SCHOOL NEWS | ALUMNI NEWS | DEVELOPMENT NEWS the WESTWORD from the PRINCIPAL/CEO Keeping Our Flock Connected | Vol
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WE STAND TOGETHER IN LEARNING, FOREVER IN FAITH Spring 2019 SCHOOL NEWS | ALUMNI NEWS | DEVELOPMENT NEWS THE WESTWORD FROM THE PRINCIPAL/CEO Keeping our flock connected | Vol. 34 No. 1, Spring 2019 WEST CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | 1801 BRISTOL NW • GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN 49504 | 616-233-5900 Dear Readers, Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids Mission Welcome to the Spring at West. I was surprised to read the number of essays she Most Reverend David J. Walkowiak, bishop of the Diocese of Grand Rapids To form disciples of Christ through a dynamic, excellence-driven Catholic education edition of the Westword. has written in just short of four years. You will have to read Grand Rapids Catholic Secondary Schools Vision Spring! It sounds so welcoming the article to find out. But it is no wonder we have students David Faber, Superintendent / Canonical Administrator Inspired by Saint John Paul II, West Catholic High School is dedicated to the transformation after a harsh winter and what I such as a nephew of mine who came back after his first Kathy Purcell, Controller of students who will live their earthly and eternal lives as humble servants of God. believe to be a record, or close semester at Michigan State University complaining he was Jill Annable, Assistant Superintendent to a record, number of snow “ruined for peer editing”. No one wanted to partner with The Westword is published twice yearly to connect the community of alumni, friends West Catholic High School Administration and family of West Catholic High School. days - eleven and counting. him as he was so picky with grammar, and so well-prepared Fr. Daniel Schumaker, Co-Chaplain Send comments to: Thank goodness for iPads, our for college writing. Don’t miss the wrap-up of Falcon Awards Fr. Michael Steffes, Co-Chaplain Editor - Gerri Wesorick online learning management system, Canvas, and dedicated Night honoring Duane Kluting WC ’76, Jim Rooney CC Cynthia Kneibel, Principal/CEO The Westword teachers who are trying to deliver content through the snow, ’44, Jim and Lois Flickinger and Tom WC ’77 and Diane Tony Fischer, Assistant Principal 1801 Bristol Ave NW winds and ice. (Fleis) WC ’80 Pelak. They have contributed so much to Joe Gietzen, Dean of Students Grand Rapids, MI 49504 Denny Krynicki, Athletic Director West Catholic and to our broader community. [email protected] Sue Armstrong, Assistant Athletic Director In this edition of the Westword we highlight the valiant Jill VanderEnde, Development Director Keep in touch! Send us your new address and your new degree, new job, service of West Catholic Falcon’s who dedicated, and in some On a final note, if you haven’t been on campus for Todd Peters, Admissions Director engagement, marriage and birth announcements. Please email Geraldine Wesorick Tom Kutzli, Instructional Technology Specialist at [email protected]. cases gave their lives to fight for our freedom in the military. awhile, please join us for the Celebrate West! Auction on Phil Dolci, Campus Minister To the families and friends of John Grachtrup WC ’64, Friday, April 26. We will have fabulous Polish food by Billy Online: Diane Ysasi, Guidance Department Director www.grwestcatholic.org | www.gowestcatholic.org Paul Klingenmaier WC ’64, Timothy Miedzielec WC ’66, K. Catering, lots of tempting auction items, and many Foundation for Catholic Secondary Education Gerald Rock WC ’67, Robert Schumaker WC ’64, George friends and alumni with which to share good times and a Cynthia Kneibel, Principal/CEO, West Catholic facebook.com/grwestcatholic twitter.com/grwcatholic Zomberg WC ’65 and teacher Daniel Jaskiewicz please know toast to the future of West Catholic. If you can’t make the our continued prayers are with you and for the repose of the auction but would like to stop by and see all the upgrades we instagram.com/grwestcatholic souls of these brave young men who lost their lives in service continue to make, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to our country. Every fall in honor of Veterans Day, West to take a few minutes and show you around! Our Root Beliefs Catholic hosts a Veterans Day Mass with celebrant Bishop David Walkowiak on campus, followed by a light lunch. God bless! If you are in Michigan let’s hope the Become Eucharistic Disciples of Christ. We are called to be Disciples of Act rightly, serve generously. Through living example, high expectations, and Christ, renewed constantly at the Eucharist, who live with Christ, sit at His feet and practice in self-discipline, we challenge students to develop their consciences to live Please watch our calendar as we draw closer to this day. We groundhog was right and we are headed for an early spring. learn how to love from the God Who is love. moral lives of virtuous action and service. would love to have you join us. All are welcome! The snow days have got to stop or our students will be celebrating the last day of class long into June! Educate the whole person, one student at a time. West Catholic educates “Open wide the doors to Christ” – St. John Paul II I hope you enjoy other articles in this edition such as the mind, body and soul. More than an excellent academic institution, we invite each We enthusiastically invite new members into our shared life. We strive to show, through senior Audrey Patterson’s essay on Not only words - but Cindy student, with his or her unique gifts and challenges, to live well, seek excellence, our actions, words and compassion, that each person is a worthwhile and meaningful numbers. She gives a quick glimpse into the lives of students make careful distinctions and judgments, and care for others. part of our community. Nurtured by Catholic tradition and the life of St. John Paul II, we follow his example of being Disciples of Christ. Our Core Values Joy expresses the call of Pope Francis to evangelization: that the mark of the Commitment expresses our tenacity and our strength: West Catholic is an institution The St. John Paul II disciple is one who is joyful. It expresses how we want everyone to experience our of excellence. We expect excellence from staff and students; we know that they are The St. John Paul II community, our classrooms, and everything we do. capable of achieving it, since they are made in the image of God. Legacy Society Learning. Intentional education based on faith and reason brings about Caritas. Latin for love/charity. Imbued with selflessly loving and caring for others, LegacyPlease contact Society Cindy Kneibel at transformative learning that deepens our students’ understanding of God and His caritas best describes all of our relationships in which we strive to emulate the caritas [email protected] or magnificent creation. of God for His people. (616)Please 233-5905 contact for more Cindy information Kneibel on how at you Living. At West Catholic, high school is not an interruption of real life, nor a waiting [email protected] include West Catholic in your planned giving. or room for future life, but a rich experience of being fully, joyfully alive. (616) 233-5905 for more information on how you can include West Catholic in your planned giving.SPRING 2019 | 3 STUDENT PERSPECTIVE | by Audrey Patterson School news Not only words – but numbers – affect one's life Fall sports wrap-up It seems like just yesterday, I was a terrified freshman walking through and 49 spectacular football games. I enjoyed the thrill of the fight, the the doors of West Catholic as a student for the first time. The four struggle, and the triumph. And even though we didn't take home the Many teams had successful seasons; individual athletes also won awards or advanced to years I've been here have passed both slowly and in the blink of an eye. championship my senior year, I am more than proud of our team and state competition. Suddenly I find myself with only a few months left before I graduate, what they've accomplished. The Volleyball team won the District title, while the Boys Soccer team reached the and looking back on all the time I've spent at West, I can't help to reflect District finals. The Football team made the playoffs, but lost to eventual State champs, on what I have done and the ways I have changed. So here is a little 37 Unity Christian. breakdown on my four years at West - by the numbers. The 37 exams I took over my high school career taught me a great Individuals who qualified for deal. While stressful and difficult I gained experience in study skills, individual competition at the State 160 time management, and most importantly perseverance. These are such level include Lindsay Reens, Girls Faith comes first at West Catholic as demonstrated by frequent prayer, important qualities that they make the exams completely worth it. Golf; and Andy Solarewicz, Boys weekly Mass, and its faith-filled community. I spent 160 hours in Mass Tennis. over the four years I've been here. A Catholic school allowed me to grow 366 Bridget Kohane and Dana Wila my faith in many ways and 160 hours spent worshipping God certainly Much of my homework at West was comprised of essay writing: 366 of were Finalists for the MHSAA didn't hurt! them - both short and long. All the essay writing honed my writing skills Scholar-Athlete Award. and when I dual enrolled in college classes, I found that I was more than 640 prepared for writing essays in college. I can't even imagine how many hours went into studying for the 640 quizzes and tests I took.