Staff retirements
Biology teacher Ralph Fick, math teacher Kristi Ferntheil and U.S. history teacher Sue Noice will retire at the end of this school year.
Noice taught world history, government, economics, Creative Foods, Marriage and Family, Independent Living, Bachelor Management and U.S. history for 40 years.
“After retirement I plan to enjoy life with the people I love,” Noice said. “I look forward to a less structured schedule and to volunteer occasionally as a docent for the Richard Nixon Library and Museum.”
During his 35 year tenure on staff, Fick taught life science, earth science, physical science, integrated science, anatomy, biology, PE and health. He coached boys volleyball, girls volleyball and boys baseball and was the athletic director for five years.
“I will miss the students and my friendships with teachers,” Fick said. “In retirement I plan to build a boat and travel as much as I can.”
Ferntheil instructed Pep, Choreo and Auxiliaries for 23 years and taught geometry, algebra, pre-algebra and pre-calculus for 34 years. After retiring, she plans to travel more and stay at her lake house in Michigan.
“One time Ferntheil was running a little late but she managed to stay after school to help me,” junior Jonathan Foo said. “This showed that Ferntheil is a passionate teacher but also cares about her students. I wish her all the best in her retirement.”
New girls basketball coach
Girls basketball welcomed varsity coach Jonathan DePeyer, who replaced coach Sean Black, from Crespi Carmelite High School.
“Personally, the situation surrounding our previous coach came as a bit of a shock to me. I think that because I have had the same coach for the past three years, I had wanted conclude my years playing basketball with him as my coach,” junior Anica Lee said. “However, having spent some time with the new coach, I am excited to see what he will bring to the table this year and how he will help us achieve our goals in his ways.”
Lee and junior Bay Hollinger, both returning players, have worked with Black since their freshmen year on the varsity team.
“Coach Sean treated the team like basketball players and not girls which I thought was nice. Overall, I think he really helped us improve and grow as individuals,” Hollinger said. “I look forward to seeing the new and fresh ideas that coach DePeyer will bring to the table. He seems very positive and I’m looking forward to him bringing that to games.”
DePeyer, as part of a pre-practice method, will enforce good character both on and off court, and the team will also observe a moment of silence before games.
“Over the summer, I wish to work on conditioning, skill development and overall learning the system,” DePeyer said. “I also want to really work on getting a daily attitude in working both individually and as a team. I want to this make this a learning experience and have the practices be enjoyable everyday.”