Holy Family Alumni News

Volume 1, Issue 2 August 27, 1999

From the top....Fr. Bill Bigelow

The old adage that time flies when you are having fun is certainly true here at Holy Family. One year is over and another is about to begin. Msgr. Brennan celebrated his Golden Jubilee as a priest and we begin planning for our 100th Anniversary as a Parish in the year 2002.

As celebrate the past year and more, we look forward - not quite breathlessly - to the future of the parish and the school. As Alum of Holy Family, we know the lasting effects that our education has had on our lives. While there are fewer students today at Holy Family than in past years, the spirit they experience is the same as ever - positive, joyous, value-based and Christ-centered. While the economic and sociological realities of South Buffalo have changed, there are still a significant number of families who desire to have the benefit of a strong Catholic education for their children. Our challenge for the future is to do everything we can to offer that opportunity into the new millennium.

The future will challenge us to keep costs within reasonable parameters; keep tuition affordable for our families; work with the teacher's union representing our teachers on issues of mutual concerns; continue to strengthen all our programs including computer Literacy for our students and faithfully share Faith in Jesus Christ with our children. A daunting agenda but "doable" by working to involve a broad cross section of concerned people; developing additional funding streams; encouraging deeper parental involvement and drawing on the assistance of our alumni.

I appreciate the generous efforts of Pat Crowley in the development efforts on behalf of the school. She has created an interesting newsletter and found some significant donations for the school. She is working with the Class of ''49 on their 50th Reunion and planning other events to bring together the richness of the Holy Family Alumni. We have been given a treasure that is a joy to share with each other. If you wish to be involved in handing on the gift of a Catholic education to the children of today, please call our principal, Sr. Patricia Collins, (716) 826-6017 or Pat Crowley, (716) 662-3268.

Your Newsletter

CLASS OF '49 ... READY TO PARTY

Every member of the class is encouraged to bring any pictures or memorabilia they have tucked away to share with the class.

Invitations went out August 13th. If for some reason you did not Receive yours, contact Joan Lillis, (716) 825-5855. We don't want anybody to miss this special event.

Greetings from 920 Tifft Street! Yes, Holy Family School is very much alive and quite well. Our children are the best in South Buffalo, and the teachers the very best! Our school is much smaller than when you attended but .... we continue to keep going. Presently we have two hundred and ten students plus 70 pre school children in Noah's Ark - run independently by Miss Susan Jackson. All in all we find we've had a very successful school year and we are now preparing for 1999-2000 millennium year!

This past school year we had fourteen children in our Graduation class. They will be attending Mount Mercy, Bishop Timon/St. Jude, Hutch Tech, McKinley and South Park High Schools. It is very difficult for parents to pay the high tuition costs.

Tim Russert of NBC News, recently visited our school and will give a scholarship to Canisus High School. We are most grateful!

Maureen Long and Elisha Waz, 8th grade graduates, recently received the Eliot Spitzer, Triple "C" Awards. This program recognizes the "Character, Courage and Commitment" of New York's hard working students. We've had several poems published by students in Grades 5, 6, and 7. These appear in the Teacher's Solution Anthology of Poetry. Our class rooms have computers and the teachers add technology to enrich students. We have a Computer room and hope by September to have a real live Computer Teacher. Anyone interested?

Our Sports Program has always been successful. Mr. Robert Ziolowski has taught Physical Education and Art here for 18 years. We commend him for all the time and effort he gives to Holy Family students. Nine Presidential fitness Awards were presented at Sport's Day.

We continue to plan a Christmas Program each year with all classes participating. I have looked at many of the pictures of plays from past years. I'm sure you remember being in a play or skit.

Anytime you are in the So. Buffalo area stop and visit Holy Family School. Sincerely,
Sister Patricia Collins

Did you Know... An HFS Alum has set up a scholarship to Bishop Timon/St. Jude and to Mt. Mercy for eighth grade graduates of HFS in memory of his parents. Have you ever considered a Memoriam?

"Development Council" Formed....

Four Subcommittees were formed to 1. Prepare a "Mission Statement" for development, 2. Explore possible "Tuition Assistance" programs and develop policy for such, 3. Plan a "Reunion" for all Holy Family Alumni and 4. Look at ways to "recruit" students to Holy Family School and create a brochure.

If you are interested in joining any of these committees or can lend you support in any way, please call Father Bill at the Rectory.

A "Reunion Party" for all Alumni of Holy Family School will be held in the fall (probably a Friday night in November) Watch for posters, notices in your church bulletins, articles in the papers an invitation in the mail. A good old fashioned South Buffalo party, with food, drinks, music and a lot of laughs......

Thanks for your Response....

HFS buttons (with new logo, at top) will be distributed to all the children entering school in September. For one dollar you too can "proudly" wear one... . all the monies collected will go to the school. Send your dollar to HFS, "Button", 920 Tifft St, Buffalo, 14220 and we will mail one to you right away... . . . We're Talking Proud! (an extra .50 for postage would be most helpful)

Always Searching