Partner Club

Inside this issue

Where Are They Now? ....... 2

PB Awards .......................... 4

A Tribute to Mrs. Schmell .. 5

A Year in Photos ................. 6

A Message from Mr. Liponoga On April 15, members of the MPB Strategic Planning Com-mittee presented our 2015 -2020 MPB Strategic Plan to the Diocese of Fort Wayne South Bend. We will receive a report from the Diocese within two months. Once we receive the report and make modifications to the plan we will communi-cate the plan to all stakeholders, including posting the docu-ment on our school webpage. The 5-year plan is a rubric for school improvement in 5 domains. The five domains include: 1. Catholic Identity 2. Curriculum / MPB School Improvement 3. Marketing / Development 4. Facilities / Capital Improvement (Including Technology Recommendations) 5. Finance / Fund-raising

The purpose of the strategic plan is to ensure the future of our school and to promote the essential educational mission of the Catholic Church. Most Precious Blood School is a place where faith and reason are united. It is a family-based institution where the fullness of Jesus’ teachings is lived and experienced by everyone who enters its hallways. It is a place where children grow academically and spiritually, illu-minated by God’s love. We are prayerfully called to serve with renewed energy and diligence. Thank you for your support on our mission of continual im-provement of our school. Mr. Stanley Liponoga IV

Congratulations to Mr. Liponoga on completing your 1st year of service as

principal of Most Precious Blood School. We are excited to see what next

year brings under your leadership. Thank you for all that you do!

Where Are They Now? Siblings Tony Didier (Class of 1991) and Darcy Didier Quinn (Class of 1988) returned to the Pre-cious Blood stage where they performed as stu-dents to direct this year’s spring musical, The Mu-sic Man, Jr. We caught up with the pair to see what they’ve been doing over the years since they left PB and what it was like working together on a musical production from the other side of the stage.

How long have you been a parishioner at PB? Our family has been a part of PB since 1980 when dad (Jim Didier) started teaching there. We at-tended church at St. Andrews growing up and all four of us kids were baptized there. My mom said we became full time parishioners at PB in 1990.

Where did you go to high school and col-lege? Tony: I attended North Side High School and then the University of Saint Francis were I earned my BA in Communications graduating in 2000. Darcy: I went to North Side High School and then on to Marian College (now Marian Universi-ty). I graduated from college in 1996.

What brought you to where you are now? Tony: While in college I had a long list of jobs. My favorite was working as a lifeguard and swim instructor for Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation. Ironically, I was hired by my former PB physical education teacher Karen O'Boyle. In the spring of 1998 an opportunity presented itself and I be-came a ballroom dance instructor. At the time I never thought it would end up becoming my ca-reer. After college I worked in the print industry for 7 years still teaching dance off and on and then returned to teaching dance as my full time profession in 2006. Though I have worn many hats, I have discovered that teaching and perfor-mance are my truest passions in life. I currently work at Dance Tonight Fort Wayne as a Master Instructor in Ballroom and Latin dance and also handle the studio's outreach program. My wife, Danel and I also compete professionally on the national level in the category of American Rhythm. I am a professor at Manchester Universi-ty where I teach dance in the Exercise Science Department. I have been heavily involved in com-munity theater for years and have worked as a guest singer and dancer with the Fort Wayne Phil-harmonic. I am a two time Anthony Award winner with the Fort Wayne Civic Theater and I am the

lead singer of the Fort Wayne Funk Orchestra. I have to add that one of the greatest rushes I've ever had as was auditioning on Broadway in New York City for Jersey Boys. Though I wasn't cast it was a memory to last forever. Darcy: I followed a friend to Chicago after col-lege and lived there for 2 years. I taught kinder-garten at Mount Carmel Academy just a few blocks from Wrigley Field. When I moved home I began teaching a 1st and 2nd grade split class at St. Louis Academy. After teaching there for 3 years I tried a year of running a day care with my mom. I came to PB and worked as a Title I teach-er for two years and started as the kindergarten teacher in the fall of 2004. Life has come full cir-cle teaching K where I went to K! Mrs. Roberts, our PB kindergarten teacher for yeas, used to tease me that this was going to happen. It’s no surprise that she helped direct and choreograph the musicals, too!

Please share some of your favorite memo-ries of PB. Tony: I have many memories from my years at PB. Some from sports, but none compare to the memories I created as a part of the spring musi-cals. I'll never forget the day I got cast in the Sound Of Music. I was a 4th grader and we were all lined up to leave for the day. They announced the cast over the loud speaker and I'll never for-get the feeling of complete and utter elation I had in receiving a part. I can say with all honesty that to this day, I still get that same feeling every time I get cast in a show. There is nothing quite like it. A great deal of my memories are sensory memories. If I close my eyes and focus, I can still smell the stage and hear the audience before the curtain opened. I can still feel the heat of the lights on my face and the comforting sight of my dad and Mrs. Haft sitting at the piano. I can still see Mr. Raucci standing right next to the main curtain with his script watching the show getting ready to close it for the next scene change. I remember the feeling I had walking through the empty gym on opening night of Oklahoma knowing that in a few short hours I would be standing in the wings waiting to sing, Oh What A Beautiful Morning. I remember the rush of the first applause and sound of laugh-ter coming from my dad. I always knew where he was! Darcy: My best memories of PB were singing in music class and at Mass with Mrs. Haft. I used to get strange looks from friends because I liked to sing so loud. I remember doing motions to songs and holding up posters with the words on

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them. I think singing in church was part of what mde me love Mass so much. Besides all the teachers that I grew to love so much and all of the wonderful friends I made, participating in the musicals are definitely one of my best memories! I remem-ber feeling so uncoordinated and uninterested when I tried to play sports. PB stage helped me find myself and find a way to do something I really loved. I remember how my heart would pound while the overture was being played, and the rush of adrenaline when I said my first line. Not that I am the adult backstage I feel that rush again, only this time it comes from watching my own children and former students. It’s better than performing in a musical myself.

How did you first get involved in the school musicals?

Tony: I got involved in the musicals because of Darcy. When Darcy Didier (now Quinn) is on a stage magic happens. She was so larger than life in her performances. It was infec-tious. There was never a question that I wanted to do what she did.

Darcy: When I was in fourth grade the musical was Annie. They needed younger students to play the orphans and my teacher, Mrs. Berghoff encouraged me to audition. As my daughters like to say, I was bit by the theater bug!

How did you become involved with the PB musicals again?

I helped out with the musicals for about 4-5 years after gradu-ating from PB. I got back into the musicals last year when Dar-cy and Maggie Javins asked if I would like to choreograph Bye Bye Birdie. The experience of working with Maggie and Darcy

Darcy (Didier) Quinn and Tony Didier—Hello Dolly

was a winning combination for me. Getting to direct with Dar-cy was such an overwhelming experience. We have a kinship because of theater and the PB stage most especially, so collabo-rating and teaching children about something we both love so much were the perfect ingredients for an outstanding experi-ence. It was a "life has come full circle" moment I have to ad-mit. Here we are, siblings directing our own children, Faith, Madeline and Evan, on the stage where it all began for us. It was too cool! Most Precious Blood was once described to me as a warm blanket. People love our church and our school. What we have is special. It's one of a kind and I feel the PB theater program is one of the niches that makes us stand out. You will never meet anyone who has walked through our halls that doesn't have a great memory to share about their experience in the Annual Spring Musical. It is one of our treasures.

Darcy: I have wanted to help with the musicals for years. I had to wait to make such a huge volunteer commitment once my own children were old enough to be involved. Music Man was my third show assisting the director. Our students are ex-tremely talented. I love watching them find their voices and ome out of their shells. Helping to give them this opportunity brings me so much joy. Working with my little bro was won-derful. He is super talented, knows his “stuff” and the kids re-spond to him very well. It is rewarding to give back to a pro-gram that gave so much to so many young people—including Tony and I. I want to thank my Dad, Barb Roberts, Pat Raucci, Margaret Haft, Maggie Javins and countless other volunteers, former directors, and sponsors. What happens on our little stage with the red velvet curtain is golden and we have our Lord to thank for His inspiration. Things have come full circle indeed!

PB Students Earn Many Awards! Fort Wayne TinCaps All-Star Reader—Elijah Silcox

Perfect Score on I-READ-3—Madison Naatz

Stevie Gomez Scholarship—Ella Roberts, Cain Felkner and Logan Felkner

Irven Family Essay Contest Scholarship - Lilia Case and Lily McLaughlin

Jordan Allen Memorial Scholarship—Martina Beam and Molly Barile

Jane Purvis Scholarship—Cohen Wiwi

Mike Biggins Scholarship—Gardner Barile and Kiya Robertson

Rosary Society Scholarship—Ela Dean and Ruth Wheeler

Cheri Brainerd Memorial Scholarship—Henry Collins, Dylan Pinder and Piper Weber

Mary Hartman Scholarship—Riley Felkner

Melissa Koors Scholarship—Nathanial Bickel, Francis Allen and Julia Allen

Sister Paulette Scholarship—Madison Felkner

Bill Roth Knights of Columbus Scholarship—Samantha Rockwell and Faith Didier

The 5th and 6th grade girls basketball team won the Christian Attitude Award during the holiday

tournament in December. Thank you for representing PB so well!

PB Student Wins at Regional Science Fair!

Rebekah Staples had quite a year at the science fair this year. Re-bekah won at the Most Precious Blood science fair and was se-lected to compete at the regional science fair. She won 5 awards and $250 at the regional science fair. She was also asked to par-ticipate in the Indiana State Science Fair. She is only the third scientist from Most Precious Blood School to participate in the state science fair! Way to go, Rebekah!

A Tribute to Mrs. Deb Schmell—By Cheryl Hamel

It's a difficult task to be given the project of writing a tribute about one of the most beloved teachers to ever grace the halls

of Most Precious Blood School. I saw the impact that Mrs. Deb Schmell made on the middle schoolers who struggled to fit in

and the significance of her kindness and compassion on countless students, including three of my own. When Deb began

teaching at PB, she brought not only her knowledge of the English language, but also a wisdom and understanding of how

to help her students learn during the roller coaster of emotions that surround the teenage years. This learning didn't only

apply to the classroom, but to lessons they would need to know in life as well. She taught with care and compassion, was

firm when she needed to be, yet showed great empathy when students struggled with the challenges of middle school life.

On many days, Deb was the face of Christ for her students and her smile and laugh brightened even the darkest days. She

wore her faith on her sleeve and even though there were many days that she felt horrible, Deb "toughed it out" at school

with a smile on her face because she was more concerned about her students' success than her pain. At Mass, I often wit-

nessed as Deb made sure that she shook the hand of each of her 7th grade students during the sign of peace. She made sure

that each student knew, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that she truly cared about them. I thought the best way to show-

case her impact was to get it straight from the thoughts of the current middle school students and a few of her former stu-

dents who were able to share a few things they loved best about Deb. Here are some of their thoughts:

Just being in her class made me feel good, like I was "home, away from home," in a way—I also loved that she was easy to talk to...and that she was willing, and wanted to help you if you needed it.—She was very welcoming.—Everyday Mrs. Schmell would inspire you to do your best and would give you the strength to never give up even in your hardest times.—Seeing her smile everyday was enough to brighten your mood no matter how bad of a day you were having.—Her laugh was so cheerful and it spread like wildfire.—What I love about Mrs. Schmell was her smile, the life in her eyes and her creative ways to teach us.—She always said "hi" to me, made funny jokes, and always made people happy.—Mrs. Schmell was very kind to me and my class.—Mrs. Schmell always was smiling and she always knew just what to say to get us to laugh.—She never seemed tired or sick, just ready to teach and learn right along with us.—She was always excited when a new class walked in, and always said, "Good morning class!" in a happy, enthusiastic, and excited voice.—In church I heard her singing, and thought of how dedicated she was to God.—Mrs. Schmell was a listener. During my book talk she listened and listened, smiled and laughed. It gave me great joy to see her smile.—She would always give us that grin that made us full of curiosity.—She never gave up on her students, even the ones who were a little stubborn.—My favorite memory of Mrs. Schmell was when she would help me with my vocabulary and she encouraged me to read and try my best with writ-ing and never give up.—She would always ask how your day is going and she tried to get me to read books I didn't know...and I liked them! —I love how you could have real life conversations with her.—My favorite memory of Mrs. Schmell was her laugh. When we watched old Poetry Slam video's and someone cited a funny poem, you can hear her laugh behind the camera.—I love her laugh and I miss it.—One of my favorite memories of Mrs. Schmell is that as a class we would read books. Then, if the books had been made into a movie, we would watch it. Then we would talk about both the book and video to see which one we liked more.—I love reading our books with Mrs. Schmell.—My favorite memory of Mrs. Schmell was when we were able to make little dioramas for the books we were reading...and when I brought mine in, it broke. I was upset about it and Mrs. Schmell helped me fix it. One former student wrote in a letter to Mrs. Schmell, "You are an incredible woman, strong, caring, insightful, char-ismatic, and kind. However, from the perspective of a former student, as well as a witness to your impact on both of my younger siblings, I can't think of a better word than self-less... You have an incredible gift and I will always be grateful to you for everything you taught me in middle school and in the years since I graduated...I believe that God brought you into my life for a reason and you are one of the best teachers I have had. You made me think outside of the box with the projects we did and... inspired a lot of creativity in me. While I am grateful for all that you taught me in the classroom, that knowledge is slight in comparison to the life lesson you were able to instill in me. It is a lesson far more significant than anything that could come from a book. Middle school was not easy emotionally, and a lot of the time not fun for me, but you always cared. You led by example to make sure that everyone in your presence was treated with respect and you made sure that no one was ever left out... you were so good at making me feel like I meant just as much as every other one of your students. You made me feel important and that was huge for me. It demonstrated that no matter what, someone always cares. That is the something you can't get from a book. The ability to make someone feel important is a gift and you were one of the first people that made it mean something to me... Compassion is now one of the qualities I strive to show on a daily basis... Thank you". As a parent, I will remember Deb with joy in my heart and a smile on my face. I will forever be grateful for the pos-itive influence she made on my children and all that she taught them during her years at PB. She radiated the love of Christ and I'm sure that she would want us to share the love of God with all those we meet each day. Let us strive, in Deb's honor, to practice sharing Christ's love through random acts of kindness and compassion, and to treat each other as we would like to be treated. Let us continue to keep Deb and her family in our prayers. We miss and love you, Deb. Rest in peace.

Did you know that Precious Blood fast-pitch softball

won 2 Championships in 1997 and 1998? Here is a pic-

ture of the Championship Team from 1998:

Front Row: Katie Felkner, Katie Loving, Jessica Cart-

wright, Charlotte Wilcutts, Amber Meeks.

Back Row: Lisa Smolek, Danae Cartwright, Brenda

Henry, Julie Biggs, Christina Larranaga, Mandy Mendo-

za, Megan Bryant, Jamie Henry, Liz Doss, Krista

Struemph, and Heather Bauer.

Coaches: Stephanie Bryant, Mike Cartwright and

Jamie Bauer

Thank you for your generous donations to the Partner Club Wish List! We were

able to fulfill many of the teachers “wishes”.

Above: PB student perform the Living Stations during Lent. Below: The Music Man, Jr.!

Partner Club is a publication of the Most Precious Blood School De-velopment Committee. The goal of the Partner Club is to provide current information about Most Precious Blood School to our cur-rent families, alumni and friends, and to encourage their ongoing participation in the development of our school community.

If you are interested in joining the Development Committee, we would love to have you!

Please contact Catherine Collins at Catherine_Collins@live.com.

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