"An apple for teacher" goes the saying, and one St. Mary School teacher received a very special apple this week as part of our Teacher Appreciation Week celebrations.
Mrs. Karen Genovese, who has been teaching art and making a difference in the lives of her students at SMS for 22 years, was recognized by the Diocese of Buffalo for her amazing contributions to education. Mrs. Genovese was presented the Golden Apple Award by Dr. Timothy Uhl, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, in a special school assembly this week. The Golden Apple Award is a recognition created by the diocese in 2023 to honor teachers who go above and beyond in their school communities by living out the Catholic faith, exemplifying a growth mindset, and implementing creative instructional strategies to build student engagement.
Nominations for the award were welcomed from all over the diocese, and Mrs. Genovese will be recognized along with other Golden Apple recipients, and students who have received Diocesan Character Awards throughout the year, at the diocesan education department’s Character Education Celebration, on May 28th at St. Amelia Church in Tonawanda. Bishop Michael W. Fisher will celebrate Mass.
When we say that "Mrs. G" as our students know her, is beloved & a deserving recipient of this award - that's an understatement! She lives out her Catholic faith with her perpetually kind words and deeds. Hers is one of the first smiling faces our students see greeting them as they arrive each morning, and she sets the tone for a positive, productive day for them. Art is easily one of the favorite class periods for many of our students, and Mrs. G has an uncanny way of being able to connect with anyone who walks through her classroom door through her calm, gentle spirit.
She exemplifies a growth mindset by celebrating the creative process, and what students learn along the way versus the final outcome. She teaches her students about the beauty we are all capable of bringing into this world. Mrs. G brings out the artist in each and every one of her students, and the work they create is phenomenal! From mixed media sculptures, to studies in clay working and pottery, to painting with watercolors & acrylics, to architectural drawings, figure drawing, and so much more, Mrs. G exposes her students of all ages, to all types of art & media. She teaches her students about art history, and lets masters like DaVinci, Van Gogh, O'Keefe & Kahlo serve as inspiration for their creative endeavors.
A talented artist herself, Mrs. G is always ready to help decorate & beautify the school, from her creative bulletin boards showcasing student artwork in the hallways, to the always amazing sets she paints for the Fall Play & Spring Musical, to the ongoing interior design refresh of parts of our school, Mrs. G has an eye for making SMS better, in numerous ways!
Implementing creative instructional strategies to build student engagement is another of Mrs. G's skills that she makes look so easy! It seems her brain is never short of new, innovative ideas to get students excited and ready to learn. Through the years her students have participated in Art Alive at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, collaborated on an SMS painted rock garden, created mixed media sculptures of food trucks & desserts, participate annually in the "Keep Christ in Christmas" poster contest, learned about architecture & interior design through guest speakers & field trips to the Darwin Martin House, and so much more.
Mrs. G has also shared her talents at SMS by monitoring art club for grades 4-8, preparing a school-wide art show for our Night of the Arts, and coordinating the 34th Annual Diocesan Art Show this year. She is always ready to help and dedicate time to get ready for school events, and her positivity is infectious. THANK YOU Mrs. G, for being you, and being wonderful!
Students, parents & alumni - if you'd like to share a congratulatory message with Mrs. G, or have a fond memory of your time with her at SMS you'd like to share, take the opportunity to give her a "Virtual High Five" by clicking here.
Click here to see a video of Mrs. G. receiving her award.
