School and Learning
garden row 3

If you went to school with me you might be here!
There are memories of St. Aloysius School in the mid-1950s.
You will find some high school photos and memories from the late '60s, too.

ORGANIZED DISCIPLINE

Bell rings, we get in line.
Sister signals,
The classroom door is opened.
Sister signals.
And the line pours into the hallway.
Navy skirts, white blouses in single file.
Sister signals.
We stop.
Friends whisper.
Sister signals for silence.
Friends begin to talk.
Sisters signals, and signals, and SIGNALS!
Silence.
Signal.
We move forward.
I can’t wait ‘til three o’clock!

March 1981

FIRST DAY OF FIRST GRADE

The playground was empty;
I guessed I was late.
Rainy's mom was leaving:
She met me at the gate.

Unafraid, though I was wary
Of what would meet me there,
She walked me to the classroom
So I wouldn't get a scare.

I remember, Judy cried;
Got mad and left the room!
Determined not to act as such
I accepted school by noon.

April 1981

FIRST DAY HAIKU

My first day at school
was met with apprehension.
Adjustment was swift.

April 1981

LOVE IS BLIND
Winner of Third Prize Childhood Memory, OHIO POETRY DAYS 1989

Sister looked inside my desk
And said it was an awful mess.
She dumped it there for all to see
Trying to embarrass me.

She said I'd be no man's spouse
'cause I'd keep a messy house.
But Johnny Dear, who loved me true
Leaned and whispered, "I'll still marry you!"

April 1981

TURNABOUT

Punishment was detention
I can't remember what the crime.
Johnny Dear was staying, too
But didn't want to do his time.

He said "I'm leaving--going home!
...and you should all go too!"
Hoping to sway him, I called,
"Johnny, I won't marry you!"

April 1981

I am the 2nd one in the fourth row. I still regularly see or keep in touch with at least eight of these people!


This photo was taken by Mama's brother, Uncle 'Dude.' Clockwise from top left, the altar boys are: my brother-Russ Maurey; my cousin-Mike Scoles; Mark Reed and Bruce Driscoll.
I made this red velveteen dress and the matching handbag. My high school major was Home Economics. I graduated with over 6 HmEc credits! Before I started to work for a living in 1970, I made myself an entire new wardrobe! I wish I had the time and space to sew now!
My prom picture. I did my hair myself! This is my graduation photo. I mentioned the fact that I did my own hair for the prom, because I had gone out and HAD it done the week before to see how it turned out. The plan was, if I liked it I'd go back. I did not like it, and was sure I could do a much better job, and I did! I used the old time method of tying strands up in rag strips, to get the long curls. Mom had my second-hand linen shoes dyed pink!

These photos of the Bishop Ready HS newspaper, Excaliber show photos of the the play, Music Man, which we did in my junior year. I worked on costumes for that play. For one of the early class reunions, a questionnaire was sent out. I noted that my "most memorable moment" at Ready was working on a play by another name! My answer was a joke, of course, meaning I remembered something that did not happen. No one ever asked me about that!