Mrs. Capotosta
Seventh Grade Teacher
A St. Hilary School seventh grade teacher since 1987, Mrs. Capotosta says she truly enjoys being with her students every day. “I love it when the kids exceed my expectations and surprise me,” she says. In addition to teaching seventh grade homeroom subjects, Mrs. Capotosta teaches seventh grade religion and eighth grade literature.
Using experiences that take her students beyond the classroom is important to Mrs. Capotosta. To better relate to their reading of The Diary of Anne Frank, her students have visited a synagogue to hear a speaker discuss the Holocaust. Students have also participated in the Responsible Social Values abstinence program, which reinforces lessons taught in the classroom. Each year, Mrs. Capotosta takes a group of students to Youngstown State University to participate in the university’s English Festival. There, students have the opportunity to hone their writing skills, meet authors, and socialize with their like-minded peers.
Mrs. Capotosta describes St. Hilary as a vibrant, faith-filled parish, and says her students reflect that. She says the spiritual tone of the school, as well as its outstanding staff, make St. Hilary a wonderful place to teach and learn. “We all enjoy each other and work really hard,” says Mrs. Capotosta.
A graduate of the University of Akron, Mrs. Capotosta holds a bachelor of arts degree in English, with certification to teach literature and English in grades 7-12. Her interests include running and reading.
Mrs. Marchand
Seventh Grade Teacher
Since 1992, Mrs. Marchand has been taking her St. Hilary School students on a journey back through time. A teacher of seventh grade homeroom subjects and seventh and eighth grade history, Mrs. Marchand enjoys helping her students “connect” with history. She sees history as consisting of the same “stories of life” that exist today, but in different times and places. She uses that philosophy to help her students develop a connection with the past as they learn about it.
As Mrs. Marchand’s seventh graders study world history, she uses interesting techniques to help them learn. In one project, students choose a country to research, and then create a poster about it. They learn important information, and the creation of the poster makes the learning exercise fun. In eighth grade, students study American history. Mrs. Marchand uses current events to make this government-focused subject come alive. Students select one state about which to collect various types of news articles, allowing them to see the link between past and present.
Seeing the progression of her students from children to young ladies and men is particularly special to Mrs. Marchand. She likes the fact that St. Hilary School is a K-8 building, because it allows siblings to interact during the day and parents to center their support in one place. Mrs. Marchand believes there are many reasons St. Hilary School offers an experience not found elsewhere, including its buddy programs that pair younger and older students for various activities throughout the school year. The educational expressions found on the walls throughout the school also enhance the St. Hilary School experience, she says.
A self-proclaimed museum buff, Mrs.Marchand loves learning. “I am a teacher,” she says, “but I want to be a student all my life. I am always learning.” She also enjoys antiques and gardening. Mrs. Marchand holds a bachelor of science degree in education (grades 7-12) from Miami University, and has also completed coursework at Ohio State University and the University of Akron.
Mrs. Peko
Seventh Grade Teacher
Getting to know her students and their families is one of the things St. Hilary School seventh grade teacher Mrs. Peko loves about teaching. She also enjoys helping students learn skills they will use all their lives. “My classroom is based upon community,” she says. “Student choice is vital to how the class is run. Being a community, listening to and respecting each other is very important.” Mrs. Peko teaches seventh and eighth grade language arts, in addition to seventh grade homeroom subjects.
Mrs. Peko feels St. Hilary School is set apart from other schools because of its family-centered spiritual environment. “Everyone is very supportive and helpful,” she says.
A graduate of John Carroll University, Mrs. Peko holds a bachelor of arts degree in Middle Childhood Education (grades 4-9), with concentrations in language arts and mathematics. One of three sisters, Mrs. Peko says her family is the most important thing in her life. She especially enjoys the vacations her entire extended family takes together each year. In her spare time, Mrs. Peko enjoys watching Cleveland sports.