or even better yet- share your great ideas and help us plan one.
St. Rene alums Mary Bies '72 and Jan (Bies) Harris '68 strike a pose with their class photos while taking a trip down memory lane on a recent visit to St Rene School. These former students (Mary, a teacher), currently reside in Tucson, Arizona and were amazed at all the changes that have occured to our school overs the years but still hold onto the fond memories and friendships made while attending St Rene School. Thank you Mary for contacting Mrs. DeSantis and arranging this visit!
--Kathy, Development Office
The Alumni Committee of St. Rene recommends that each graduating class celebrate a class reunon every five years. If you are interested in planning a class reunion or joining or contacting the Alumni Committee please click the flyer below.
We are pleased to share with you two Class Reunions.
The class of 1977 celebrated their 30th class reunion along with class members from class of 1976, 1978 and 1979.
The class of 1997 celebrated their 10th class reunion in Flannery Hall with a school tour given by Father Pete and Ms. Grzenia.
Where Are They Now?
The St. Rene Alumni Committee is aggressively building a database of our Alumni. We have an on going project of gathering information to keep in touch, to inform and also to discover how successful - on many levels --our graduates have become. With that in mind we are introducing what should be a regular feature to share with fellow parishioners. Please share your alumni stories of your children, grandchildren, neighbors and friends.
Dr. David Roman, Class of 1990
Clearing Man Now U. Michigan Doctor
Dr. David Roman, son of Clearing residents David and Marie Roman, has accepted a research fellow position at the University of Michigan internal medicine and pharmacology department.
Roman, who will celebrate his 27th birthday on Oct. 26, is a
St. Rene Elementary School class of 1990 graduate, and a class of 1994 St. Laurence High School graduate. In 1998, he graduated Magna Cum Laude in biology and chemistry from Quincy University.
This August, he received his doctorate in medicinal chemistry and molecular pharmacology from Purdue.
Courtesy of Southwest Community News:
Wed., Sept. 24, 2003
Diana Sekura, Class of 2000
Was named one of the top ten poets in Illinois.
Michael Bianchi, Class of 2002
Michael graduated from Marist High School in 2006. He was on the Dean's List all four years and was a member of the Marist High School Excel Program, National Honor Society, and the Spanish National Honor Society. Michael was also presented with the Medal of Excellence in Religious Studies. He is currently enrolled in the College of Engineering at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
David Cummings, Class of 2002
David has completed his Sophomore year at Brother Rice High School as the City Catholic League Shot Put champion for Track and Field Frosh/Soph division. David won both indoor and outdoor competitions this past Spring. In addition to his track and Field, David has been selected as the 2004 Outstanding Sophomore Musician and the Drum Major for next year with Brother Rice's Marching, Concert and Symphonic Bands. Academically, David is in the Brother Rice Honors program and manages to remain on the Superior honor roll throughout the year.
David receive his academic and musical foundaton with us at St. Rene grade school.
Thanks Dave. We are all proud of your accomplishments!
Rocco Ayala, Class of 2002
Rocco graduated Brother Rice High School in 2006 and maintained honor roll status all four years. He was chosen to lead Kairos 88 by former Kairos leaders and was also one of four nominees for the Junior of the Year Award. Rocco starred in 17 theatre productions through various programs, including Mother McAuley, Brother Rice, and the Oak Lawn Park District. He was awarded a Brother Rice scholarship for his involvement in theatre productions. This past summer, he was asked to join the Disney School of Performance for the Disney World Theme Parks but declined in favor of furthering his educational foundation in theatre at the University of Illinois at Chicago . He was one of eight selected out of 327 applicants to participate in the UIC Bachelor of Fine Arts Program in Theatre Performance.
Lisa Bianchi, Class of 2005
Lisa is currently a Junior at Queen of Peace High School recently participated in facilitating "Thespians Achieving, Leading, Entertaining and Negotiating Together." The Illinois Thespians, an educational theatre association affililiated with the International Thespian Society and the Educational Theatre Association, sponsored the event which was held this past September (2007.) After participating in this leadership conference, Lisa along with other 2007 facilitators hosted a workshop at the Illinois High School Theatre Festival. Lisa attends meetings throughout the year to discuss the importance of theatrical education and plans activities that promote arts education in schools. Lisa will act as Senior Facilitator for the 2008-09 school year.
As a child, he loved to play football, baseball and basketball. In 2007, he helped coach the St. Rene Raider widgets.
Since being at St. Rene, he has seen that we no longer have nuns teaching in the school and there are fewer students. When he was in school he said that there were two grades of every class and he particularly remembers Sister Dorothy and Sister Regina, his two 8th grade teachers.
His favorite grade was 7th because he liked his teacher and his favorite class was math. He was captain of patrol and said that he got all of the hot chocolate when it was cold.
He is now married, with two children in our school. He attended St. Laurence High School and Lewis University, becoming a successful sales rep for Home Run Inn Pizza.
I am married and we have two wonderful children. One is currently enrolled in St. Rene and one graduated from St. Rene last year. I have been a teacher for 14 years and I am currently teaching at Wilkins Elementary School in Justice, IL. I just received Educator of the Year Award from the village of Bridgeview District 109. I am the president of the 6-7-8 Club at St. Rene and also on the St. Rene Alumni Committee.
October 1, 2008
Via Electronic Mail
Principal Marlene De Santis
St. Rene Goupil School
6340 South New England Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60638
Re: Field Observation Experience – October 1, 2008
St. Xavier University Graduate Student: Lynn Sircher
Elementary Education Program (MA plus Type 03 Certification)
Dear Principal De Santis:
Thank you very much for the opportunity to visit St. Rene today to observe Mrs. Toomey and her enthusiastic first graders. This has been an invaluable experience for me.
As an alumnus of St. Rene, I was fortunate to have had wonderful teachers.
Education is a priceless resource to be respected and cherished. Observing Mrs. Toomey’s class has given me great insight into what it would be like to be an extraordinary first grade teacher.
It was an honor and a privilege to meet you and to reintroduce myself to St.
Rene Goupil School. Thank you again for your time and consideration. It truly is greatly appreciated.
