A Welcome from the Head of School
Dear Parents,
The beginning of another school year is here! As we continue to mark our 175th Anniversary, the Faculty and I look forward to another positive year filled with energy and a continued commitment to excellence. From Special Subjects in the Early Childhood Division to small reading groups in Lower School to our integrated English and History curricula in Upper School, there is no school in Philadelphia like St. Peter’s.
The faculty will be essentially the same with the following changes: Kathy Hadden is our new Upper School math teacher, Kerri Master is our new Preschool Assistant teacher and Prekindergarten and Kindergarten Sports Teacher, and Karen Bauman is our new First Grade teacher. Brit Munsterteiger joins us as the School’s Admissions Director.
Mrs. Kathy Hadden received her B.A. from St. Joseph’s University. Most recently, she worked in the office of the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools, but prior to that she taught middle school mathematics, including algebra, at Holy Child Academy for 20 years. Kathy was also the Mathematics Department Chair. She is looking forward to getting to know our students, do some coaching in the winter, and strengthening our mathematics program through her years of experience.
Miss Kerri Master is a recent graduate of Temple University with a degree in education and has a extensive experience working with children, as a counselor, supervisor and camp site director as well as a director of a learning center for three years. She is a member of Golden Key National Honor Society.
Mrs. Brit Munsterteiger received her master’s degree summa cum laude from Temple University and her bachelor’s degree from Kenyon College. She served as the Assistant Director of Admissions at the Pennington School for the last six years where she was involved in all aspects of admissions as well as marketing. Prior to that, she taught in middle school. Brit will use her educational background is in psychology tol bring important insight and skill to our admission testing program. Her daughter Elsie is a member of our Prekindergarten class.
Mrs. Karen Baumann’s calm yet energetic approach to teaching first grade comes from her 20 years of experience teaching in local public schools. She holds a BA from Duke University in Psychology and an MA from Southern Connecticut State University in Elementary Education. One of her references describes her as “the best teacher our children have ever had!” and we welcome her to St. Peter’s School.
Please welcome them all to St. Peter’s School. We are delighted to have such a talented group joining us this year.
I would like to fill you in on a number of exciting changes:
Mr. Adame will be teaching videography to Seventh Grade, as well as Upper School History and Fifth and Sixth Grade study skills. Videography presents a wide range of exciting educational opportunities and we think our Seventh Graders will be excited to learn a new discipline and how to communicate what they know about different subjects. This does not mean, however, that we will be expecting less writing from them!
We have made some major improvements to the school over the summer, but fortunately none of them involved major construction. We have upgraded our burglar and fire alarm systems, repaired the front steps of the School, and built a storage shed to house ECD tricycles. The old green metal storage shed has been removed, making the playground a more attractive place for our children. The only changes in room assignments are Mrs. Szathmary’s and Mrs. Bahnck’s classes, who will be exchanging classrooms. Much to the delight of the faculty, everyone else remains the same spaces.
Under the direction of Ms. Lauren Girardi, Upper School science teacher, the summer program was a huge success. Almost every session was filled to capacity and staff and campers alike enjoyed the fruits of many hours of preplanning and careful decision-making. I offer a heartfelt thanks to her for a well-run camp and a stress-free summer. I hope she will be back in place for next summer. St. Peter’s was also the site of a Theater Camp, under the direction of Melissa Church. During this two-week program, students wrote, produced, directed, and acted in a musical, and during the second week they produced a series of original one-act plays. Both were educational and entertaining and we hope to be able to offer Theater Camp again next summer.
Finally, four brief items:
If you have not already sent in your information forms to the Receptionist, please do so. Having this information at the start of school is very important in assuring accurate communication between the School and families.
By now you have probably heard from the co-presidents of our Parents Association. They are already energetically at work and seek your participation. Please fill in the Parents in Action Form and return it as quickly as possible.
We must be aware of the possibility of H1/N1 flu returning with our faculty and students. Even though this is an exciting time of year for children please be sure to keep them home for seven days if they show flulike symptoms and/or 24 hours after the end of a fever. We are monitoring the situation here at school, and as we did last spring, will keep you informed.
As part of our effort to be more green, most written communication this year will be conducted via e-mail and the school’s website (www.st-peters-school.org). The Weekly Bulletin will be posted to the website on Thursday afternoon and will not be sent home this year via the red folders. If your family does not have internet access, please contact the Receptionist.
The Faculty and I look forward to reconvening the best Preschool - Grade Eights chool in Philadelphia for another wonderful year - our 175th!
Sincerely,
David Costello
Head of School