Staff Retirements

Mrs. Ellen (Gloudemans) Baisden ‘73

10 years at XCS Pre-K through 2nd grade

Dear St. Francis Xavier families,

As a product of the St. Francis Xavier Catholic School System, I felt privileged to work with a group of teachers who care deeply about their students and families and who stop at nothing to meet their needs. This will always be my home and I feel fortunate to have come full circle and end my career with so many wonderful students, families and staff members. My heart will always hold a special place for all of you. I will miss you dearly.

Mrs. Kay Breuninger

31 years at XCS High School Guidance Counseling Assistant

During my career with St. Francis Xavier Catholic Schools, I worked at St. Bernadette and Catholic Central in the library and as a teacher aide before moving to the high school in the guidance department for the last 17 years. I have had the privilege to work with many people who are filled with the qualities of kindness and friendship. Besides my many memories of the students and their families, I will cherish the wonderful friendships I have made over my many years in the system.

It was Great to be a Hawk!

Mrs. Sue Briski

23 years at XCS Music teacher Pre-K through 8th grade

Dear St. Francis Xavier families,

I have been blessed to call the Xavier community and especially St. Bernadette and the McDonald campus family for the past 23 years. The support and love I have received warms my heart and humbles me beyond measure. I will miss the daily interaction with the students, but I plan to stay involved in the community in the future. I look forward to seeing what lies ahead for our students and may they all continue to find joy in the music that surrounds them. I love and will miss you all!

Mr. Denny Ferron ‘73

25 years at XCS Middle School Physical Education Instructor & Athletic Director It is bittersweet, saying goodbye to a career I have known for 40 years. I feel blessed to have been able to be around so many amazing Xavier community members. The whole Xavier atmosphere is so special. Through the years this has been my family—the faculty, the staff, the parents, and of course, the students. I look back with sincere gratitude. I entered the teaching/athletics profession dedicated to helping young people achieve their potential, finding their best selves, and accomplishing things they did not know they could. As I leave, I take many of you with me. You will live on in my memories.

My job in the Xavier Catholic school system constantly encouraged me to be authentic in my relationships with my students, and to be a positive Christian role model. If through my years I was considered not only a fair teacher, but a friend, mentor, and nurturer, then my goals have been met.

I am grateful for all the young men and women I have had the honor of teaching and coaching over the years and appreciate the support of so many parents. Thank you all!

Mrs. Lisa Pierre

27 years at XCS Instructional Aide

Dear Xavier Community,

After 27 years of a job I love, I have decided it’s time for me to say good-bye. It has not been an easy decision and even though I believe the time is right, it is with a heavy heart because of all of you; the staff, the students, and the families.

I started my career as an instructional aide 27 years ago at the St. Bernadette Campus. I had the honor and privilege of helping in every grade from preschool through fifth. I have worked with the best and learned much from observing others.

It truly has been a blessing to get to know so many wonderful families over the years. I know without a doubt, I’ve gained far more than I’ve given and I will be forever grateful for everything.

I look forward to spending more time with our grandchildren and volunteering in the community but I hope that I’ll be invited back to sub in classrooms. It makes it a little less sad knowing that.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to each of you for making my job such a joy and a blessing. I will truly miss the hugs and smiles as I greeted you each day, “on the sidewalk”.

With sincere gratitude and appreciation~

Mrs. Sandy Oudenhoven

31 years at XCS Care Program

My Dearest St. Francis Xavier Family,

I will always cherish my experiences made over the last 31 years of working for the St. Francis Xavier Catholic School System. Being a part of this wonderful Catholic school community has truly been an answered prayer for me. My gratitude for my time spent here with the children, their families and the entire staff, is beyond compare. What a blessing you all are to me.

I am so proud to be a part of the Xavier family where all know Christ is the reason for that school, the unseen but ever-present teacher in its classes, the model of its faculty and the inspiration of its students. It is that ever present faith that excites me to volunteer here in the future.

All of you will continue to be in my prayers and in my heart always.

Mrs. Judy Sokel

17 years at XCS Care Program

Dear families and co-workers,

My teaching career has been an awesome and amazing journey for me. All the daily blessings of the children, who have marked a spot on my heart, are treasures I will keep close to my heart.

I have walked down memory lane in my head…through pictures, projects, files, etc. I have in the school section in my basement (a good amount of space). The carnivals, Polar Express days, graduations, Thanksgiving feasts, holiday parties, Mother’s Day breakfasts, Fathers Nights, and so much more… Now I look forward to the next chapter in my book of life… yes…the daily routine will be different but the Lord will guide me through, and new open doors…I’m ready to see what’s waiting for me…in this new chapter called retirement.

Mrs. Mary Whitman

21 years at XCS 2nd grade teacher

Dear families,

I first became a part of the St. Francis Xavier family in 1987, when our daughters began preschool at St. Pius. I was very blessed to become a teacher at our campus thirteen years later.

The Xavier staff is an amazing group of people to work with, and the students and families are so kind and loving. I am grateful for all of the wonderful memories I have made. I will dearly miss everyone. You will always remain in my heart and in my prayers.

Mrs. Cindy Winkelman

20 years at XCS High School Learning Specialist

St. Francis Xavier High School will always be my home community of "Learners, Believers, and Friends." I was welcomed here with open arms the day after I moved to Wisconsin, in 1999. I will never forget the warm hospitality that I received from the administration, faculty, and staff, and the amazement I felt finding out how great the students are here! They are a pleasure to teach. It is absolutely, hands-down, the BEST place that I have ever taught. It has been a pleasure and one of life's greatest blessings to work in a community where Jesus is physically present in our building; the day begins and ends with prayer; the year is centered around spirituality and worship; and the communal goal of all is working to develop the best in each other. I am extremely grateful to have called this community home for 21 years. When you leave home, you always leave part of your heart there; so part of me will never leave St. Francis Xavier High School. St. Francis Xavier, pray for us. Live Jesus in our hearts, forever!

Miss Susan Mahoney

41 years at XCS 1st through 3rd grade teacher

Dear St. Francis Xavier families,

I treasure my 41 years of teaching your children. Your families and the amazing staff I work with are an extension of my own family. I am grateful for the prayers, support, and love shown to me and also to my mom as I went through my cancer journey three years ago and my mom’s various health concerns over the past six years. I will miss all of you, but will take with me many wonderful memories. You will remain in my heart and my prayers forever.

Mrs. Lynn Zetzman

26 years at XCS High School Fine Arts Teacher

I have taught art K-12 plus Art Methods for Lawrence University over a 4-decade career. I began at Xavier HS in 1993 so the majority of that experience has been with the Xavier HS Family. The vocation/environment pushed me to continue learning new technologies, new art skills, new teaching skills, new people skills, and to grow my faith deeper. I am forever grateful. Highlights include: designing the new Xavier HS chapel stained glass windows, taking Art Club trips with students every other summer, three stints with the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Master Teacher Program, a Fulbright Hays Fellowship to Morocco the summer of 2007, over ten years of sharing UW Madison’s Center for Humanities Great Text grants with Xavier art students, 13 years sharing service learning via The Memory Project with Xavier art students, being honored with a Kohl Foundation Teacher Award, having the opportunity to bring in visiting artists to Xavier with Christmas Stars profits, being proud of my students winning numerous awards at various juried art competitions, and seeing what my seniors came up with every year for a mural in Honors Art Class. For 20 years, each fall I helped create giant parade puppets with students for the downtown Appleton Holiday Parade, 400 hours of work was put in each year.