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If you had to name one element associated with parochial schools, what would it be?<\/p>\n
Hard-fought basketball games? Classroom spelling bees, boys vs. girls? Teachers urging misbehaving students to \u201ctell the truth and shame the devil?\u201d<\/p>\n
Former students may remember all those things. But as Diocese of Scranton Director of Development and Alumni Relations Sandy Snyder recently explained, nothing evokes the memory of Catholic education like a plaid school uniform.<\/p>\n
Hoping to inspire nostalgia among people who wore plaid jumpers, skirts or neckties during their formative years, Snyder has planned a Nov. 4 event for Mt. Carmel Parish Center in Pittston. She christened it with a play on words, \u201cRe-Verse and Be Plaid,\u201d inspired by the biblical phrase, \u201cRejoice and Be Glad.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to the plaid theme she\u2019s working on \u2014 which will include \u201ca huge plaid photo wall\u201d \u2014 the event will offer a chance to sing. \u201cRe-Verse,\u201d get it? Alums will return to the verses of songs they grew up singing, hymns such as \u201cBlest Be the Lord\u201d and \u201cGlory and Praise to Our God.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leading the music will be Chris Brunelle from Portland, Ore., who has more than 98,000 subscribers following his YouTube channel.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has a very clear, lovely voice,\u201d said Snyder, who has been following Brunelle on YouTube. \u201cHe travels the country with his music ministry. Traditionally, he brings his guitar to churches and does an evening concert, but I wrote to him and asked if he would consider doing a version with throwback songs, maybe some that we didn\u2019t hear for decades.\u201d<\/p>\n
Snyder wants to keep the playlist a secret for now, but no matter what the songs are, Eileen Rishcoff is confident the alumni will enjoy them.<\/p>\n
Principal of Wyoming Area Catholic Elementary School in Exeter, Rishcoff also is a graduate of the former Bishop O\u2019Reilly High School in Kingston, where she fondly remembers singing in school and in St. Ignatius Church across the street \u2014 even if her school uniform was, as she remembers, \u201cmade of wool, and scratchy.\u201d<\/p>\n
As a present-day Catholic school principal, Richcoff strives to maintain spiritual traditions. She\u2019s made sure students at her school each have a rosary and know how to use it.<\/p>\n
And every day, she said, \u201cI\u2019ll ring a bell before and after lunch. The students know that\u2019s time to stand and say a prayer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Speaking of lunch, Kristen and Chad Gelso, owners of The Refinery restaurant in Pittston, created a Nov. 4 menu inspired by school cafeteria fare, but upgraded.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had fun with this one,\u201d said Kristen Gelso, who attended the former St. John the Baptist Elementary School in Pittston. \u201cThe goal is to elevate the classics \u2014 cheeseburger sliders, Sloppy Joes, or wimpies as they\u2019re called around here, fruit cups and budino.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Refinery\u2019s budino, Gelso explained, is similar to chocolate pudding kids may have in a school cafeteria, but it\u2019s enhanced with butterscotch and hazelnuts.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re hoping we get a good representation from all the schools and former schools,\u201d Snyder said, noting that participants who have registered so far include alumni from the \u201970s, \u201980s, \u201990s and as recently as 2023.<\/p>\n
The main event of the day, the \u201cSing-It-Over\u201d with Chris Brunelle, will begin at 7 p.m. Nov. 4 in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish Center, 241 William St., Pittston. It is free and open to the public.<\/p>\n
Earlier, from about 5 to 7 p.m., an open house-style reception will offer a chance to enjoy The Refinery\u2019s food and \u201cschool spirit\u201d cocktails and to reconnect with teachers. Space is limited in this \u201cFaculty Lounge,\u201d and there is a $60 admission charge, unless a coupon code available at the Re-Verse and Be Plaid website or Facebook page gives you a discount.<\/p>\n
While the reception \u201ctechnically isn\u2019t a fundraiser,\u201d Snyder said, there will be a \u201cpainless but powerful\u201d pitch, set for 6 to 6:15 p.m., explaining how individuals and businesses might use the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program to receive tax credits for directing a portion of their Pennsylvania state taxes to private education.<\/p>\n
\u201cBring a friend, or bring 20,\u201d Snyder said, urging people to register online. You don\u2019t have to wear plaid, by the way, and you don\u2019t have to sing. But she predicts you\u2019ll have more fun if you do.<\/p>\n
Incidentally, before he leaves Luzerne County, Brunelle will give one of his more traditional song-and-story concerts at 7 p.m. Nov. 5 at Holy Rosary Church, 240 S. Poplar St., Hazleton. Pre-registration is not required.<\/p>\n
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