You can find the current {summer 07) Alumni Newsletter posted here

You can find the previous (fall 06) Alumni Newsletter posted here

The spring 2007 edition of "Now & Then" was recently mailed to everyone in our database with current addresses. If you graduated from St. Greg's and didn't receive a newsletter, we need your current address. Please ask your siblings, cousins, and friends who graduated from St. Greg's whether they received the newsletter. Send all updated mailing information to the Parish Office or email it to stgregorythegreatalumni@archmil.org.

Extra copies of the newsletter are available in the School or Parish Office and the Hopitality Center or download from this website. The next newsletter will be published in fall 2007.

Cheryl "Herrmann" Gadouas class of 1976
She was an angel here on earth and now in heaven.
She fought cancer for 9 years, and always kept her faith.
We were best of friends when we attended St Gregs and continued
through out our adult lives. I miss her
more than words can express. She is survived by her husband Kirk,
her mother Maxine "Mickey" Herrmann, her loving Step-daughters Alissa
and Rebecca and her two sisters Cathy and Mary.

She is now at peace
-Maxine "Mollner" Garcia
class of 1976

Tim and Carolyn Pelzek (former members of St. Gregs) are pleased and proud to announce that on June 3, 2007 , their daughter, Christine Pelzek (St. Gregs Class of 1991) made her Solemn Profession as a Carmelite Sister .

Christine, who has taken the name Sister Grace of the Trinity, received a black veil indicating that she has completed her time of study and has become a fully professed member of the Order. The ceremony took place the Carmelite Monastery in Covington , Louisiana , with many of her relatives and friends present.

Your prayers are requested for Sister Grace of the Trinity as she continues her vocation in the Carmelite Order. Photos of the ceremony can be found on the Carmelite Sisters website at http://ettinger.net/carmelcov/

I was fortunate enough to be in the first class to go "all the way
through" when the school building was new; for 2nd and 3rd grades, we
were bussed to Holy Assumption in West Allis, but the building was
done and we got to be the first class to go 4th to 8th in the school.

The quality of the education I received has shown up again and again
in my life: it amazes me the things people DON'T know who have been
schooled elsewhere. The love and discipline and great example the
teachers shared with us made a wonderful guide to live by. Even
though I had to cope with having my brother as a teacher (Tom
Filipiak, 8th grade), I managed to enjoy the time there.

A major force in my life has been volunteerism, sharing the time I am
blessed with to help others: this was taught many times over by the
good teachers at St. Greg's. In many communities as I moved around
the 53 businesses I managed (and fixed, mostly), I found a way to
participate in the betterment of the towns I lived in. And now that
I am retired, I am still doing so, that I might set an example for MY
kids, and theirs. I can never pay back Sister Imelda, Barb Brzenk,
Sister Christopher, or the many other sisters and lay teachers, but I
can pay it forward. Thanks to all the fine teachers who showed me the
way.

Chuck Filipiak, Class of 1965

St. Greg's Alum Peggy Krusick --
"St. Greg's Has Heart & Soul"

We're proud to include below a reflection on St. Gregory the Great Parish School from our Wisconsin State Representative, Peggy Krusick, a St. Greg's Alum and, now, a St. Greg's Parent. Peggy is pictured at left, helping out at last year's alumni booth at the parish festival. You can click here to visit Peggy's State Assembly website.

This year marks thirty-five years ago that I graduated from St. Gregory the Great Parish School. I was the oldest of seven in my family to graduate for St. Greg's. Now I have a family of my own, and we live in the same house I did when I walked to school. My two children also go to school at St. Greg's just like I did.

Growing up, our family life seemed to revolve around St. Greg's -- the school, the church and the community. My mom and dad were actively involved in the scouting and sports activities with us. There was so much warmth and closeness among my classmates and their families. It was such a treat to be able to sweep the convent on Saturdays. I remember how my two closest friends, Jenny, Kim and I chose the same confirmation name of Theresa. And I still hold near and dear to my heart our eighth grade graduation Mass in which we all sang the Our Father in Heaven.

St. Greg's was where I was taught about the importance of community service. In fact, my work as a state legislator in the Wisconsin Assembly has often been guided by the lessons I learned at St. Greg's, as well as the values my parents taught me as a child. A big focus of my legislative work is on senior, children and family issues.

I am awed by the strength of St. Greg's community and how it continues from generation to generation. For example, this spring I visited with students from St. Greg's as they toured the State Capitol and talked with them about public service. It was with great pride that I told them that I sat in the same classrooms that they are in today.

It's a family that ties people together, whether through the school or the church. I feel truly blessed to have had the education and religious teachings at St. Greg's, the circle of friends and the parish family. St. Gregory the Great -- from the time I grew up to now -- as a school and a parish community has heart and soul and commitment to helping others.

I'm so grateful to St. Gregory the Great community -- for its people who have blessed me, my husband Roger, and our daughter Megan, 7 and our son Ryan, 4.

St. Greg's Alum Noelle -- "Why I'm Sending My Children to St. Greg's"

As a life-long member of the St. Gregory the Great Community, I've been fortunate to be a product of both the school and church. My husband Allen and I are fortunate that our children, Alyson (5th grade) and Jacob (2nd grade), are also blessed with that same opportunity.

As a graduate, and now as a parent at St. Greg's, I have experienced both spiritual and educational growth. The teachers, principal and priests created a positive environment. As I have matured, I've realized that the many relationships I've developed, with both family and friends, are those that I will cherish for the rest of my life.

As I look back at the many school and sporting activities I was involved with as a student, I have fond memories. One thing that stands out today as a parent is COMMITMENT! The teachers and staff at St. Gregory the Great go "above and beyond" for the students of the school. They provide a safe and supportive environment. They work as a team. And, they truly love each student. Through this love, the values of a quality Catholic education are instilled in each and every one of the students. One only has to walk the school halls to see the warmth and love.

St. Greg's Alum Geri -- "St. Greg's Lays a Solid Foundation for the Future"

I am an alum of St. Gregory the Great School and a a proud past and present parent of two St. Greg's students as well. My oldest son Tom graduated from St. Greg's in June 1997.

Sending Tom to St. Greg's was one of the better choices we made for him during his life. We no longer make those choices for him because he is grown and on his own. His academic roots at St. Greg's were the beginnings of a successful future. Tom graduated from St. Greg's with high honors. He went on to Pius where he graduated 4th in the class of 2001. Tom was accepted and excelled at UW-Madison. He graduated in three and one/half years with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He just completed his first year as a mechanical design engineer at the Kohler Company.

Tom was able to develop and expand his skills because of the challenges and support he received from his teachers from day one. He would not have been able to do what he has done without the wonderful start he had here at St. Greg's.

I feel the same about my son Jeff who is currently in sixth grade. The names and faces of the teachers are different (except for Ms. Lucey and Ms. Schroeder) but the challenges and support are still there. My sons' styles are different from each other but yet both styles have been nurtured and developed accordingly. I look forward to Jeff's future because I know how far he can go because of where he started.

St. Greg's Alum Rebbeca -- "Why I'm Teaching at St. Greg's"

I have been involved with St. Greg's in many ways throughout my life. It began when I attended first through eighth grade here and continued throughout high school and college. I have seen the school through many different eyes: as a student, as a coach, as a "Bookends" employee, and now as a teacher.

My greatest memories up until this point come from my years as a student here. My best friend and I are always talking about how great grade school was and that we would love to just go back to that time. We had the most inventive and committed teachers that you could find. Some of these teachers are still around the school and I see their levels of commitment on even a higher level now that I am a teacher. I also see these levels of dedication within the teachers that have entered the school since I graduated. Every teacher now and then had/has a level of care and concern for the students that you might not find at many other schools. These teachers did everything that they could for their students and I believe that they still will do anything for their students.

The teachers at St. Greg's give more than a curricular education; they try their hardest to prepare you for life and are there for you when life throws you surprises. I remember a time in eighth grade when there was a major incident with our basketball team. We spent a lot of time talking with the teachers and principal about the incident; to them our emotional and physical safety came before anything else. This incident happened on a weekend outside of school, but they took time out of school days to help us get through this problem and become stronger people as a result.

During college, I worked in the "Bookends" program for four years. As my graduation date became closer, I heard from Mrs. Scheels that there were going to be some openings within the school. I did not hesitate to apply; I could not have imagined a better school to teach at my first year out of college. I waited to hear from St. Greg's before looking into any other districts. When parents of children from Bookends heard that I was applying for certain positions within the school they were so supportive and consistently wished me the best of luck. When I received the job, I met with the school commission and Mrs. Erlandson (my sixth-grade teacher and now a parent in the school) gave me the biggest hug and told me that she could not be happier for the school and for me. This helped to settle my nerves, knowing that I had a wonderful level of support even before the school year began.

Everyone tells you that your first year as a teacher is one of the most challenging years of your life. I have had my share of trials and tribulations this year, but I receive only support from parents and teachers every way that I turn. The families in my classroom are amazing. They have been there to help me in every way that is possible. The students in my classroom are a direct result of their parents. At times I feel that they are my own children because I am so proud of everything they accomplish and I feel joy every time they smile.

St. Greg's is an exceptional school. I loved it as a student and I continue to love it even more as a teacher. I hope to help the children in school have their St. Greg's experiences be as wonderful as mine have been.

Would you like to share your St. Greg's story? Send it to The St. Gregory The Great Webmaster.