My name is Samantha Clattenburg, and my association with St. John's only extends to my voluntary efforts in the kitchen at the auction and that I attended the school through grade 6. Everyone has feelings about the dismissal of Sister Clare, justifiably so. But to use this article as a conduit to lashing out school politics is grotesque to say the least. If anyone wants to use the Concord Monitor in this way, they need to write a letter to the editor, SIGN THEIR NAME, and let people blog under that section of the paper. I doubt Sister Irene in her worst nightmare could ever foresee her name being associated with this level of behavior.
Furthermore, I find it ironic that anyone would pay thousands of dollars in tuition fees etc.. for not only the scholastic benefits for their children, but also for the religious education and the quality of humanity and forgiveness that people like Sister Clare drummed in my head by teaching me the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. I got the lesson. I understand. But anyone who attaches negativity to an article about Sister Irene obviously does not. It is a waste of money to send your child to such a school if the message is going to be negated at home.

If you haven't already, please read Emily Pangakis' contribution to these comments. She is absolutely correct to call this a disgraceful response to an article meant to celebrate the life of Sr. Irene. I will be eternally grateful to Sr. Irene and all current and former teachers for providing my children with a powerful, faith-filled, quality education.

I am also thankful for our new principal, Michele McKenna, whose energy and spirit are moving the school in exciting new directions. Sr. Irene herself was always known for doing things her way and I'm sure she was not able to please all of the people all of the time either. Transition is hard, but I'm confident that our patience will be rewarded and, in fact, we are already reaping the benefits of many of the changes in our school.

Complaints about the principal's decision should be brought to her desk and not aired publicly to the greater Concord community. Anonymous postings on this website do nothing to move the discussion in a positive direction. Anyone truly concerned about the future health and viability of St. John Regional School must know that many of the comments posted here are actually damaging to the reputation of the SJRS community. How can any of these concerns be addressed if those writing don't identify themselves?

Going forward, I hope that this page will concentrate more on the amazing contributions Sr. Irene made to this school and all of us in it. And thank you to all of the current and former students attending the funeral. What a testament to her life's work!

Laurel Will, SJRS parent

What I see here is an over all lack of communication. No one from the school board should be singled out and no as a whole should be called "stupid". Clearly what is needed is communication. All of the people who left their names, with the exeption of "Lisa", are either on the Advisory Board or a family member of an Advisory Board member. They all get to know what is happening before it happens and they have the choice to give input and be part of all the "change". Change is good. Mrs. Mckenna came in to fill big shoes and she certainly could not try to fill them by putting the school at a stand still. Moving forward was necessary and a good thing. I truly think that the community that feels let down is also the part of the community that feels left out. SJRS is a wonderful community full of parents and students that love their school. I would love to see a positive result come from all of the negativity spewed here from both those who are happy with the school under her leadership and those who are unhappy. The bottom line is that the unhappy people here all have the same message, they feel unheard. They have opinions and ideas and no place to express them. They need to feel like they have a voice and that they are welcome to share it. As sorry as I am that this was the forum that brought all of these feelings to Mrs. Mckennas attention I am comforted in knowing that Sr. Irene is on this page everyday to help guide us all. While I pray for her I will also pray to her that this all gets sorted out and, in the end, I am sure everyone here will find closure one way or another. As much as it makes me nervous I am going to put myself out there and leave my name so that others may feel comfortable to do the same. No one should be afraid to speak up and leave their name if they can stand behind what they believe and want to be part of the solution. This is a school. It is about and for our children. I believe that our leadership will take action here to do what is best for all of us and I look forward to offering anything I can do to help resolve the feelings of both sides clearly layed out in all of these comments.
Cathy Baylus

Mrs. McKenna. You are doing an amazing job. You are a pleasure to deal with and you are nice to everyone. Hold your head up and decide that there are always those miserable, cowardly few who will go on the rampage. I think you are brave to fill such big shoes. Your style is your style and own it. You have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of, and commit to your convictions and forget about all the unChristian folks who can't seem to practice what they preach.
Hang in there!

Wow. I'm new at St. Johns and I can't believe the hatefullness and vindictiveness of some of what I have read. It's shocking, really. If the parents who are so angry are really unhappy, then guess what? You have a choice. You can put your children into another school. I believe in the power of prayer and being kind-hearted and to me, many of these comments are mean and counter-productive. I have been in many Catholic schools to tell the truth, and it is only here, that I feel such positive energy from a visionary administrator who is swimming upstream. I have seen changes in administrators in other Catholic schools, and there is always turbulence with change and people adjust and get used to a different way of doing things. I see that the new administrator must have a sick heart reading all this, and maybe this was the point - the angry people who did not want to leave their names, wanted to make Mrs. McKenna feel bad. She must be really sick at heart and my prayers go out to her to help her rise above this. Shame on us. Where does such cruelty come from? Mrs. McKenna is capable, kind, loving, and believe it or not, she knows what she is doing. Maybe it's different from Sister Irene, but change is change and sometimes we have to be patient. Wait and see. The measure is this - are the children happy? Are they getting religious instruction? Are they learning morals? I'm sure the teachers are doing their jobs in this regard. And if someone was making disparaging remarks about the new principal, then she did the right thing asking her to leave, because it creates dissention among the staff and poisons the environment. Please everyone, stop being nasty. Be nice. Do something productive to help. Pray. Search your hearts for kindness and stop being so negative. Thank yo.

Are you parents who are writing these comments? Students? Past Students? Donors? Who are you? You are the same cowards who started the comments. If you want to start rumors or talk about issues in which you claim you know privledged information to, at least sign your name.

If you are so disgusted with the school, then why is your son or daughter still a student there? If you are so upset about the "progress" of the school, why is your voice a silent voice online? Be a communicator and become part of the progression to fix things. By being nameless gossipers online you aren't helping the problem but rather creating more of the problem. You want the "Caring Catholic Community" that Sister Irene was so proud of? Start with yourself!

I am horrified with the fact that I continued to read these comments and was so disgusted that I responded to your pathetic posts. Again, I finish with the purpose of this article; Sr. Irene. Sr. Irene, you were and amazing woman and your legend will live on forever in the history of SJRS. RIP Sr. Irene.

-Paul D. Raymond, Jr., Class of 1998

I had the honor to be a student at SJRS. I remember how close everyone was, no hate toward anybody. What happened to all you people? SJRS was one of the best places to go, they taught you morals and how to be respectful, maybe you all should take a little taste of it. Sr Irene, was the nicest sweetest person you could ever meet, and as for Sr Claire she is an amazing women. It's so sad that at a time like this where you loose such a great inspiration you can honor her this way. Not right at all. From the day I walked in the door of SJRS in kindergarten to 8th grade, it was nothing but a fun loving family. The teachers were amazing you couldn't ask for better. To this day I hold the up most respect for all my teachers I had at SJRS, they built who I am today. If it wasn't for them my life would not be how it is today. Thank you Sr Irene for being your best that you could be, oh and I loved the retreat's and all the fun we all had. Sr Clare in 4th grade, giving us prises by square dancing. So many memories were built there, with people that we will never forget. We will always love you and watch over us now.

Yup and I am sure you were there to hear all those awful things said! The fact is you were not.

I see another stupid thing said. The truth is sister clare fired herself. She was saying mean and bad things about the new principle as soon as she came. Sister clare tried to get people to go against her. Thats sister clares own fault. Just another example of peoples ignorance and blabbing about things they don't know.

I have a brain in seeing and understanding the wonderful things that Sr. Irene did in the years she was at St John’s. I also have a heart in knowing the pain and dismay she saw in all that has happened to the school since she left, including the ridiculous firing of one of her closest friends. I also knew Sr. Irene well enough that when there is an opportunity to make a difference and be part of a change she would take it if she knew it was right. This appears to be what is going on here. People are finally speaking out because they have a brain and know it is right. Sr. Irene supported speaking up and expressing her concerns, one of her greater qualities. They are commenting on an article about Sr. Irene and St John’s school, not Sr. Irene’s obituary. Others want you to believe the changes listed below in the school were necessary, but they weren’t “needed”, they were what the new principal “wanted”. And these changes aren’t working too well and they want you to believe otherwise. The change in the relationship with Bishop Brady is may not be because of the new principal, maybe it is because Mrs. Barker is no longer at Brady (if you have a brain and know your history, you would understand this). The principal and certain people on the school board are not interested in a caring, Catholic community for the school that Sr. Irene took pride in and have changed it to meet their own agenda. They should be held responsible. It’s not about accepting change, it’s about destruction. It’s also about freedom of speech and speaking the truth, another one of Sr. Irene’s great qualities that I admired.

In attending the service for Sr. Irene today I was touched and proud as a parent that so many of her recent students were in attendence. In addition, to the presence of many former students. I am sure that she was smiling at all of us. I am proud to say that my daughter had her a her principal even for a brief time. She was and is truly an example of what Catholic leadership should be. However, I am greatly sadden by the current state of affairs at the school that she greatly loved and cherished. Unfortunately, for there is a despereate need for good leadership and guidance at SJRS. To me the even more diappointing fact is that we need to voice our concerns through this media in order to be heard. I can only hope that thru the Lord's guidance and strong powers that change for the better may happen. May all of us learn and be guided by the great women that has touched so many people to acheive the best that we all can be.
Lisa

Sr. Irene was a remarkable woman of determination, courage and will built upon faith. She led SJRS into the forefront of schools by leading with the best interest of the school at the heart of all of her decisions. She has been greatly missed and we owe her much. Her vision was clear and steadfast. But even Sister encountered resistance in her quest to bring out the best in SJRS and we would be remiss in not looking back and saying - "She knew what she was doing! She was right." God has a plan for all of us and that includes SJRS ~ it is inconceivable that after all of Sister's efforts that the Lord would send us a leader that was not prepared with broad shoulders to lead. Now Sr. Irene smiling down on her school yet again meeting the ever changing needs of the community. Sr. Irene worked tirelessly to bring SJRS to its fullest potential. She brought in new programs and expanded opportnities for our children. I have a friend who reminds me often that there is always another side to every story and I suggest that to you. I suggest that SJRS is again on the move, on the path that will provide a rich environment that is faithfilled for our children with a sincere appreciation for the past. Isn't it time that we work together for our children? Isn't it time we do what we ask our children to do everyday - to ask WWJD?

Its easy to tell who has a brain and who has a heart when reading these posts. Its clear some people are really ignorant and think they know what they are talking about when they don't. They have listened to someone and believed it hook,line and sinker. Then they have the stupidity to go blabbing on a newspaper websit. The new principle had so many hard decisions to make and to deal with so many lousy stuff its unbelievable and people talk like they know everything. Its the same old story of angry people jumping into something to make them more angry even when they don't know what they are talking about because it makes them feel important. My kids love st. johns and love the new principle and its only stupid people make problems because they thingk they know everything and can't handle any kind of change.

Today's service was an amazing tribute to an amazing woman. The stories of Sr. Irene today created a difficult environment to keep a dry eye. So many people turned out to celebrate the life of such an extraordinary woman, whose selfless dedication to children have led so many children forth in life. I am honored to say I had Sr. Irene as a principal and now as a guiding star. I was fortunate to see Sr. Irene in two lights- as principal, but also as a friend of my mother's. Sr. Irene never forgot a student. She knew everyone by name, greeted everyone with a smile and almost always a hug. Sr. Irene you will be sorely missed.

-Paul D. Raymond, Jr., Class of 1998

Good example?? Are you kidding me?? She FIRES and EVICTS a NUN! She had been there forever! She fires a few teachers, and has at least HALF of the grade school teachers QUIT! She moves the junior high to completely inadequate space, without room for the students to all sit. The school has LOST over the last two years so many families that have had GENERATIONS of children attend.
If this is considered "a good example for our children", then our children are indeed in dire straits. I would LOVE to see the Sisters of Mercy return to show how a Catholic School SHOULD be run. This is not being said by a "gunboat", but rather a parent who is outraged and disgusted by Mrs. McKenna's brand of Catholic School administrating!

As a former student of SJRS, I'm amazed at the comments above. If you don't agree with decisions made by Mrs. McKenna, nasty and angry comments are not the way to make yourselves heard. St. John's has always been known for being a catholic community. The only way I see it "falling apart" is by the lack of parent support. If you want things to change, then ask what you can do to help, don't point fingers. Mrs. McKenna had very large shoes to fill, and I know that Sr. Irene would be very proud of her efforts and her dedication to St. John's. All these comments make me have very little faith in the adults and the parents we have to guide us. Please stop gossiping and putting the blame on other people and instead ask what you can do to help with the changes you want to see happen.

There was no shortage of complaints and criticisms about Sr. Irene while she was at St. Johns. It goes with the job. Funny how people have selective memory. No surprise that the same gunboats are taking aim at the new principal. Shameful. Keep setting that good example for our children!

First, I think the comment about Carolyn Gaudet was uncalled for. It is the board as a whole who "advises" the principal. There is not one person to be singled out. I also think she has genuine affection for Sister Irene, and her comment shouldn't be doubted.

That said - how does anyone on the board know how the majority or minority of the school community feels? When was the last time they spoke to those outside their social circle? There is no forum for parents to have input, get information or make a complaint other than going to the principal. Advisory Board meetings are closed to the school community. To whom do the majority talk? This is not a problem just with this Advisory Board. While the meetings were open to parents under Sister Irene, many of the board members under Sister Irene didn't talk to the community at large either.

So I ask, how does the Advisory Board have any idea what their community thinks? How can they, in good conscience, advise the Principal on any matter other than their own personal (or their friends') thoughts & feelings? That said, I don't think this Principal cares what any of them think anyway. She is going to do what she wants.

I find it absolutely disgraceful to use "the comments" section of such a beautiful article about Sr. Irene as an open forum to voice your personal issues with the current administration. If anything, you should voice your appreciation for everything Sr. Irene did for the school and take care of your personal issues in an appropriate manner. Sr. Irene dedicated her life to helping and improving St. John's, and to make such rude and distasteful comments about the school, as it stands today, also the day of her wake, is disgusting. How dare you, the "adults", misuse this opportunity to remember a loved one, and make it about yourselves. Each person who was quoted in the article has also committed time to the school and for that, they should be thanked, not ridiculed, because it is certainly more than your negative attitudes are doing to improve the school. It is unfortunate, and really quite funny, that the same people who made these comments were also too cowardly to include their names.

Emily Pangakis SJRS Alum ‘04

I agree that our community has suffered a great loss with the passing of Sr. Irene; however I disagree with the negative comments that a few anonymous people have made.

Being part of the St. John Regional community for eleven years, I have had the opportunity to witness tha stablitiy that Sr. Irene brought to our children and school. She was a rock and determined in all that she did. I will miss her as all of you will.

I have also seen first-hand the tireless dedication that Carolyn Gaudet has given to our community. Throughout the years, she has spear-headed major committees, events, and activities. She helped to build the athletic program, often organizing with leagues and coaches. She never said "no" when we needed her help and continues to advocate for your children and mine.

Michelle McKenna came to St. John Regional one year and a few months ago and was charged with taking the place of a well-respected and loved principal. She immediately put on her working clothes and got to business. Since then, the following has happened:

Our middle school students (grades 6-8) moved to a building of their own with room to spread their wings. The renovation took time, worry, and many prayers but our children are enjoying it now.

Our middle school classes are now 16:1 max (formerly 30:1 max).

Middle School Spanish classes are now four classes per week (formerly 2 times each week.)

Middle School Theology class now has a dedicated teacher, teaching religion only.

The elementary building now has an art room, music/computer room, and respectable teachers' room.

The kindergarten program moved from half day to full day, strengthening the program.

We now have a pre-school program, allowing our staff to teach children earlier.

We have formed a stronger relationship with St. John the Evangelist Parish and continue to collaborate with Father Steve on many topics.

We have formed a stronger relationship with Bishop Brady High School and continue to collaborate with the administration and staff on common needs. This rang true as we enjoyed last night's St. John Auction at Bishop Brady High School.

I see a bright future ahead for our children. This future is possible because of people like Sr. Irene, Mrs. McKenna, and Carolyn Gaudet. We are indebted to them for their strong work ethic and belief in our community.

"Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to" (1 Timothy 5:12-13). Ron Pedro-Proud St. John Parent

Having read all of this and as an objective observer, I wonder if it is a small minority. Have those in power closed themselves off to all of these people who clearly feel unheard? No one should feel hostile but these comments show many people who are upset. Regardless of what is happening at this school no one should be dismissed because it is assumed they are a "minority". In my experience there are those who profess how wonderful everything is and they are usually the ones making all the decisions. There are those who disagree and are brushed off and ignored because they must not be smart enough to be on board and then there are those who don't like it but conform because they feel they have no other choice or are apathetic. Ms. Gaudet, if you are a person in a leadership position should put the effort into finding out why these people are so clearly angry rather than continually dismissing them. I'll pray for the whole community.

Maybe it is not a small minority that feels this way, maybe it is more than you think, or just that you are not listening...... This school is going in the direction of a prep school for the rich not a catholic school that Sister Irene made it...

We lost a great person with the passing of Sister Irene, now we are losing our school. If we all stand up and get heard, maybe we can save the school Sister Irene was so proud of. Sitting back and not talking will only allow those who are being heard win. Someone needs to take charge of all that are unhappy and get our thoughts and feelings heard. Sister Irene worked every hard and was dedicated to our children of today and the past. We need to be the same way, lets stand up and get our school back before it is too late. Maybe attending the next PTO meeting and discussing our feelings and thoughts would be a great way to start. I am I correct thinking that is what the PTO meetings are all about, a way to get our voices heard.

I agree that we have suffered a tremendous loss to our community in the loss of Sr. Irene. I completely disagree with the small minority that feel as they do about the changes at school.

Not only is this sad, it is also a poor example for the students of SJRS and all children. This isn't the time to argue over the direction of the school. The purpose of this article was to praise the woman we all love and will cherish forever. Regardless if we agree or disagree with the actions of the school board and the new principal, we should be mourning and celebrating the life of Sr Irene. Sr Irene led so many students into the right direction. Her steering has molded many of her former students into a life of faith, love and meaning. She did so many amazing things for the school and she will be dearly missed by all. It's very difficult to imagine SJRS without Sr. Irene. RIP Sr. Irene! My thoughts and prayers are with you, your family and extended family at SJRS! God Bless!

aa

"She dedicated her whole entire life to the school," said school board Vice Chairwoman Carolyn Gaudet. "Words are endless to describe how wonderful she was."
Such a true statement, hard to believe it came from one of the people responsible for the way the school is today. Start with her removal.

I am sure Sr. Clare was gracious and said she retired but the community knows that the new principal fired her. She was not the last religious in our school, Sr. Barbara Parent quit as the second grade teacher in protest of Sr. Clare's dismissal along with 2 other teachers who resigned and all but one of the after school program staff. Our SJRS community is falling apart at the hands of a short sighted and self interested new Principal. My heart breaks for Sr. Irene's legacy that will be forever marred by the shambles this school has quickly become. Now I know that there are others out there who feel this way. Let's speak up and let Mrs. Mckenna know that, no matter how much she denies us our voice, we will be heard!

It is comforting to know that my family is not the only one who feels this way about the direction of our beloved school. When is the Diocese going to step in and address the downward spiral in which our school is in? I can only imagine how Sister Irene felt watching her legacy disintegrate . . . Let us honor her memory and her actions by speaking up. Since Michele McKenna will not answer emails or acknowledge differing opinions, Mary Moran needs to hear from us.

Replace the school board too and bring this school back to a true and caring CATHOLIC school, that Sr. Irene worked so hard to accomplish.

It couldn't have been said better. Amen!!