9/8/23 - Friday Forget-Me-Nots by Jim Silcott

Photo Caption: Ga-Ga Pit Fun at Recess

Dear Our Lady of Peace Family,

Last week one of our students, unfamiliar riding a bus, got off at the wrong stop. In fact, it was three stops early. The student got off the bus alone and the bus driver did not catch the error.

I had left that afternoon to get a badly needed haircut. Susan Gualtieri was still in her office and Madigan Crimmel was also in the building when a call came through from the student’s family that they couldn’t find her. It was a little after 4pm and the usual time she is supposed to alight from the bus is about 3:20.

When Mrs. G called the bus dispatcher who got in touch with the driver, the driver first denied that our student was even on the bus. Mrs. G., who handles our bus students, knew this wasn’t true as she personally counted heads on that bus before it left us. To bolster her assertion, Mrs. G. called the families of every other student who had ridden the bus that day. One of our students confirmed not only was the student on the bus but could tell her approximately the stop that the student left the bus.

Ms. Crimmel started working the phones along with Mrs. G. She tried to call me, but I was not answering, being in the barber’s chair. Ms. Crimmel stayed in touch with the student’s family while Ms. Crimmel dealt with the bus company.

It was almost 5 when I left the barber shop and saw missed calls. When Mrs. G. told me what was going on I returned to school. At this point both the student’s family and we called the police to enlist their aid in locating our student.

Two officers came to the school to get specific information about our student and where it was thought the student had left the bus. They enlisted the assistance of other officers by radio and phone. Thankfully, before too long we got the word that the student was located and reunited with family. It had been a little more than two hours.

I write all this not as a bus safety measure, although that is important, but to praise Mrs. G. and Ms. Crimmel along with Cena Creaturo who had joined the office in assisting, for being there, for being dogged in their efforts and for staying long past their time. In addition, two of the student’s teachers whom we had reached on the phone were both willing to get in their cars and help in the search. Father Dooley came over from 5:30 Mass to do what he could.

Some people say, “Well, anyone would do this for a missing student.” Hopefully that is true. Hopefully, any school staff, public or private, would be there in support until the student was found. But I am here to speak to our staff. Mrs. G. and M. Crimmel and Ms. Creaturo were here until after 6pm. I could see their concern as well as their determination. I could hear long sighs of relief when the police told us that the student had been located.

As we get into the grind of our new school year, things happen. We are a human institution with almost 300 combined students and staff working every day. Every single one of us is doing our best. Not any of us are perfect at what we do or the decisions that we make.

While special kudos go to Mrs. G., Ms. Crimmel, Ms. Creaturo and the rest of the staff involved that afternoon, I would bet my titanium bicycle that every one of the adults who works at Our Lady of Peace School or Parish, would, without hesitation, have done the same thing in this instance. More important, each one of our staff has this sense of commitment, care and concern for each of our students every day. I see it as I walk around the building and in and out of classes. I hear it when I am in discussions with them about our students. I read it when I am copied on emails to parents.

I can’t speak for the dedication of any other school staff, but I can for Our Lady of Peace. We are all lucky to have them. As I preach patience to them for the students as we all acclimate to a new year, I ask for patience with our staff on your part as they get to know your children and do what’s best for the school, the parish, each class, and each student.

In a sporting event, we holler every time a referee makes a call with which we disagree. We fail to take into consideration the hundreds of good calls that the referee has made throughout the game. Let’s not paint one another with the brushstroke of one call, interaction or decision but consider how, on a day-to-day basis, we are all, students, staff, and parents, working together to mold our children into the best versions of themselves possible.



Jim Silcott