Philomine Acunzo
Born in 1929 into an extended Italian family that held education in high regard, Philomine Acunzo graduated in 1946 from New Britain High School as the salutatorian in a class of 350 students. Majoring in Spanish with minors in French and English, she graduated at the top of her class from University of Connecticut in 1950 and went on to get a 5th Year Certificate in Elementary Education from Teacher College of Connecticut the following year. While in college, Philomine was a member of the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, the Spanish Club, and the Newman Club and was a Junior Counselor. While teach ing third grade at Israel Putnam School in New Britain, in 1952 Philomine began her forty-year marriage with her college sweetheart, Joe Acunzo. The following year the couple relocated to Branford.
Philomine's first teaching assignment in the Branford Public School System was at the Harbor Street School, where she taught third and fourth grades from 1955 to 1957 before taking time off for child rearing. Returning to teaching in 1968, Philomine went to St. Mary School where she would remain for twenty-five years. In addition to teaching third and fourth grades, "Phil" was responsible for initiating the Spanish program for the seventh and eighth grades, which she also taught. Although her own children experienced some awkward moments in having their mom as their Spanish teacher, they confess to having felt a secret pride in her accomplished language proficiency. In 1975, when the school needed administrative support, Phil willingly took on the role of Vice-Principal- a position she held for three years, while continuing her duties in the classroom. She was a teacher to whom her colleagues looked for inspiration, advice, and solutions to problems. Beyond the classroom and principal's office, Phil was one of the founding members of the St. Mary School Board and helped to develop its mission and also served as advisor to the Student Council.
Always a loving and nurturing teacher, Phil was often in the classroom until well past school closing giving assistance and support to a child who needed extra help. During the summers she frequently provided private tutoring for students needing to make up deficiencies. An outgrowth of her concern for children and their problems is the program called Rainbows, of which she was the founder, director, and facilitator. Designed to help children undergoing stresses related to divorce or bereavement, these group sessions help youngsters stay on track with school work and learn to cope with the sometimes over whelming problems in their lives.
As if she didn't have enough to keep her busy, Phil extended her service beyond St. Mary School to the parish as a whole. In addition to singing in the adult choir, she was the founder and director of the children's choir. She also served on the Liturgy Committee, Altar Society, and Parish Council and in various offices of the Ladies Guild.
In her "retirement," in addition to pursuing music, singing, knitting, and crocheting, she remains very involved with children. Besides continuing to oversee the Rainbows program and the children's choir, she teaches in the religious education program of the parish and remains a vital part of the St. Mary School community to this day. She also is a volunteer for the Branford Chamber of Commerce Read Aloud Program.
A member of the National Education Association, Phil has been honored with the Office of Catholic Schools Retirement Award and the State of Connecticut General Assembly Retirement Citation, the latter presented upon her retirement by her former fourth-grade student, State Senator William Aniskovich. He recalls that, in addition to the lessons in the curriculum, Mrs. Acunzo "taught me that it was possible to be both serious and kind at the same time. It seems now that my only memory of fourth grade at St. Mary School is the image of Mrs. Acunzo's face as she went about the business of learning- a face that taught us that she had very high expectations for each of us and that she genuinely loved us whether or not we were fortunate enough to meet those expectations." What a wonderful memory to have given a student! And what a fitting tribute to offer to such an outstanding teacher!
Philomine's first teaching assignment in the Branford Public School System was at the Harbor Street School, where she taught third and fourth grades from 1955 to 1957 before taking time off for child rearing. Returning to teaching in 1968, Philomine went to St. Mary School where she would remain for twenty-five years. In addition to teaching third and fourth grades, "Phil" was responsible for initiating the Spanish program for the seventh and eighth grades, which she also taught. Although her own children experienced some awkward moments in having their mom as their Spanish teacher, they confess to having felt a secret pride in her accomplished language proficiency. In 1975, when the school needed administrative support, Phil willingly took on the role of Vice-Principal- a position she held for three years, while continuing her duties in the classroom. She was a teacher to whom her colleagues looked for inspiration, advice, and solutions to problems. Beyond the classroom and principal's office, Phil was one of the founding members of the St. Mary School Board and helped to develop its mission and also served as advisor to the Student Council.
Always a loving and nurturing teacher, Phil was often in the classroom until well past school closing giving assistance and support to a child who needed extra help. During the summers she frequently provided private tutoring for students needing to make up deficiencies. An outgrowth of her concern for children and their problems is the program called Rainbows, of which she was the founder, director, and facilitator. Designed to help children undergoing stresses related to divorce or bereavement, these group sessions help youngsters stay on track with school work and learn to cope with the sometimes over whelming problems in their lives.
As if she didn't have enough to keep her busy, Phil extended her service beyond St. Mary School to the parish as a whole. In addition to singing in the adult choir, she was the founder and director of the children's choir. She also served on the Liturgy Committee, Altar Society, and Parish Council and in various offices of the Ladies Guild.
In her "retirement," in addition to pursuing music, singing, knitting, and crocheting, she remains very involved with children. Besides continuing to oversee the Rainbows program and the children's choir, she teaches in the religious education program of the parish and remains a vital part of the St. Mary School community to this day. She also is a volunteer for the Branford Chamber of Commerce Read Aloud Program.
A member of the National Education Association, Phil has been honored with the Office of Catholic Schools Retirement Award and the State of Connecticut General Assembly Retirement Citation, the latter presented upon her retirement by her former fourth-grade student, State Senator William Aniskovich. He recalls that, in addition to the lessons in the curriculum, Mrs. Acunzo "taught me that it was possible to be both serious and kind at the same time. It seems now that my only memory of fourth grade at St. Mary School is the image of Mrs. Acunzo's face as she went about the business of learning- a face that taught us that she had very high expectations for each of us and that she genuinely loved us whether or not we were fortunate enough to meet those expectations." What a wonderful memory to have given a student! And what a fitting tribute to offer to such an outstanding teacher!