October 29, 2019

St. Michael’s Academy celebrates anniversary gala 

REGIONAL
Story and photos by Stephen Kiltonic

SPRINGFIELD  –  Close to 175 alumni, faculty, board members, students and families crowded inside the gymnasium at St. Michael’s Academy in Springfield, Saturday, Oct. 26 for an anniversary gala commemorating the school’s 10th year of providing quality Catholic education to the Springfield Diocese.

The gym was decorated throughout in red and white, the school colors. The evening included a dinner, cash bar, video presentation as well as a silent and live auction. “Real to Reel’s” own Nick Morganelli served as the master of ceremonies.

The gala was the third and final event held for the yearlong celebration, which kicked off June 8 with a corn hole tournament held at Nathan Bill Park. On Sept. 29, a special Anniversary Mass of Thanksgiving was held at Holy Cross Parish with Springfield Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski concelebrating the Mass with area priests and deacons.

At the gala, three couples were honored for their dedication and for playing an integral part in the formation and continued strengthening of St. Michael’s Academy and Catholic education. The couples included George and Jan Cartier; Jim and Elaine Tourtelotte; and Paul and Josephine Sears. Each received a gift from Bishop Rozanski and Ann Dougal, principal of St. Michael’s Academy.  

George Cartier served as a member of the board of trustees and, with his wife served as co-chairs of the advancement committee. They sent all four of their children to Holy Cross School and Cathedral High School.

“They (children) realize that it was the education that got them where they are today and that, I think, is important for parents to realize — that education is the key to success,” said Jan Cartier.  

“They were involved early on helping to get the advancement program off the ground. George has been in our building painting. He has arrived in our kindergarten dressed up as Curious George and read the story for them. Jan has been very supportive of all of our financial attempts at raising money. So, they really have been instrumental,” said Dougal.

Jim Tourtelotte served as the chair of the school’s first board of trustees in 2011. He helped develop the first strategic plan for the academy and was instrumental in helping to identify supporters for the school in pushing the advancement program forward. Jim and Elaine worked as co-chairs of the Fund for St. Michael’s Academy during the school’s early days to get up it up and running smoothly.

“All those ideas that I had, I fed through Elaine. All that conversation was a great assistance because she had a lot of experience as a teacher and guidance counselor,” said Jim. “All that elementary education stuff was a real resource for me and contributed a lot to the way the board saw things and the way we structured the school in the early days,” added Tourtelotte. 

Paul and Josephine Sears met in first grade while classmates at the former Holy Name Grammar School, one of the five diocesan elementary legacy schools in Springfield, along with Our Lady of the Sacred Heart; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel; Holy Cross; and Our Lady of Hope. The five legacy schools merged in 2009 to form the pre-K – 8 St. Michael’s Academy located at the former Holy Cross Elementary School. After the EF-3 tornado struck Springfield in 2011, the three academy campuses united under one roof at their elementary school campus on Eddywood Street, where it has remained ever since. 

The Sears helped St. Michael’s at the ground level getting the advancement program off the ground. They were the first co-chairs of the Fund for St. Michael’s Academy in 2013 which raised $185,000 with 594 donors. Over the years, both could be found participating in various academy events such as school Masses, music recitals, eighth grade pinning ceremonies or Christmas concerts.

“They have just been cheerleaders for Catholic education and really putting our name out there in the community and in helping us to really put St. Michael’s Academy on the map,” commented Dougal.

Fourteen of the Sears’ 17 grandchildren have either graduated from or are currently attending St. Michael’s Academy.

“We love the school and we love everything about it,” said Paul. “We believe in Catholic education ourselves, for our children and for our grandchildren. This is a perfect school. It is run very well. The staff is very inspiring and it’s easy for us to say this is something we’d like to support,” said Paul Sears, who, with Josephine, give St. Michael’s an A+ institution rating.

A video version of this story will be on an upcoming edition of “Real to Reel” which airs Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. on WWLP-TV22 NEWS and in the Berkshires Sunday mornings at 5:30 on Albany’s Fox 23, WXXA.