Good Counsel School goes 'out with a bang' at party

Published: May 27, 2006

By Gretchen Gowen
Special to Arkansas Catholic

Matthew Smith

Two 1993 graduates, Melissa Morris Koehler and her husband Adam Koehler of Little Rock, look at old class photos during the reception May 20 in the school gym.

Matthew Smith

Two 1993 graduates, Melissa Morris Koehler and her husband Adam Koehler of Little Rock, look at old class photos during the reception May 20 in the school gym.

One evening in May 62 years ago, Radine Miller Clark and Annette Wahlgreen graduated from Our Lady of Good Counsel School in Little Rock. On May 20, they came back to bid their old school a fond farewell. They were joined by a crowd of hundreds of current and former teachers, students, parents and friends of the school. The school will officially close its doors on May 26.

Pastor Father Richard Zawadzki, in consultation with the parish council and school board, petitioned Bishop J. Peter Sartain in early April to close the school because of declining enrollment and financial struggles. The school first opened in 1894 on Ninth and Marshall streets in downtown Little Rock and moved in 1955 to its current location.

The event was a party to celebrate the school's long and memorable history and to give the stage to those who loved the school. It was appropriately held in the school's gymnasium. There were balloons in the school colors of blue and white and tables laden with photos and memorabilia from decades gone by. Smells of barbeque and fried chicken greeted the guests along with a bulletin board in the hallway: "Gophers Forever -- Out with a Bang!"

Clark and Wahlgreen had only good memories of their time at the school. They met when Clark was a newcomer in the second grade. Wahlgreen was already a veteran of a whole year and took it upon herself to befriend the new girl. That friendship grew and has lasted almost 70 years.

"We sat together at First Communion," Wahlgreen said.

"We were inseparable then and still are today," Clark added.

The two fondly remembered their teachers, all of whom were Sisters of Mercy. "I'm grateful for the good education we got here, for the attention the sisters gave us, for the friends we made, and for the basic foundation in our faith," Wahlgreen said.

Wahlgreen stopped her reminiscence for a minute to acknowledge another classmate from 1944, Aloise Lynch Medlock.

"I am just broken-hearted," Clark said about the closing of the school. Her words were echoed around the room as graduates of the school recalled their own favorite memories.

Hardy Banks graduated from Good Counsel a year after Wahlgreen, Clark and Metlock.

"The school was great," he said. "My mother went to Good Counsel. All three of my children went to school here. I was hoping my four grandchildren would go here too."

Lucille Kelly DeGostin and her many brothers and sisters all attended Good Counsel.

"It was a close-knit community. We all lived in the neighborhood. We walked to school together. I can remember standing in line right here (in the gym) for first confession before the church was built. Memories of this school are among the most vivid I have about growing up. I can't believe the school is closing."

Stephen Lipe had two reasons to feel sad on this night. Not only was the school from which he had graduated closing; Lipe had sent his own children, now in the second and sixth grades, to Good Counsel School. They will go to St. Edward School next fall.

"Yes, we're sad," he said. "The teachers we have here are top-notch. We hope they are all kept in the Catholic school system somewhere."

Vivian Ouellette is one of the teachers who are fortunate enough to have found a job in another Catholic school. She will teach at St. Edward School next school year. She said about half of the Good Counsel teachers have found new positions. Others are still looking. Ouellette sad one of the school's strengths was its multicultural identity.

Down the table, a parent chimed in, "Yes, the diversity of the student body was one of the best things about this school."

Ouellette said, "We are a family. It's amazing. We have had students from Japan, Nigeria, Mexico and Russia, many of whom could not speak English when they got here. The class size has been moderate for several years. Because of this, you know everybody, the whole school. I'll miss most the teachers, the kids and the parents who supported us."

Another teacher in attendance at the farewell event was Coach Bill Hogue. He has been involved with Good Counsel sports since the 1960s when he volunteered to help the football team.

His first season as a paid member of the faculty was in 1971 when his team had a record of 10 wins and no losses. He ended his career at Good Counsel with another winning season. His team (a combination of Good Counsel and Christ Lutheran School players) won the Parochial League title with a 8-0 record.

"I'm going to miss the kids," Hogue said. "I have them for P. E., lunch duty, and some I'll probably never see again."

Some of his players may see Hogue on the opposite side of their playing field because the coach will take a position at Christ the King School in Little Rock.

Four fans of Coach Hogue stopped to discuss their feeling about their school. Daniel Petty, Ashley Barksdale, Caitlin Reed and Elizabeth Scott are members of the last graduating class of Good Counsel School. They were not happy about the "honor" of being the last class.

"We think we're 'jinxed,'" Petty said. "I'll miss just being here. I've been at this school as long as I can remember."

Scott added, "I love that everybody gets along with each other. Teachers know your name."

Barksdale added, "I'll miss all my friends."

Reed said, "We got close to the teachers. I liked our secretary. She was funny and took care of us. Also, we have an awesome playground."

The teachers had obviously tuned in to what children love and remember best about their school. Vivian Ouellette gave away a secret that would be revealed on the last day of school Friday, May 26. Every child would be given a small sack tied with bows made from old uniforms. Inside the sack was the best treasure of all -- rocks and gravel from the playground of Our Lady of Good Counsel School.