When Karen Barnes first arrived at what is now known as Bishop George Ahr High School 32 years ago as a physical education teacher, she walked into what she called “a unique family atmosphere.”
JEFF GRANIT staff Bishop George Ahr High School development director Karen Barnes (r) sits in on science teacher Elizabeth Savner’s class on Sept. 24. The school, which was previously known as St. Thomas Aquinas High School, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Both women have been at the school for more than 30 years. “I liked that everybody really seemed to genuinely care about each other and that people seemed to really enjoy being here,” Barnes said.
Today, Barnes’ main role is working as the school’s development director, but that feeling she had over three decades ago hasn’t changed. And since this is the school’s 40th anniversary, it’s obvious that Barnes isn’t the only one who has felt this way.
Michael Wolfthal started out as a history teacher and eventually rose to be the chairman of the department. In 1981, the position of athletic director opened up at the school (which was known as St. Thomas Aquinas High School until 1981, when the Diocese of Trenton was split into two separate dioceses, creating the Metuchen Diocese). And he has been in that position ever since, overseeing 17 sports programs and 72 coaches. Wolfthal estimates that approximately 65 percent of the student body participates in school-sponsored athletics.
Left: In spring 1974 the high school showcased the gift of the first graduating class, 1973, when the name was emblazoned on the school. Above: Sister Donna Marie Trukowski and Michael Wolfthal have been at the school since the early days. Besides the school’s name change, Wolfthal mentioned some other differences he has seen since his arrival in 1972.
“Back when I got here, I recall, the tuition was around $500,” Wolfthal said. “Now it’s around $8,000. And still, even with the economy not being so great, our enrollment is pretty good, right around 950 right now. At one point, when St. Pius of Piscataway closed around 1991 or so, we got many of their students, and it forced us to rethink how we were going to educate so many kids.”
Even with the sudden spike in enrollment and the changing times, Wolfthal said that Bishop Ahr has always met the challenges that have arisen.
“The expectations of our faculty toward our students is something that we’ve always prided ourselves on,” Wolfthal explained. “We are always trying to meet the desires and needs of our students at this school.”
When Barnes said that being at Bishop Ahr was “a unique family atmosphere,” she must have had Elizabeth Savner in mind. Savner, a science teacher at the school since 1976, also has a sister, Suzanne Savner-D’Addio, who has worked at the school since 1997.
“She was working and then stopped for a while to start a family,” Savner said, “and when she was looking to get back into the work force, she knew how much I loved being here and how much I enjoyed my job. So really, it did make perfect sense for her to come and work here. And my nieces and nephew came to school here, so this really did turn into a family affair.”
Savner also mentioned that other siblings have worked together at the school, including Sister Donna Marie Trukowski, the school’s longtime principal, and her sister, Maryann Riccardi, who works in the school’s bookstore, and that many faculty members have had their children attend the school.
As for the teaching that goes on at the school, Savner said it’s not so much that the students have changed, but rather the learning process is different.
“Thirty-four years ago there was no Internet, and nobody had a computer at that point,” Savner said. “The introduction of technology to our world really has changed things in the classroom, and it’s tough to stay on top of things sometimes. There have been times when my students have been able to help me more than vice versa, because they just know so much about modern technology.”
Savner said that all those years ago, she had no idea she’d be at the school for all of these years.
“All this time has gone by, and I still love this school so much,” Savner said. “Knowing that I get to come to such a great place each day, that’s what makes me very happy. It’s really the only job I’ve ever had, and it’s really amazing to realize that I’ve been here so long.”
Wolfthal summed up his tenure at the school in a unique way, and probably not in a way that many of us think about.
“I’ve been fortunate the last 37 years to be associated with this school,” Wolfthal said. “I could see myself dying behind my desk. I really do love my job.”