously on a television throughout the evening. DJ Joe Devine played songs previously requested by classmates on the Nativity Class of 1966 Facebook page. Classmates and guests enjoyed music and dancing on the patio while the dining rooms provided an atmosphere to sit and reminisce.

Nativity Class of 1966 are invited to keep up-to-date on all future get-togethers by joining the private Nativity Class of 1966 Facebook page. Please friend Roseanne Bedway Ladue on Facebook to be added to this page.

The Class of 1971 held their 45th class reunion on November 19, 2016 at the Pottsville Zone.

The Class of 1976 celebrated their 40th class reunion on August 6, 2016 at the Pottsville Zone.

The Class of 1991 reunited on September 10, 2016 at the Pottsville Zone for their 25th class reunion.

The Class of 1967 is in the planning stages for their 50th class reunion. The Class of 1967 will be celebrating their Golden Anniversary with a three day weekend on October 6, 7, 8, 2017. A get-together is planned for Friday, October 6th, followed by a tour of the school and Yuengling Brewery on the afternoon of Saturday, October 7th. The main event will be held at The Lodge in Pottsville (formerly the Pottsville Club) on Saturday evening with dinner and dancing. A brunch will be held at the Blu Tavern on Sunday, October 8th before departure. Please contact Jane

Gaburick Yourey at Nativity High School (570-622-8110) with any questions or updates.

The Class of 1997 will hold their 20th class reunion on Saturday, May 6, 2017 from 12:30 to 5:30 at Sweet Arrow Lake in Pine Grove, PA. The event will feature a catered pig roast with an open bar. Questions regarding the reunion can be directed to Denise Mack Heim, Danielle Kadingo, or Charles Sacavage. The class is still trying to contact Catrina Barzensky, Lisa Forney, Daniel Hughes, Autumn Kulbinsky and Jason Readinger.

Please note that all alumni news information published in the Alumni Newsletter is submitted information to the school. Anyone wishing to send alumni news information to the school for publication in our next edition of the alumni newsletter can do so by e-mailing jldaubert@nativitybvm.net or mailing the information to: Development Office, Nativity BVM High School, One Lawtons Hill, Pottsville, PA 17901.

ATTENTION ALUMNIPlease provide us with your current e-mail address, phone number and address so we can update our database. Any additions, corrections or updates can be sent to jldaubert@nativitybvm.net Thank you for your assistance!

To find out all the latest happenings from “The Hill”, please check out Nativity High School on our website, www.nativitybvm.

net, our Facebook page, Nativity BVM High School Athletics and Events, and on

Twitter at nativitybvm55.

Green and Gold $20,000 Raffle Winners$20,000 Winner: Mary Ann Ferresi, Morgantown, PA$100.00 Winners:#083 Agnes Shellhammer#084 Mary Reina#470 Brian and Sue Eckley#469 Ken Ballas#147 Helen Deptula#065 Tom and Sandy Grady#428 Ginny OBrien#006 James P.Coleman#346 Dolores McKenna#432 - Amy Naftzinger#122 Jim Bambrick#153 Jackie Modesto#154 Tom and Patty Horvath#090 Mary Monilutz#452 Tom Piccioni#202 Nick Nicholas#519 Eckley 4#500 Bob and Dana Oravitz#318 Gerald Ravitz#078 Alma Lonergan#316 Kochs #077 Merlin Dronick#074 Mary Lou Ray#331 Frank J Colitz Jr.#213 Bryson and London Cusick#304 Jon Bowers#393 Kathleen and Mary Louise#406 Harry Ebling

1st: GR Heffner2nd: John and Barbara Doyle3rd: Jim Doran4th: Kathleen Boyle Quigley5th: James Dougherty6th: HPR, Howard Ave., Pottsville7th: Kathy Galavage8th: Doris S. Rowinski9th: Jack and Geri Schreiber10th: Sister Pat Ash11th: Marie Chizmar12th: Pat Blakeslee13th: Tom Piccioni14th: Daniel Young15th: Chris Carey16th: Pat and Bernie Boran

17th: Larkin18th: MaryBeth Brahler19th: Thomas F. Snyder20th: Connie Heffner21st: Pat Schuettler22nd: Kevin Kerns23rd: Tracey Ebling24th: Mr. and Mrs. Michael Shovlin25th: Rich Twigg26th: Vince Fabiani27th: B & P Myro28th: Pat DiCello29th: Karen Bukoski30th: Shirley Kozluskey Clements31st: Joan M. Florida

Congratulations to the winner of the 2016 Homecoming Alumni Tailgate 50/50 Drawing,

Kerry Burke, parent of Nativity Junior, Connor Burke. This year’s take home prize was

$4501.00. Thank you to all of our alumni for their support!

2016 December Sweepstakes Winners:

Upcoming EventsMark Your Calendars

The Nativity Green and Gold Club is the booster club for all athletics, cheerleading and band front organizations. This club is responsible for helping to preserve all school activities. One of the Green and Gold Club’s major fundraisers is their annual Chinese Auction, which will take place on Saturday, May 6th and Sunday, May 7th. Saturday will be the Browse and Bid while the actual auction will take place on Sunday. Please join us for great food, prizes and fellowship. Your support is greatly appreciated. Please contact Green and Gold President, Diane Yaneck, at 570-294-0551 for more information.

The Green Wave Association is a non-profit organization formed to support all of the extracurricular activities at Nativity BVM High School. The annual Green Wave Open golf tournament is our main yearly fundraiser and the 22nd annual event will be held at Mountain Valley on the Sunday before Memorial Day, May 28, 2017. Mark your calendars, get a foursome and plan to enjoy the day with breakfast, a round of golf and a deck party. For more information, to register or sponsor a hole call Eric Lieberman at 570-594-3773 or visit our Facebook page.

Heather Faust ’07 performed with the Alaria Chamber Ensemble on December 4th at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, New York City.

Senior Chief Petty Officer Dan Schaeffer ’99 is a culinary specialist aboard the Navy forward-deployed Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer operating out of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.

Michael S. Ferguson ’12 graduated Summa Cum Laude from Clarion University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology. He is pursuing his master’s degree at George Washington University.

Kayla Prezelski '15 has been accepted into PENN Engineering Global Biomedical Services Program. The 2017 GBS program will be focused on working in conjunction with students from Hong Kong Polytechnic University to provide orthotic services to children in need in southern China.

Class ReunionsThe Class of 1959 had a “75-Year Birthday Bash” on August 26, 2016 at the Pottsville Zone because classmates were turning 75 years of age in 2016. The Class of 1959 was the first freshman class at Nativity when the school opened and was the first class to complete 4 full years at Nativity. Sixty-four class members attended the “Birthday Bash”. There were 232 graduates in 1959, of which 68 have passed on.

The Class of 1966 celebrated their 50th reunion the weekend of September 23 & 24, 2016. The classmates participated in a variety of activities beginning with a round of golf on Friday morning, reuniting Friday evening at Club 18 in Pottsville and at Roman Delight Restaurant in Orwigsburg. Saturday offered a private tour of Yuengling’s and a tour of their Alma Mater.

On Saturday evening 107 classmates, 4 faculty members, and 49 guests were greeted by the reunion committee at the Schuylkill Country Club. Classmates were presented with picture name

tags, an 8 x 10 replica of their graduation picture and a gift bag containing an engraved stemless wine glass, a Memory Booklet and a Don’t Miss card identifying the highlights of the evening. Photographers took pictures of each classmate holding their graduation picture and various pictures throughout the evening.

Father Harold Dagle, the celebrant from the Class of 1966’s Baccalaureate Mass, offered the prayer before dinner.

The Country Club was decorated in green and gold school colors and included an elegant drape over the doorway, hand-painted glitter bottles and decoupage bottles with pictures of classmates from each section during their undergrad years at Nativity. Potted mums and candles added to the ambiance.

A moving tribute honored 34 deceased classmates. As the name and the date of passing of each classmate were read, green and gold tea lights were placed in front of their framed picture on the Memorial Display.

A Memorabilia display showcased a 3’ x 4’ reproduction of the 1966 class graduation picture, items shared by classmates from their high school days, bowls of candy from the 1960’s, and a “Yes, I’m Here!” poster listing the names of the 107 classmates who traveled from 13 states to celebrate their 50th reunion. Classmates not listed on the poster are Mary Ann Balulis Angelo, Theresa Keller Smith and Edward Clark.

ALUMNI NEWS