Dear St. John Bosco Families,
I hope you are enjoying your summer and starting to get ready for the new school year. We have many things to be excited about as the new year kicks off: iPads on a one-to-one basis for all 7th and 8th grade students, new Journey's Language Arts program for K-6th grade, and new faces to the St. John Bosco school faculty. I'm pleased to announce and welcome the newest additions to our teaching staff: Mrs. Roberta Hamilton, Music; Mrs. Alisha Watson, 5th grade; Mrs. Jena Gump, 1st grade; Ms. Sandra Lara, 5th grade; and Mrs. Jamie Bescak, 3rd grade. For more information about classroom teachers for the 2014-15 school year, click here. Mrs. Roberta Hamilton joins us most recently from Burk Elementary School where she spent two years as the General Music Specialist for K-6 and Choir Teacher for 3-4. She is returning to St. John Bosco as the Music Director after her previous tenure here from 2001 - 2012, and has over 30 years of music education experience in Pre-K through 8th grade studies. One of her favorite saints is St. Francis of Assisi and she's always happy to open the music room doors at SJB and see the statue of him in the garden area outside of the music room. Mrs. Hamilton is thrilled to be back home at St. John Bosco School where she's always loved the spirit of the community! Mrs. Alisha Watson taught for one year in Yuma, Arizona and seven years locally in Chandler. Over the past 13 years, Mrs. Watson has been a busy stay-at-home mom, substitute teacher, catechist at Corpus Christi (her home parish) and an active volunteer. Mrs. Watson is excited to have the privilege to teach in a Catholic school where she can share her faith and teach her students how their faith helps develop their leadership skills, character, and values. Her family-husband, Bill, oldest daughter, Sara (7th grade), son, Steven (6th grade), and youngest daughter, Katie, (3rd grade)-have been a part of the St. John Bosco community for seven years. Mrs. Jena Gump taught kindergarten for two years in the Tempe School District and then taught 1st grade for five years in the Kyrene School District. Volunteering and subbing at St. John Bosco has kept her busy and involved in such a wonderful place, and she is thrilled to now be a part of the staff. Mrs. Gump chose to teach at a Catholic school to share her love of teaching the whole child in a faith-based environment with an involved and dedicated community. An Arizona native, Ms. Sandra Lara recently spent two years teaching 4th grade at a charter school locally in Chandler, and an additional two years teaching 6th grade at a public school in San Tan Valley. She decided to make the transition to teach at a Catholic school because of her passion for helping young people to consider the teachings of their faith as they make decisions in class and in their daily lives. She is a member of Queen of Peace Catholic Church where she teaches 5th grade Religious Education and is also a Eucharistic Minister. Mrs. Jamie Bescak joins the 3rd grade team at St. John Bosco, most recently coming from teaching Kindergarten at O'Connor Elementary School in Mesa. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Mrs. Bescak taught 1st grade for two years at St. Hilary in Fairlawn, Ohio, and began her teaching career with Mesa Public Schools as a Special Education Preschool Teacher at Lehi. She then transferred to O'Connor Elementary School and taught 1st grade for one year, then decided to stay in 2nd grade for seven years. Mrs. Bescak moved to Arizona in 2004 after getting married to her husband, Steve. They have a four-year old daughter, Elle. Please join me in welcoming our newest members of the St. John Bosco instructional staff! I look forward to seeing you in August.
God bless, Dr. Axman |
