St. Catherine of Siena Parish School

Pastoral Life Director: Victoria Ries

Victoria Ries has been the Pastoral Coordinator at St. Catherine Parish
since 1999.  She is appointed by the Archbishop to provide pastoral care
and leadership for the parish and its ministries, including the school. She has
served in ministry in the archdiocese since 1979. She began as a campus and
young adult minister working as the Catholic Campus Minister at Pacific
Lutheran University and the University of Puget Sound and working with young
adults in the 20 parishes in Pierce County. She then served as Pastoral
Associate at St. George Parish for 7 years and as Pastoral Life Director at St.
Patrick for 10 years. Victoria has a PhD in systematic theology from the
University of Chicago Divinity School and is an adjunct faculty member at the
School of Theology and Ministry at Seattle University.

Principal: Mary Helen Bever

Secretary: Chris Burr

Mrs. Burr has served as the school secretary since 1983. Her children are St. Catherine graduates and she is active in the St. Catherine parish where she supports numerous parish and school events. Her responsibilities as school secretary are extensive and she is noted for her humor, enthusiasm, and care for the many kids and families. She and her husband Fred, are neighborhood residents and enjoy their “home away from home” on Lake Cavanaugh.

Development Director: Stephanie Gravenkemper

Stephanie is a graduate of the University of Washington and has worked in sales and management for many years. She and her husband, David, have two sons, Jack and Mikey, at St. Catherine School.

Preschool and Extended Care: Tammy Matusak

Our early childhood specialist, Mrs. Tammy Matusak, has been teaching at St. Catherine School since 1986. Tammy attended Washington State University. Her educational background is in Early Childhood Education and Child and Family Studies. She also hold a CDA in Child Development and has her Montessori Credential for Preschool/Kindergarten. In 1987 she became the director of the Preschool and the Extended Daycare Programs. St. Catherine Preschool follows a Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum. Attention is given to developing social skills, large and small motor skills, pre-reading and writing skills. She uses weekly theme-based activities designed to meet the childrens needs socially, emotionally, physically, intellectually and spiritally. Her instructional assistant is Mrs. Lorie Knoblich.

Kindergarten: Elizabeth Mares

Mrs. Mares has been teaching at St. Catherine’s since 1991.Her energy and enthusiasm help to create a nurturing and highly interactive learning climate for our students. Mrs. Mares holds an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education and a B.A. in Education. She is the recipient of a Scholarship Certificate Award for Distinguished Academic Performance. She is also bilingual in Spanish and English. Mrs. Kathy Moser, our primary instructional assistant, assists Mrs. Mares.

Grade 1: Lee Westbrook

Grade 2: Kathy Cox

Grade 3: kelsey Gomula

Ms. Kelsey Gomula has taught at St. Catherine School since 2010. She comes to us from Northern California with a B.A. in Elementary Education from Humboldt State University. She also holds her California State Teaching Credential. She is enthusiastic about health and fitness and is looking forward to passing that onto the students. Ms. Gomula is also teaching 6th Grade Science and a P.E. elective for 7th and 8th grade.

Grade 4: Emily Ittes

Ms. Ittes has been at St. Catherine since 2010. She received her B.A. in English and completed the Teacher Certification program as an undergraduate at Fordham University. She earned a Masters in Special Education from Fordham University. She taught third grade for one year and fourth grade for three years in New York City. Ms. Ittes is a passionate teacher who fosters the development of the whole child. In her spare time, she enjoys participating in outdoor activities, cooking, and traveling with family and friends.

Grade 5: Graig Sifferman

Grade 6: Renee Acosta

Mrs. Acosta holds a B.A. in English and Art from Eastern Washington University. She also has a master’s degree in Curriculum & Instruction with a specialization in reading. Mrs. Acosta has taught at St. Catherine since 1998. She is a talented writer and has a passion for literature. Mrs. Acosta has also supervised the St. Catherine School speech club in area competitions.

Grade 7: Middle School Math/Computers/ Leadership: Lindsay Gomula

Ms. Gomula holds a BA in International Business with a minor in Spanish from the University of Portland. She also has a Masters degree in teaching from Alliant International University in San Diego, CA.  Ms. Gomula has taught at St. Catherine School since 2008. Prior to teaching at St. Catherine, she taught 7th and 9th grade math for 3 years at Gompers Charter Middle School in San Diego, CA. She enjoys spending time outside and coaching soccer.

Grade 8 Mary Clara Horrigan

Ms. Horrigan has been at St. Catherine since 2008. She earned her teaching degree from DePaul University in Chicago, IL and a Masters degree, specializing in Reading and Mathematics from Walden University. She taught both third and fifth grade at St. John School for six years. She is excited to be back in the classroom and looks forward to cultivating her student’s development and growth spiritually, academically, and socially. Mary Clara and her husband Michael, also a teacher, have two children, Clara and Mickey.

Learning Specialist: Kathy Loftsted

Mrs. Lofstedt has taught at St. Catherine School since 2004. She started the Kindergarten program at Our Lady Star of the Sea in Bremerton, where she taught Kindergarten and First Grade, led a French Club after school, and wrote an art docent program integrating art and Catholic values. She leads French Club at St. Catherine, helps with All Parish gatherings, and sings with the St. Catherine Choir and Seattle Bach Choir. Her goals for her students are to live their faith, discover their talents, and love learning.

Music: dori Baunsgard

Library & Activities: Leslie Bartlett

Leslie received her B.A. in Sociology from the University of Washington and spent 17 years working in the book retail business in Seattle. She re-joined the St. Catherine staff in 2008 as the K-5 Librarian. She is excited to be part of a faculty that encourages St. Catherine students to develop a passion for books and reading! Leslie and her husband Andy have two children, Allison and Ben, who both attended St. Catherine school . She and her family love to travel and have spent lots of time exploring Mexico. She is also an avid reader.

Physical Education: Graig Sifferman

Graig has a Masters in Teaching and has been working in Catholic Schools since 2006, teaching at St. Catherine School since 2011.  He graduated from Western Washington University with a B.A. in Political Science.  He recognizes the importance of the Catholic education, being a graduate from Bishop Blanchet High School after attending both St. Catherine’s and Christ the King.  Graig was always active in athletics and understands how important physical fitness is for a healthy, happy life.  He loves using his passion for athletics and physical fitness to help the students of St. Catherine become faith-filled people who understand health and integrity are key to living a full life.

Spanish: Christina Hevia

Señora Hevia teaches Spanish to students in preschool through eighth grade. She holds a B.A. in Spanish from Oregon State University, an M.A. in Hispanic Studies from the University of Washington, and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Seattle Pacific University. She taught first and second year Spanish classes at the University of Washington for two years before coming to St. Catherine in 2008. She perfected her Spanish while living and studying for an extended period in Santiago, Chile, where she met her husband, Mario.

Language Arts, Visual Arts and Library: Margaret Hartley

Margaret holds a BA in Art History from Auckland University in New Zealand and a Masters of Education in Reading Instruction. She began her teaching career in New Zealand where she taught high school English, art history and managed the library. Margaret was awarded a Bill Holm Visiting Research Grant from the Burke Museum which has helped her develop art lessons focusing on Coast Salish art. She is committed to incorporating multi-cultural literature and art into her teaching. Margaret has taught at St. Catherine School since 2001.

Technology Specialist: Deborah Werner

Ms.Werner holds a BA in Physical Education with an emphasis in Science and Social Studies. She came to St. Catherine School in 1985 after serving for one year in Japan as a missionary with the Good Shepard Movement. Prior to becoming the Technology Director, Ms. Werner taught 5th grade for 24 years at St. Catherine. In 2011, Ms. Werner was awarded the Distiguish Teacher Award at the NCEA Conference in New Orleans. She holds a passion for the outdoors and helps students and adults understand the importance of being good stewards to the Earth.

 Instrumental Music: Michael White

Mr. White conducts the St. Catherine beginning and advanced bands. He is also the conductor at Bishop Blanchet High School.