A Knight's Roundup

For all those who have wondered…. I was not born in Dallas, Texas. I was actually born into a growing
Italian family in upstate New York. My parents were both children of immigrants who came to America
for the many opportunities that this country had to offer. My dad’s (Louis Armano) family settled in
Poughkeepsie, New York while my mom’s (Rose Polillo Armano} settled in the Philadelphia/South
Jersey area. They met during World War II thanks to my Aunt Mary who encouraged my mom to write to
her brother who was in the Army Air Force serving in the South Pacific during the war. A love story in
the making in true fashion of The Greatest Generation. So, as you can see my life began in history as I
tell my students…. You are living in history. Both my brother (Louis Armano Jr.) and I were born in
Poughkeepsie, New York. We moved to Haddonfield, New Jersey shortly before my first birthday.

 

There was no question as to where we would attend school. A strong Catholic education was very
important to my parents so my life at Christ the King School began. My first year in kindergarten was
actually held in the basement of the church way before it became the lower level for extra masses
complete with a smaller altar, pews and an organ behind the altar. And way before it became Morgan
Hall. In first grade I was anxiously awaiting the birth of a new sibling. Almost a fourth of July baby, my
sister, Peggy made our family complete on the fifth of July. My next seven years were filled with all the
Catholic School cliches of that era. Crowded classrooms (even when I returned to teach, there were three
full classes of every grade) strong discipline, nuns, uniforms), ourone kind…no summer uniforms) bus
lines, lunch lines, milk tickets, eraser fights, chalk making your blood run cold on the chalkboard,
memorizing times tables, First Friday masses, chapel veils (or a tissue if you did not have one!), meatless
Fridays (every Friday!), our sacraments and our annual May Crowning. (of which I was so proud to be in
the Court) This is where my love of education began. It is where my love of reading began and still
stands strong today. It was where I learned what it meant to be a student in a Franciscan School. The
sisters of St. Francis taught me about the beauty of God’s creation and our role in service to others. They
infused the importance of peace and social justice in a tumultuous world. Traits that I continue to instill
in my students today.

By the time I got to 8 th grade the diocese had proudly announced the opening of their newest diocesan
high school, Paul VI. At that time, we went to diocesan high schools according to districts and PVI was
in the Haddonfield district so there was no painful decision for me. I was off to PVI where my
educational path led me closer and closer to thoughts of becoming a teacher. High school years flew by
and before I knew it, I was off to college. That too was different back then. I was able to take my classes,
work three jobs and graduate from Rutgers without college debt.

So how did I find my way back to Christ the King? As was the way back in the day, parishioners often
made their contributions to the parish through service and my family was no different. My dad was a
pipefitter and a plumber by trade working at that time at the Philadelphia Navy yard. After one of his
usual trips to the school to work on the heater, he discovered (after one of his many conversations with
Msgr. Barth) that the school was moving toward Foreign Language classes and needed a French teacher.
My dad offered my services. I began teaching French part time…. Thus, the part time years causing some
confusion.to the question about how many years had I been at CKRS. I worked at a Dry Cleaners in the
morning and taught French in the afternoon. I am not really sure what happened but the next year,
several teachers were gone, and they were looking for a 7 th grade homeroom teacher. I would still be
teaching French, but I would have to pick up another subject. Always intrigued by history, Social Studies
was the practical choice. Back then, since your Education degree was in Elementary Ed you could be
called upon to teach where needed. So, over the years, I have taught Literature, English and Religion but

Social Studies has been the mainstay and love of my teaching career. When courses were offered at many
of the local colleges, I always took advantage of them to upgrade and improve my methods of teaching
Social Studies. I have worked on the Diocesan Social Studies Curriculum both times that it was revised.

 

I did have some major life changes in the 1980s. Ernie and I had met just before I began teaching so he
had a tough fight on his hands. Him or my career. I must say for that era and being the big bad Marine
just back from Vietnam, he did handle it with all the grace and love of a supportive boyfriend. Always
proud of what I was doing in the classroom and often accompanied me on class trips or coming to school
events. In June of 1980, we were married with several of my students in the wedding party. The kids had
a shower for me, the teachers had a shower for me even the Franciscan sisters had a shower for me in the
convent. Beautiful memories for sure. So, my life in the 80s just got better every day. Not long after that
I was promoted and moved up to an 8 th grade homeroom and the fun really began. By 1986, my sister
gave birth to my parents’ only grandchild Ken Ordyk. Being the only grandchild and the only nephew on
my family’s side, he easily became the love of the family and as we often called him the Golden Child.
Back then we had a Pre-K program for three-year-olds and of course Ken’s CKRS journey began. He
spent many days in my classroom coloring, waiting to go home with me. I know teachers never admit to
a favorite class but how could I not admit to his class as my favorite. By the time he graduated from 8 th
grade, most of the boys in the class were with me in the summer, on his birthdays and throughout many
other schoolwide events. Before I knew it, they were in high school, then college and swoosh just like
that I was attending their weddings and christenings for their children.

The mid-90s saw a few big changes for me. In the early 90s I became the Assistant Principal. At one
point, I shared administrative duties with a principal who jumped in to help when our principal was
offered another job. She worked in the morning, and I worked in the afternoon. No one was happier than
me when Anne Hartman arrived at CKRS and committed to at least eight years. (and then some more)
Another big change of the 90s was the arrival of the computer. Even though I was a bit fearful of the
computer at first, I got thrown into that world through a presidential grant to upgrade the school to
computing using the internet and it was off from there. I have seen many changes in education, especially
in online education. I worked diligently for the acceptance of online textbooks and testing. I worked on
diocesan committees to bring Student Information Systems to diocesan schools. I helped with the design
of the school website and promoted this new tool of information for our school community. I brought
Google Classroom to the school in the nick of time (just before Covid hit) All we had to do was add the
element of Zoom and we made it through the pandemic.
From the 90s to the present 20s and through all that was added under the job of being Assistant Principal,
my first responsibility has always been to my students. Although I was often encouraged to move into a
more administrative position at times, I always said no almost immediately as I still enjoyed teaching.
That bug that got me so many years ago surprisingly is still there.

And I am sure after reading all of this you are still wondering…. What is the deal with the Cowboys? I
must say that I have been a fan as long as I can remember, and it probably goes back to my Uncle Junior
who was a big Cowboys fan. I remember watching games with him on a little black and white TV and I
never looked back (or looked at another team for that matter).

I am sure that I have left out some important moments and/or people but did not want to hurt feelings
when acknowledging the many supportive people that I have met along the way on this journey. No
matter what role I was assuming, I always felt support from my students, my parents, my fellow faculty
members and staff. My love and peace to you all.