Since High School:
When last seen, your classmate was teaching Spanish at
our Alma Mater. Well, not now.
I semi-retired from teaching in June, 2003. Thirty-three
years in the same job! It wasn't anywhere as boring as it
sounds. I then taught at Roosevelt University for a
semester and substituted at PHS and Schaumburg. I've
also been doing testing for Spanish and English as a
Second language in the district. I'm still looking for my
next long-term career move.
I have been chair of the Hispanic Ministries Board at 1st
Methodist on Plum Grove Rd for the past seven years.
We've run a food pantry, a clothing closet and social
services for many years. Last year we had Polish and
Russian clients. The demographics of Palatine have
changed a lot since we were seniors at PHS.
My darling daughter, Nona Katherine Caroline [PHS 2003]
graduated from Illinois State University this past May. She
carried a 4.0 in her field. She has an assistance-ship and
a stipend from ISU for her graduate work. We are all very
thrilled. She is studying to become a clinical psychologist.
My nephews Grant (Georgia's son), Michael and Tim
(Maggie's boys) also are PHS alums.
My dad, Pete the Plumber, changed a water heater by
himself at age 85. Not a good idea. Therefore, my sisters
and I retired him. He graciously agreed to move in with
me as I offered to cook dinners and do laundry for him
(and I can keep him away from the tools). He turned 87 in
June.
My sister Dixie and I have taken up millinery. We have our
first show in September. (Her son will graduate from
Oshkosh HS. Unbelievable.)
Pete and I are thinking of moving next spring. We live in a
Winston Park tri-level and are ready to move into a one-
story house (schlepping water heaters is not easy on the
joints and all those years of dance classes have caught
up with my knees).
It's rather startling to realize we were teen-agers forty
years ago! We've gone from listening to our parents 78s
to buying our vinyl 45s (first released in 1949 by RCA
Victor), then eight tracks, then cassette tapes, then CDs
and now iPods. We've heard it all. Damn, we're good!
The question is not, "Why did this happen to me?", but
"What am I supposed to learn from this?
Updated since our 40th Reunion:
I retired from Palatine High School in 2003 after more than
three decades of teaching Spanish and English as a
Second Language. Following my retirement, I did several
long-term substitute assignments at PHS and Schaumburg
HS. Now I do district-wide testing of English as a 2nd
Language students. When not testing, I am an organizer
for the Pantry Project at my church. We collect basic food
stuffs on a weekly basis for donation to the Palatine
Township Food Pantry.
My daughter, Nona, graduated in May from Illinois State
University with an MA in Psychology and is busy sending
out resumes for a Clinical Counseling position. In the
meantime, she’ll be a teaching assistant at Schaumburg
HS in the Special Ed department.
As one of the Piratettes ’67, I help schedule our monthly
most excellent adventures (see our photos under 60th
Celebrations and above left). This year from the first
birthday [Dec. 25 ‘08] until the last one [Dec. 29 ‘09] we
have celebrated our 60th every month. That’s a lot of
candles!!
During Viet Nam, I sent boxes to friends serving over
there. I have kept this tradition going with the current
war. I have sent packages monthly to former PHS
students who have served in Iraq, Korea, Kuwait and
Afghanistan. Right now, I’m sending boxes to a Methodist
chaplain who is also a tribal king in Ghana. Several of the
Piratettes ’67 keep me supplied with items for the boxes.
We’re an awesome group!
I am enthusiastically enjoying my Five Dozen in ’09!
When last seen, your classmate was teaching Spanish at
our Alma Mater. Well, not now.
I semi-retired from teaching in June, 2003. Thirty-three
years in the same job! It wasn't anywhere as boring as it
sounds. I then taught at Roosevelt University for a
semester and substituted at PHS and Schaumburg. I've
also been doing testing for Spanish and English as a
Second language in the district. I'm still looking for my
next long-term career move.
I have been chair of the Hispanic Ministries Board at 1st
Methodist on Plum Grove Rd for the past seven years.
We've run a food pantry, a clothing closet and social
services for many years. Last year we had Polish and
Russian clients. The demographics of Palatine have
changed a lot since we were seniors at PHS.
My darling daughter, Nona Katherine Caroline [PHS 2003]
graduated from Illinois State University this past May. She
carried a 4.0 in her field. She has an assistance-ship and
a stipend from ISU for her graduate work. We are all very
thrilled. She is studying to become a clinical psychologist.
My nephews Grant (Georgia's son), Michael and Tim
(Maggie's boys) also are PHS alums.
My dad, Pete the Plumber, changed a water heater by
himself at age 85. Not a good idea. Therefore, my sisters
and I retired him. He graciously agreed to move in with
me as I offered to cook dinners and do laundry for him
(and I can keep him away from the tools). He turned 87 in
June.
My sister Dixie and I have taken up millinery. We have our
first show in September. (Her son will graduate from
Oshkosh HS. Unbelievable.)
Pete and I are thinking of moving next spring. We live in a
Winston Park tri-level and are ready to move into a one-
story house (schlepping water heaters is not easy on the
joints and all those years of dance classes have caught
up with my knees).
It's rather startling to realize we were teen-agers forty
years ago! We've gone from listening to our parents 78s
to buying our vinyl 45s (first released in 1949 by RCA
Victor), then eight tracks, then cassette tapes, then CDs
and now iPods. We've heard it all. Damn, we're good!
The question is not, "Why did this happen to me?", but
"What am I supposed to learn from this?
Updated since our 40th Reunion:
I retired from Palatine High School in 2003 after more than
three decades of teaching Spanish and English as a
Second Language. Following my retirement, I did several
long-term substitute assignments at PHS and Schaumburg
HS. Now I do district-wide testing of English as a 2nd
Language students. When not testing, I am an organizer
for the Pantry Project at my church. We collect basic food
stuffs on a weekly basis for donation to the Palatine
Township Food Pantry.
My daughter, Nona, graduated in May from Illinois State
University with an MA in Psychology and is busy sending
out resumes for a Clinical Counseling position. In the
meantime, she’ll be a teaching assistant at Schaumburg
HS in the Special Ed department.
As one of the Piratettes ’67, I help schedule our monthly
most excellent adventures (see our photos under 60th
Celebrations and above left). This year from the first
birthday [Dec. 25 ‘08] until the last one [Dec. 29 ‘09] we
have celebrated our 60th every month. That’s a lot of
candles!!
During Viet Nam, I sent boxes to friends serving over
there. I have kept this tradition going with the current
war. I have sent packages monthly to former PHS
students who have served in Iraq, Korea, Kuwait and
Afghanistan. Right now, I’m sending boxes to a Methodist
chaplain who is also a tribal king in Ghana. Several of the
Piratettes ’67 keep me supplied with items for the boxes.
We’re an awesome group!
I am enthusiastically enjoying my Five Dozen in ’09!
Kate Philippe
| The Piratettes Back row: Sue Rutz, Marilyn Rennack Meller, Cynthia Stibgen Berntzen and Melinda Breit Rydin Middle Row: Linda Meadors and Kathy Kohring Nauertz Front Row: Ann McConachie and Kate Philippe |
