Holy Family principal says goodbye
Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Fourth-grader Joel Kreuzwieser (right) had the honor of offering his principal, Christine Kijowski, a gift on behalf of the members of his class.
Principal Christine Kijowski had to use six Holy Family students to hold up the banner that her staff and students made for her. Celebrating with the principal (center) was J.P. Yerian (left), David Varley, Paul Graziano, and to the right of Kijowski, Tori Modarelli, Marisa Ricciardi, and Katherine Kali.
Kijowski (left) took some time to enjoy some of the sentiments shared by the fourth-graders in the cards they made to honor her retirement.
Holy Family fourth-graders Blake DelSignore (left) Michael Appugliese, Nico Marchionda, Anthony Formichelli, Joel Kreuzwieser, Brooke Chandler, and Tori Modarelli showed off the cards and good wishes they were sending to their retiring principal, Christine Kijowski.
By SARAH FOOR
On May 31, the students at Holy Family School gathered in their school gym to honor their principal, who is retiring after 27 years of teaching and leadership in the Diocese of Youngtown.
Originally from Hartford, Ohio, Christine Kijowski came to Youngstown State University to work on her bachelor’s degree. Although she didn’t plan on going into Catholic education, something happened during her first student teaching placement.
“I was never fortunate to go to a Catholic school where I grew up, but I knew the first day I taught in one that it was what I was meant to do. They’re smaller and more intimate, and like a family. It’s where I’ve always wanted to be and I still am all these years later,” Kijowski explained.
Sixteen years of her tenure were spent as a teacher at St. Rose School in Girard, where her principal, Sister Carole Suhar, pegged Kijowski as principal material. Under Suhar’s wing, Kijowski returned to school for a master’s degree and principal license from YSU, and has been an administrator for the last 10 years, leading Holy Family for the last six.
“I’m proud of the work I’ve done here in bringing our technology up to date,” Kijowski shared, considering her legacy at the school. “Holy Family was the first school in the Diocese to offer electronic report cards. We use far more electronic communications and we’re installing 10 SMART boards this summer. It’s an investment in where education is going.”
During her retirement party, Kijowski and Holy Family’s Home and School Association bought ice cream treats for the entire student body. The kids signed a large banner wishing their principal good luck and brought gifts and cards wishing her well in the future. Her plans will include spending time with her husband, who taught in Hubbard Schools for 35 years. They’ll be spending time with their grandkids, a granddaughter in Medina and twin granddaughters in New York City. Kijowski said she will still be involved in education even after retirement.
Still, leaving Holy Family is bittersweet. Kijowski said she only has one wish for the school.
“It’s always been my hope that when people walked through the doors, they could feel the warm and loving community here. Like me, they could walk in every day and say ‘I’m home.’”