Grade 8

Grade 7

Grade 6

Grade 5

Grade 4

Grade 3

Grade 2

Grade 1

K2

K1

Special Education

Science

Technology

Library

Physical Education/Health

Art

Music

Ms. Carol Kovac - Grade 8

gr8@saint-peter-school.org

I have been teaching at St. Peter School since 2002. I have my B.A. in Education and my M.A. in Teaching. I teach seventh and eighth grade language arts, literature, and United States history. It is an integrated curriculum in which the students learn and develop critical thinking skills to analyze the major events that have shaped our nation while reading novels and writing about those events. A very special part of our curriculum involves the eighth grade class to trip to Washington D.C. and Gettysburg. It is an amazing experience that I look forward to each school year. It truly brings history to life for our students!

Mr. Robert Gray - Grade 7

gr7@saint-peter-school.org

I received a B.S. from Boston College and a Masters Degree from Suffolk University and have taken post-baccalaureate classes at Bridgewater State College. For many years I worked for the Gillette Co. in Boston and I was also a ten year member of the Adjunct Faculty at Suffolk University. I am in my second year at St. Peter School. I live with my wife in Norwood, MA, and am the father of two grown sons.

The seventh grade class studies a wide breadth of subjects. I teach Mathematics and Religion. The Mathematics curriculum includes pre-algebra for advanced students and basic seventh grade math for on-track students. Both courses include the operations of math for whole numbers, integers, and fractions and decimals. In addition, the concepts of currency, measuring, equations, word problems, and geometry are studied.

Spanish is the foreign language studied by the seventh grade and Mr. David Hadly covers science which is taught in our state-of-the-art science lab. Ms. Carol Kovac, the eighth grade homeroom teacher, teaches literature, writing, grammar, and social studies to the seventh grade class. The goal of the language arts curriculum is to encourage students to think critically and to achieve oral and written fluency. Computer Science is taught in our Hoff Technology Center.

In summary, the seventh grade class enjoys a rich and full academic challenge supported by a Catholic-Christian atmosphere that stresses self-discipline and character development.

Ms. Jessica Durham - Grade 6

gr6@saint-peter-school.org

I graduated from Salem State College with a B.S. in Sociology with a concentration in Child Development. I also had experience as teaching assistant in Statistics. While at school I worked in the Horace Mann School in many different elementary classroom settings. My background also includes experience at the Department of Social Services where I was an advocate for young girls.

I enjoyed my first two years teaching 3rd grade at St. Peter School and am very eager to start my third year here teaching grade 6. My philosophy is that a Catholic school experience adds an important element to a student’s development. I am a proud Catholic school graduate and feel that the relationships that I formed during my elementary school years with students, teachers, and administration were instrumental in my development as a student and as a person of faith. The 6th grade is an important year for deepening the students’ spirituality and faith. I look forward to a another great year of learning!

The sixth grade classroom is a very busy place! Our full schedule includes art, computer, library, physical education, and music. The students enjoy using the science lab with science teacher, Mr. David Hadly. In the science lab, the students have learned everything from how to use microscopes and lab materials properly, to how to grow real mold!

Students in sixth grade learn history with Mr. Mark Smith, the fifth grade teacher. Students learn about ancient civilizations during World Cultures.They learn math, language arts and literature and religion with me.. At a special 6th grade mass, each student receives his or her own bible which they keep with them through their years at St. Peter School.

Mr. Mark Smith - Grade 5 - Director of Admissions

gr5@saint-peter-school.org

Hello, my name is Mark E. Smith and I am the fifth grade teacher and Director of Admissions here at St. Peter School. After 10 years of working in film production I decided to change careers and work towards my Masters degree in Education. I received my Masters in Education in the spring of 2008 from Lesley University with a focus on the creative arts.

St. Peter School offers so much more than a great education, I feel it is our goal not only to provide a great academic education, but to instill and teach the core values that will benefit all the students who pass through this school for years to come. I like to think that students are constantly being challenged and engaged in my classroom, from working on a group project turning one of our literature novels into a “graphic novel”, to our overnight trip in April to Nature’s Classroom on Cape Cod. Students here at St. Peter will always be encouraged, treated with respect and challenged to be the best that they can be.

Mrs. Kate O'Connor- Grade 5 & 6 Social Studies

gr5@saint-peter-school.org

Bio to come ...

Ms. Claire Cussen - Grade 4

gr4@saint-peter-school.org

I come from Ireland, where for the seven years prior to joining the faculty at St. Peter School in 2000 I taught 3rd and 4th grades. I studied at University College Dublin where I received my B.A. in 1992 and a Higher Diploma in Education the following year.

The 4th graders at St. Peter enjoy learning through a wide variety of activities. We often integrate the subjects we study and actively learn with hands-on activities. In Language Arts we read all genres of books, create exciting book reports, practice writing in a variety of forms and more.

Our study of science includes class labs and exciting projects. Social Studies highlights include developing map skills, studying Colonial America, enjoying field trips to historical sites in and around Boston, and learning about the 50 states. Each day as we learn more about these different subjects areas, we also strive to learn how to live as a Catholic Christian in our constantly changing society. The 4th grade is a very happening place to be.

Mrs. Stephanie Russell - Grade 3

gr3@saint-peter-school.org

Hello, my name is Stephanie Russell, and I am thrilled to be the third grade teacher at St. Peter. I feel as though St. Peter is a second home to me since I actually attended this wonderful learning institution as a child. Therefore, when I graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Boston in 2000, I was honored to accept my first teaching position here, the place that provided me with such a solid base both academically and spiritually.

I started out as a Resource Room Teacher and facilitated the upper grades in the areas of Language Arts. The following year I became the fifth grade teacher, a position I held for two and a half years before leaving to give birth to my son, Jake. I have been away from teaching since his birth in 2004, but have kept my feet wet through my work as a private tutor.

I am very excited to be back at St. Peter for a second year in this position. It is so wonderful to see both familiar and new faces. My goal for this program is to provide the children with a friendly, fun, safe, and creative atmosphere to flourish and grow with friends.

Ms. Kathryn Callahan - Grade 2

gr2@saint-peter-school.org

I graduated from St. Lawrence University in 2004 with a B.A. in English Writing and Education Studies. I have had experience working in various classroom settings in the Arlington and Brookline school systems. Most recently, I was a third and fourth grade Special Education teacher. My teaching certifications are for Grades 1 through 6 and Specialist Teacher of Reading (Grades K through 12). This is my first year teaching at St. Peter School. I am very excited to be apart of the St. Peter community. I am passionate about teaching, and I believe that it is my job to create a nurturing learning environment where every student is successful. I am looking to a great year in second grade!

A major highlight of Grade 2 comes in the Spring when the children receive their First Holy Communion. I look forward to another excellent and exciting year at St. Peter! Can't believe this is the start of year 3! Time flies.

Mrs. Tara Flaherty - Grade 1

gr1@saint-peter-school.org

I received a Bachelors degree in Early Childhood from Fitchburg State College in 2001.  In Fitchburg, I worked with elementary school students in an after school program which focused on literacy.  I have passed the Massachusetts Department of Education Teacher Certification Exam.  After student teaching in a pre-school classroom, I worked as a kindergarten teacher in the Lawrence Public Schools.  In March of 2004, I took over for a teacher in K2, and happily returned in September, 2005 to St. Peter. 

I am currently pursuing a Masters degree in Education at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. In Grade 1, I provide a balanced literacy program in a loving environment that encourages my students to be independent, respectful students.

TBA - Grade 1 - Teaching Assistant

computer4@saint-peter-school.org

Bio to come ...

Ms. Kim Prentiss - K2

k2@saint-peter-school.org

Hi there! My name is Kim Prentiss, and this is my third year at St. Peter School. I am so excited to be working in the Kindergarten classroom and Afterschool at St. Peter School! I graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. After graduation, I moved to the wonderful state of Massachusetts….I wanted some cold weather!

After working as a Nanny for boy/girl twin infants whom I love dearly, I was anxious to return to the classroom. Two years ago, I worked at Bowen Cooperative Nursery School as well as in the Afterschool program here. In addition to teaching, I am currently working on my M.B.A from the University of Phoenix! It’s going to be a great year with a wonderful, K2 class!

Ms. Ashley Klein - K2

k2@saint-peter-school.org

I was born and raised in Buffalo, NY and received my degree at Eastern Michigan University in elementary education and integrated science. Yes, I am a Bill's fan. I am currently pursuing my Masters degree in science education at Lesley University due to my love of the subject. I have been lucky to have had a variety of classroom experience. I believe that teaching is what I was born to do and hope to make learning an engaging experience for all students.

I am thrilled to start my first year at Saint Peter School. I enjoy the excitement that comes with kindergarten and expect to have a wonderful year. I am looking forward to meeting all the students and families of Saint Peter's.

Ms. Jessica Leroy - K2 Assistant

k2@saint-peter-school.org

Bio to come ...

Mrs. Patti Westcott - K1

k1@saint-peter-school.org

Before coming to St. Peter School, I taught kindergarten in Lexington, Massachusetts. During that time, I served in a variety of roles including Assistant Director of the school.

I began my teaching at St. Peter in 1994, and have taught both the K1 and K2 programs. I’m so pleased to be able to contribute to St. Peter school from which I graduated and to St. Peter Parish where I worship. I also feel fortunate to have been given this opportunity to work in a faith-filled community surrounded by dedicated administers and faculty.

I studied at the University of Massachusetts as well as Lesley University, and I earned a degree in Early Childhood Education. I am also certified by the Massachusetts Office for Children in Child Care and a member of the National Education Association of Young Children (NEAYC).

In K-1, we get to plant seeds and watch them grow. It all begins here -that’s what makes it so exciting! We strive to provide preschoolers with creative and educational opportunies where they can experience success in all areas of development in a fun, nurturing and Catholic environment.

Mrs. Kathy Smith - K1

k1@saint-peter-school.org

My name is Kathy Smith and I am the assistant in the K1 classroom.  I graduated from Boston College with a Bachelor of Science degree.  After working for Verizon for many years, I was fortunate enough to stay home with my children while they were young.  During this time I discovered the world of non-profit and education.

As a site coordinator for Boston Partners in Education, I promoted reading as a fun and relaxing as well as a learning activity.  I was also the Director of Religious Education for Saint Peter Parish for 3 years.  The highlight of each year was First Communion in May.

I am a big advocate for St Peter’s education.  My son is a St Peter graduate and my daughter is currently a student.  Their education has been academic, spiritual, social and cultural.  They have had an enriching experience in the St Peter environment.

This will be my third year in K1.  We have the wonderful opportunity to lay the foundation for the youngest of our students.  Lots of learning and lots of fun happen in K1.  I am looking forward to another great year.

Ms. Patricia Goon - Special Education

sped1@saint-peter-school.org

I graduated from Tufts in 2005 with a B.A. in English Literature and went on to study at Lesley where I received my M.Ed in Elementary Education and Special Education in 2009. I am certified to teach Elementary School (1-6) and Special Education (PreK-8). I have had a variety of classroom experiences, both in public and private settings. Most recently, I was a second grade inclusion aide in Cambridge. I have had the opportunity to teach all over the world, including a summer in Korea where I taught English Literature and SAT and SSAT prep courses to ESL students.

I am extremely excited to begin my second year as a part of the Saint Peter School community and am looking forward to another wonderful year in the resource room!

Mrs. Nicole Putney - Special Education

sped2@saint-peter-school.org

I have been at St. Peter since September 2002.  I attended Merrimack College and graduated with a B.A. in 2000. I am currently enrolled at Salem State College, pursuing a Masters degree in Middle School Education. I am really enjoying my time here at St. Peter School and I feel very blessed to be part of such a welcoming and caring community. I look forward to working with our middle school students and faculty.

Mr. David Hadly - Science

science@saint-peter-school.org

I graduated from Boston College in 2000 with a degree in Theology and a minor in Education. While at B.C., I played trombone in the Screamin’ Eagles Marching Band as well as B.C. bOp!, the top jazz ensemble at B.C. I also swam one year for B.C.’s swim team.

Originally from California, I moved back to Sacramento, where I taught for four years at Our Lady of the Presentation. At Presentation, I taught a variety of subjects: History (6th-8th), Literature (6th), Science (7th), Old and New Testament (7th), and Music (1st-4th). I planned and led our annual 8th grade weeklong trip to Yosemite National park. I also began and directed our Junior High Choir, which placed 1st in the Northern California Catholic Schools Choir Competition in 2004 and 2005. Our choir was picked to sing for Governor Schwarzenegger at the California Catholic Schools Rally at the Capital, and we were asked to sing a private concert for Bishop Weegan of Sacramento.

For the last ten years, I coached the Del Norte Dolphins Recreational swim team in Sacramento. The team had about 175 swimmers ranging in age from three to eighteen. We took 1st place in the NorCal Swim League in 2003, 2004, and last summer in 2005.

Since my family is scattered all over the world, I am an avid traveler. I have traveled to Nepal, Tibet, Southern China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Australia, Mexico, Canada, and 34 of the 50 states. My favorite traveling moment was seeing Mt. Everest with my naked eye!

I am also an enthusaistic outdoorsman. I spend a few weeks every summer in Northwest Montana, where I thoroughly enjoy fly-fishing, kayaking, whitewater rafting, and backpacking- especially in Glacier National Park.

I am very excited to be here at St. Peter’s for a fourth year! What a pleasant surprise is it to be at a school that is so ethnically diverse! I hope to enrich and challenge our student in the science lab, as well as to serve as a guide and mentor for them as they grow and mature.

Mrs. Shiela Gilligan - Computer, Art

tech@saint-peter-school.org

Sheila Gilligan, our new Computer Instructor and newer Art Teacher, is familiar to our school community as the mother of 6th grader, Olivia, as a substitute teacher, and as an active volunteer in our community. Originally from New Jersey, Ms. Gilligan moved to the Boston area to continue her education at Emmanuel College where she pursued her interest in Art, English and History. While she has taught in various settings, Ms. Gilligan’s professional work has been in illustrating. After a few years on the production side of publishing, working with editors and art directors, she eventually became an illustrator in both publishing and advertising. Publications featuring her work have included The Old Farmer’s Almanac and Nature Discovery Press, for whom she did Mammals of North America, a four-color poster displayed at the Smithsonian Museum. Ms. Gilligan has also illustrated educational materials for the Massachusetts Audubon Society.

She is currently preparing for her MTEL, the MA teachers’ licensure tests, at Lesley University. Ms. Gilligan lives in Somerville with her husband, John Corsetti, a real estate appraiser with The Appraisers Group in Belmont (who “kept his name when we got married”), her two children, Julia, a sophomore at Mt. Alvernia High School, and Olivia, and their pets, Homer, Kelly and Belle. Highlights of their travel adventures include a trip taken across America in 2002, a small trailer in tow and a delighted Homer with his head out the window. Three years ago they fulfilled a long held dream of swapping homes with a family in Ireland. “It took years to get up the nerve to hand over our home and our car to complete strangers. But we met a lovely family and it became a wonderful, learning experience for all of us,” Ms. Gilligan recounts. “For five weeks we used Bray, a seaside town just south of Dublin, as a home base while we explored the spectacular land of my grandparents.” More recently, on a solo adventure, she had the opportunity to return to Ireland and stay with a dear old friend at the motherhouse of the Medical Missionaries of Mary located in Drogheda. Ms. Gilligan is looking forward to her new adventure at the top of the north stairwell, exploring the information highway with the good students of St. Peter School.

Mr. Thomas Bonacci - Physical Education/Health

physed@saint-peter-school.org

I am the Physical Education and Health teacher at St. Peter School. I am a graduate of Northeastern University, Boston Bouve College, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education and Health. I am also President and co-owner of All-Star Gymnastics Center, Inc. located in Chelmsford, MA. I have been teaching children for the past 30 years both in the public and private sector. I have two children who are both graduates of St. Peter School.

The Physical Education Curriculum is designed to help each student understand the need to maintain a healthy body in order to keep the level of participation in various sports and daily activities, and to develop a positive approach towards physical fitness.

I have enjoyed teaching at St. Peter School for the past 14 years. It is a pleasure to work with our Principal, Mrs. Bernadette Leahy and the teachers and staff here.

Ms. Andrea Gaudette - Music, Library

library@saint-peter-school.org

I have been teaching music and creative arts to Cambridge children since 1989. I hold a Bachelor of Music degree in Composition with High Academic Honors from New England Conservatory. I am currently pursuing my Master of Music in Music Education from Boston Conservatory. I believe that music is a gift which God has given to all of humankind. Music is every person’s birth-right, and I feel honored to share my love of this gift with all students at St. Peter School.

I am delighted to be a part of the diverse, gentle, and vibrant St. Peter School community, where I have been teaching since 2007. In addition to teaching music, I am also the K1-4th grade Librarian and teach Social Justice. All three of these subjects put into practice our school’s mission to nurture each student’s heart, mind, and soul.

Mrs. Monica Palacio - Spanish

computer3@saint-peter-school.org

I would like to take a moment to introduce myself to you. I'm Monica Palacio, from Colombia. I have been here in Boston for ten years and I have been working as a Spanish teacher around Boston. I presently work in Lexington Montessori School and St. Peter School.

In Bogota, Colombia, I designed curriculum for fourth grade students. I implemented a project to involve parents in their children's education. I collaborated with other teachers to improve Spanish Language learning for all children in the school between the ages of four and twelve.

I attended "Pontificia Universidad Javeriana" in Bogota, Colombia with a bachelor degree in Religious Science. Additionally, I obtained a graduate degree in Ethics and Pedagogy and worked as a teacher for six consecutive years. Parallel to my teaching activities, I worked in program development as well.

I look forward to sharing my culture and language with your children. This is my third year at St. Peter School and my goal is to make this an enjoyable experience for the children. I really do enjoy my job and I am very fortunate to be able to work at St. Peter School.