Times Newsweekly: Schools and Education

Learning The St. Stan’s Way
Special Approach Seen At Parish School And Church

by Bill Mitchell
Asked what she would like people to know about Maspeth’s St. Stanislaus Kostka School, its principal, Sr. Rose Torma, shared her view that St. Stan’s is “a little school with a big heart.”

Signs of this are easily found at the Catholic school, which has stood on Grand Avenue at 61st Street since 1930 and has a current enrollment of 250 students in grades from Pre-K through 8.

One of the ways that Sr. Rose Torma (at right), principal of St. Stanislaus Kostka School in Maspeth, likes to maintain contact with her students is to distribute their tests or assignment papers on a monthly basis. She is pictured during one such visit with seventh graders. (photo: Bill Mitchell)

Recently, both Sister Rose and pastor Father Paul Wood met with the Times Newsweekly on separate occasions to discuss some of the things that help to make the school and church special.

Staffed during its early years by the Sisters of St. Joseph, St. Stanislaus Kostka School has one such nun today—its principal.

Prior to coming to St. Stan’s, Sister Rose was a teacher for 11 years at St. Benedict Joseph Labre School in Richmond Hill and served as an administrator at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School in Williamsburg for three years.

Over the 25 years that she has been at St. Stan’s, Sister Rose has found it to be a rewarding experience. For this, she credited the dedication of “very professional” teachers and the support of parents “who are very much interested in the well-being of their child and want what’s best for them.”

The combination of the two, she suggested, is a formula for success.

School aims for service

“I think we work to service the needs of the whole child—spiritually, physically and intellectually,” the principal said.

Among the activities and programs that are in keeping with the idea of filling a child’s various needs, St. Stan’s is known for its CYO sports program; is home to Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts; and has a revived children’s choir.

Father Paul Wood, pastor of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in Maspeth, is pictured outside the church on 61st Street. He also serves as pastor of Transfiguration Church in Maspeth.
(photo: Bill Mitchell)

In addition, the school has started a Chess Club. As for providing students with an opportunity to perform on stage, the school recently held its talent show, to the delight of performers and audience alike.

Sister Rose advised that the school’s approach to presenting the process of education also means working with parents in meeting their needs, by providing care for students both before and after school.

As a result, St. Stan’s non-sports programs before and after school have it opening at 7:30 a.m. and closing at 6 p.m.

Additionally, the school’s Pre-K is either a half or full-day program, depending on the needs of parents.

Respect is key

“We try to focus on respect and concern for ourselves and respect for others—as well beiing our best and doing our best,” she said, in discussing the school’s philosophy.

It’s a special focus that’s given in addition to teaching the Christian doctrine and the subjects in the state curriculum.

As part of a guidance education program at St. Stan’s, weekly classes by a visiting teacher provide lessons in manners, conflict resolution, value education and safety.

Additionally, the idea of developing leadership is given attention. In anticipation of Pope Benedict’s visit to the city, students organized a prayer service In addition, a “Dollar Dress Down Day” was planned, in which students would particpate by making a contribution, with proceeds going to a charity—one to benefit a Brazilian school run by the Sisters of St. Joseph—in the Pope’s name.

Young performers gathered on stage at St. Stanislaus Kostka School’s recent talent show. (photo: Adriana Varella)

While leadership is being fostered in the children, there are parent volunteers to set an example by their participation in the Home School Association and the Mothers Club. Last Sunday, a communion breakfast, organized by the Mothers Club, was held for second graders making their First Communion.

Observing the measure of concern in parents who send their children to St. Stan’s, Sister Rose is not surprised to find that the children share certain characteristics.

“We have very wonderful children to worth with,” she said. “They’re respectful, cooperative, and willing to work with you.”

On the matter of academic achievement, Sister Rose noted the school’s high academic standards. She happily reported that 97 percent of fourth graders at St. Stan’s score “at or above the state reference point” on state testing in language and math.

Special subjects

Besides the guidance education program, St. Stan’s offers some special subjects, such as a second language program (Kindergarten through Grade 8).

A music appreciation program was established for children in the early grades.

As for eighth graders, they can take part in an afterschool enrichment that offers math at the high school level.

This vintage postcard view shows St. Stanislaus Kostka Church at its original location on Perry Avenue.

For children in need of math help, they can receive it during school in a remedial program made possible by federal funding through Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

Sister Rose advised that an education at St. Stan’s includes technology-assisted instruction with lessons in computer and laptop use (Pre-K through Grade 8). Every classroom is computer-equipped with wireless Internet access throughout the building. Laptops are available for students’ use.

The principal was proud to mention that the school was expecting a delivery of three “smart boards”—a sort of blackboard for the computer age that enables a teacher to plan lessons on a computer and display them on the smart board in the classroom.

While learning that involves technological advances may be new and exciting, Sister Rose indicated that a more traditional subject remains the favorite of students in all grades: Physical Education.

“The chidren look forward to their gym classes,” she said.

Pastor times two

Being pastor at one church may seem challenging enough, but the task is doubled for Fr. Paul Wood, as the spiritual head of both St. Stanislaus Kostka and Transfiguration parishes.

Not that he’s complaining, nor is he new to such a challenge. As a young priest, he had served at churches in Brooklyn and Queens, but was bitten by the adventure bug. The Ridgewood native—a graduate of St. Matthias School and Christ the King High School who went on to study for the priesthood and was ordanied in 1980—served as pastor for two churches about 10 miles apart in rural locales outside Walla Walla, WA.

“I had the missionary itch,” Father Wood explained.

Bishop Francis Mugavero, Bishop of the Brooklyn Diocese eat the time, allowed him a little more than two years to satisfy the urge, though on U.S. soil. The bishop had ruled out missionary work in another country, due to Father Wood’s history of vascular problems with his legs.

Upon his return, the priest became the Catholic chaplain at Queens College—a position he maintains.

Ten years later, he was installed as pastor at Transfiguration Church, located on Perry Avenue at 64th Street.

With three Catholic churches—Transfiguration, St. Stanislaus Kostka and Holy Cross, also on 61st Street—in close proximity to each other, an economic crunch brought about the Brooklyn Diocese’s decision to institute a “reconfiguration.”

In 2006, Father Wood became the pastor of both Transfiguration and St. Stan’s parishes. He resides at both.

Dealing with debt

Since his arrival at St. Stan’s, he has worked successfully to reduce the debt that had been incurred at the parish—due, in part, to the major renovations that were done at the church several years ago. While the results of the project beautified the house of worship, some parishioners were surprised to learn of the indebtedness.

“To run a church, people don’t have a clue,” the pastor acknowledged.

A Pay Down the Debt Committee was formed and an advisory council was established, to address such things as how to publicize and promote St. Stan’s. Father Wood pointed to the establishment of a foundation that in the future, could help the school and attract students—some who might not otherwise be able to afford a Catholic education—through scholarships.

Even so, the consolidation of services brought changes and gaining an understanding of the need for it proved difficult for some. Among the parishioners accustomed to having the choice of attending a 5 p.m. Mass on Saturdays, some complained when the service was removed from the churches’ schedule.

Instead, a 4 p.m. Mass now is offered at Transfiguration, followed by one at 6 p.m. at St. Stanislaus. There are masses at two different times, in place of two being celebrated simultaneously.

“I actually gave them a bigger option,” Father Wood said.

In discussing attendance at church services for the two parishes, their pastor estimated that there are about 375 parishioners at Transfiguration who attend “faithfully,” with about double that amount at St. Stan’s.

The combined total falls short, however, of the number of Maspeth’s Catholics, according to Father Wood.

“If everyone in the neighborhood who is Catholic came, the three churches wouldn’t be able to hold enough services for all of them,” he observed.

But Father Wood enjoys working with the parishioners of both churches who are active—in particular, with the their respective pastoral planning councils—in setting future goals and making the reconfiguration a success.

Whatever the challenges or changes, he maintained, one thing figures to endure.

“There must be hope,” the pastor said, adding with a smile, “There’s a lot of help here. We’re not going to close anything—we’re just going to spiff it up.”

Early years

St. Stanislaus Kostka parish dates back to 1872, when it was organized with the thought of saving local farmers the trouble of a trip to St. Mary’s Church in Woodside’s Winfield section.

Meanwhile, Transfiguration parish is marking its centennial year. Like neighboring Holy Cross, it is a national church. Holy Cross was established to serve Polish-speaking immigrants and Transfiguration was organized in 1908 to mininster to the spiritual needs of Lithuanian-speaking immigrants who had settled in Maspeth and Long Island City’s Blissville section. As such, it became the first Lithuanian parish in Queens.

With the closing in recent years of Holy Cross School, St. Stan’s is the only one of the three churches to also have a school.

While this was a cause of sadness among many in the Maspeth community, it did mean a boost in enrollment at St. Stan’s, which has been able to maintain “viable” numbers, according to its principal.

Churches linked

While the reconfiguration of St. Stanislaus Kostka and Transfiguration parishes is a recent development, the two churches have been linked for more than a half-century.

Originally, the church of St. Stanislaus stood at 64-25 Perry Ave. in Maspeth. But after Transfiguration Church—originally located on Hull Avenue— was destroyed by a 1925 fire (the second blaze in six years) it was decided by authorities of the church and the Fire Department that the church would not be rebuilt on the Hull Avenue site.

Instead, the wooden structure on Perry Avenue that had served as St. Stanislaus Church on Perry Avenue—vacant with the completion of the new brick building at Maspeth Avenue and 61st Street—was sold to Transfiguration.. In 1935, a new church, which later became the parish hall, was constructed on the site in 1935.

The present structure of Transfiguration Church—striking in its modernistic design— was built in 1962.

Editor’s note: Historical information regarding the parishes of St. Stanislaus Kostka and Transfiguration that appears in the above article appeared in Maspeth...Our Town, written by Barbara Stankowski; and Our Community, Its History and People, written by Walter J. Hutter, Rev. John D. O’Halloran, Maureen Walthers and Philip P. Agusta, published by the Greater Ridgewood Historical Society.