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Farawell to Mrs. Gondek and Mrs. Rizzo
It is a great misfortune for us this year to lose not one, but two, of the finest members of the Hillsborough IB family. Both College counselor Carol Gondek and Spanish teacher Kathyrn Rizzo have decided to retire.
Mrs. Gondek
You would be hard-pressed to find an HHS graduate who doesn’t own a small debt to the college connoisseur and scholarship specialist that has resided in the college lab for the last eight years. Mrs. Gondek has helped countless students plot out their plans for higher education and seek out grants to finance their endeavors by providing a veritable flood of information and sound advice to both IB and traditional students.
Her dedication to the students and her contributions to the school have not gone unnoticed. Last year, Mrs. Gondek was awarded a Principal’s Select Award by Dr. Orr, and this year, she was recognized by the Masons, an organization that she has worked closely with to get scholarships to outstanding students.
Although it has been hard work, she has enjoyed all of her years at Hillsborough. "“Each class has had its own unique personality,” she said. After 42 years of service in education, first as an English teacher and then as guidance resource specialist, Mrs. Gondek looks forward to traveling and volunteering.
However, she does not plan to cut all ties with the dear old Red and Black and promises to return to help out in Positive Park and possibly to substitute in the IB program.
She leaves us with her personal motto:"Always leave a place better than you found it". There is no doubt that she lived up to it.
Mrs. Rizzo
A teacher who has been in IB program at Hillsborough almost since its inception and an HHS alumna of the class of 1967, Mrs. Rizzo, who is somewhat of a legend herself, has labored hard to preserve the traditions of the Red and Black and to uphold the principles of the International Baccalaureate program, despite the increasing personal sacrifice it has required over the last 18 years.
Coming from a long line of teachers, Mrs. Rizzo confesses that she had not really considered teaching as a profession coming out of school. However, she excelled in the study of languages, and soon fell in love with teaching it. "The last 32 years [which I have been teaching] have flown by," she said, "Being in the IB program has been really intellectually stimulating for me."
To her students, Mrs. Rizzo is not only a Spanish teacher, but also a model of human compassion, commitment, and elegance. It is through her efforts that today’s Terriers can enjoy the HHS Ambassadors, Honor Council, the IB Pinning Ceremony, Crew, and Spanish Honor Society.
Mrs. Rizzo has left an indelible mark on Hillsborough High School and she hopes that the programs that she helped to start will persist long after she is gone. Even in retirement, this tireless teacher plans to continue with her history projects, especially with the Daughters of the American Revolution, the National Geographic Genome project, and the Ambassadors. She looks forward to catching up on her reading, traveling, and exercising.
She parts with us with these few words of wisdom from Pogo:"Too soon we reach the tape to find that the joy was in the running". Indeed, it is too soon that we must part from you, Mrs. Rizzo. You will be sorely missed.
The void left by these two singular educators will be difficult to fill, as both women have redefined the meaning of service.
From the IB Alliance, parents, and most of all, from the students of Hillsborough High School, we give you both our heartfelt gratitude for all you have done for us. We hope you enjoy your retirement!
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Thank you, Mrs. Gondek and Mrs. Rizzo, and farwell!
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| by Jennifer Le, c/o 2010 - Posted 6-2-2009 |
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