Principal-for-a-Day, a special annual experience at St. Mary Catholic School, was auctioned off at the school’s Irish Fest spring fundraiser. Fourth-grader John Wilson won after his parents offered the winning bid. He chose to serve as Principal on April 18. “John shared that his ambition is to one day be president,” Principal Hillary Russell said, […]
Marian Central Catholic High School and St. Mary Catholic Elementary School hosted special activities from Jan. 29 to Feb. 4 for National Catholic Schools Week, which began in 1974 as an annual celebration of Catholic education in the U.S. St. Mary “Watching the students engage in the activities through the week was refreshing and enjoyable,” […]
Kathy Stanger’s tenure as receptionist at St. Mary Catholic School in Woodstock can be measured in different ways. One way would be to explain she has worked by 10 different principals. Or you could say she has had the job for 40 years. “My years here at St. Mary have been so good – I […]
“She embodies that no dream is too big. It doesn’t matter where you come from, the circumstances – you can do anything if you believe in yourself, you love what you do, and you have an incredible support system and family around you.” Ajla Tomljanovic On Sept. 2, I joined with my grammar school classmates […]
The sole purpose of the St. Mary of Woodstock School Foundation is to assist in maintaining and improving school facilities and technology, foundation board member Larry Rafferty said. Even if it just involves upgrading restrooms. The foundation donated $26,000 for a much-needed overhaul and remodeling of the boys’ bathroom in the elementary wing. “Plumbing issues […]
Marian Central and St. Mary students participated in fun and games to observe Catholic Schools Week, an annual national celebration of Catholic education that took place from Jan. 30 to Feb. 5. At Marian, themes for each day honored families, students, faculty and staff, the community, and local parishes. “Through these events our students focused […]
Woodstock’s usual events for Veterans Day cautiously re-emerged this year, one year after COVID had canceled most of 2020’s events. District 200 embraced veterans last Wednesday by inviting them to welcome students as they entered schools, and the students, in return, offered their appreciation along with coffee and doughnuts. Northwood Middle School, while it could […]
Hillary Russell will assume the position of St. Mary Catholic School principal for the 2021-22 school year after serving the school in many capacities, including assistant principal. The Rev. Burt Absalon has been Russell’s pastor and co-teacher at St. Mary School for eight years. “I have seen her evolve from a young dynamic classroom teacher […]
By Janet Dovidionews@thewoodstockindependent.com St. Mary physical education teacher Bob Slatter retired in May – for the second time.Slatter previously taught elementary and junior high PE in the Cary district for 35 years. He also coached boys and girls soccer at Cary-Grove High School, which he continued while teaching at St. Mary.“I loved teaching, but wanted […]
Larry Lough is editor of The Independent and reports local news.
Janet Dovidio has been a freelance correspondent for The Independent for eight years.
Susan W. Murray wrote for The Independent, covering various beats, from 2005 to 2008.
Tricia Carzoli is a freelance writer and photographer that on community news.
