Janice Voss
A 29-year career in teaching is a remarkable thing, especially when 24 have been in the same school-and 22 in the same classroom.
At St. Mary's, Janice Voss has done just that, teaching hundreds of 3rd graders (and, more recently, kindergarteners and pre-k students) at Branford's landmark Catholic school. Janice will retire June 24.
"It was so nice to be with the students, especially with the 3rd graders for so many years," says Janice, who spent five years as a North Haven elementary school teacher before joining St. Mary's to teach 3rd grade. "They are so independent at that age! They really enjoy doing big-person stuff…They couldn't wait to learn. It's so rewarding and so fascinating to see their progress," she says. "By the end of the year, they're sailing!"
One of the classroom activities her 3rd-grade students enjoyed was "manipulatives." Janice picked up the hands-on math station concept while volunteering in her son's Guilford classroom years ago. "I took that idea and brought it here and the kids loved it. We did it once a month and you absolutely need parents, because it's four or five stations," she reports. "It's great for the kids, because they get a different perspective, not just mine." The idea was picked up by the school's 4th- and 5th-grade teachers and Janice says that type of peer collaboration is something she's really enjoyed. "I will miss the co-workers, that association; but I know it's time to make the break," she says.
Being in teaching has kept Janice "always learning," especially in recent years, as technology has entered the classroom. "We have SMARTboards-I think that's amazing," she says. "It's amazing how the little ones catch on so quickly."
Janice taught her students every subject except "specials" (art, gym, music) and says her favorite subject has to be reading. "I love reading, especially last year in kindergarten. They went from not knowing any words to being able to start reading actual books. This year, I got carried away with pre-k because they were ready for sight words," she says. "Some of them will be reading books before they're in kindergarten!"
She also brought the younger kids one of her trademark 3rd-grade science projects, an annual butterfly hatching project. "In 3rd grade, the kids would journal about the caterpillars turning into a chrysalis and out came the butterflies, which we would release right around Easter. It was a science lesson about life cycles and also tied in with the religious lesson of Easter," she says. "When I brought it to the younger students, they were too young to journal, but I gave them pictures and they put them in order as we followed the life cycle."
Principal Donna Binkoski has worked with Janice through her years at St. Mary's School and says this veteran teacher has the cherished ability to "internalize and project the Gospel message" in her teaching. "I think great teachers find the sacrament of the moment and teach it and I think she does that so well," says Binkoski.
Janice now resides in East Haven, where in retirement she'll continue her many volunteer efforts at Our Lady of Pompeii Church.
"It's been wonderful to have a veteran teacher like Mrs. Voss," says Binkoski. "It speaks to the stability of the staff here-it's a deep dedication. She's a treasure who really has the pulse of this community and has brought us much perspective. That's not taught; it's caught. There'll be no replacing Mrs. Voss."
At St. Mary's, Janice Voss has done just that, teaching hundreds of 3rd graders (and, more recently, kindergarteners and pre-k students) at Branford's landmark Catholic school. Janice will retire June 24.
"It was so nice to be with the students, especially with the 3rd graders for so many years," says Janice, who spent five years as a North Haven elementary school teacher before joining St. Mary's to teach 3rd grade. "They are so independent at that age! They really enjoy doing big-person stuff…They couldn't wait to learn. It's so rewarding and so fascinating to see their progress," she says. "By the end of the year, they're sailing!"
One of the classroom activities her 3rd-grade students enjoyed was "manipulatives." Janice picked up the hands-on math station concept while volunteering in her son's Guilford classroom years ago. "I took that idea and brought it here and the kids loved it. We did it once a month and you absolutely need parents, because it's four or five stations," she reports. "It's great for the kids, because they get a different perspective, not just mine." The idea was picked up by the school's 4th- and 5th-grade teachers and Janice says that type of peer collaboration is something she's really enjoyed. "I will miss the co-workers, that association; but I know it's time to make the break," she says.
Being in teaching has kept Janice "always learning," especially in recent years, as technology has entered the classroom. "We have SMARTboards-I think that's amazing," she says. "It's amazing how the little ones catch on so quickly."
Janice taught her students every subject except "specials" (art, gym, music) and says her favorite subject has to be reading. "I love reading, especially last year in kindergarten. They went from not knowing any words to being able to start reading actual books. This year, I got carried away with pre-k because they were ready for sight words," she says. "Some of them will be reading books before they're in kindergarten!"
She also brought the younger kids one of her trademark 3rd-grade science projects, an annual butterfly hatching project. "In 3rd grade, the kids would journal about the caterpillars turning into a chrysalis and out came the butterflies, which we would release right around Easter. It was a science lesson about life cycles and also tied in with the religious lesson of Easter," she says. "When I brought it to the younger students, they were too young to journal, but I gave them pictures and they put them in order as we followed the life cycle."
Principal Donna Binkoski has worked with Janice through her years at St. Mary's School and says this veteran teacher has the cherished ability to "internalize and project the Gospel message" in her teaching. "I think great teachers find the sacrament of the moment and teach it and I think she does that so well," says Binkoski.
Janice now resides in East Haven, where in retirement she'll continue her many volunteer efforts at Our Lady of Pompeii Church.
"It's been wonderful to have a veteran teacher like Mrs. Voss," says Binkoski. "It speaks to the stability of the staff here-it's a deep dedication. She's a treasure who really has the pulse of this community and has brought us much perspective. That's not taught; it's caught. There'll be no replacing Mrs. Voss."