Posted by By Maeve Eisenhandler, Co-Editor in Chief
Last year in Ms. Tozzi’s AP Lit class, we went into the hallway for a chance to get out of our seats. We were reading a poem about daffodils, and in a moment of brief disengagement I noticed a painting of a fox. It had a plaque that read “Presented to New Paltz High School From Leicester Vixens Football Club England-April 1995.” I wondered how a portrait of this sly creature made its way into our hallways. More importantly, I wondered why something from England connected to our small town in Upstate New York. I was immediately enthralled with finding out how this portrait had a connection to our school.
My initial inquiry to our most senior staff yielded no results, then Ms. Tozzi provided me with my first clue. She didn’t know exactly where the portrait came from, but she connected me with Ms. DePoala who keeps in contact with Ms. Sutton, a long time English teacher at NPHS, a retiree of 3 years. I asked Ms. Sutton the same essential question- do you have any idea about why this picture of a fox is in our school? She put me in contact with a retired teacher, Mr. Cattabiani, who answered all my questions and more.
Mr. Cattabiani was an English teacher at NPHS. During his time at the high school he was a part of a government diplomatic agency program–The Fulbright Teacher Exchange. This was started after WWII because Senator William Fullbright believed that “teachers were the unrecognized diplomats of the world.” Mr. Cattabiani and another teacher from Leicester, England, Jez Holdsworth took part in this program to teach in each other’s countries.
Mr. Holdsworth was the equivalent of a girls varsity coach back in England. During his time here he took part in coaching our girls team. Mr. Holdsworth arranged for the visitation of his girls team in England, the Leicester Vixens. Together the teams had a few exhibition matches and then Vixens went back to Leicester. Mr. Cattabiani believed the portrait of the fox was a “token of their appreciation for NPHS.”
Mr. Cattabiani remarked that NPHS was “really something special” because it had teachers from all over– “South Africa, Holland, and Australia.” He believed this is what made the “petri dish” of NPHS. Inspired by his Fulbright experience, Mr. Cattabiani started an exchange program here at NPHS, which is unfortunately no longer a part of our school’s culture. Mr. Cattabiani really cherished being “a bridge for students to explore the world around them,” and continued similar trips with SUNY New Paltz students after he left NPHS.
So, my story continues. After hearing Mr. Cattabiani’s story, I wanted to learn more about the history, culture, and students that came before us. During last year’s DUI prevention program, while in the wrestling room, I noticed a mural of a bodybuilder that was tagged by a student Kimberly Doherty ‘99. I knew that I had found my next subject.
The picture widened, and my search started again. I knew that Ms. Masseo had gone to school here around that period of time, thus my next stop. Ms. Masseo’s husband was Kim’s peer, and had her contact information from facebook. Now this was right before the end of the year, and as a junior I was loaded up with regents exams. Essentially meaning that I didn’t pick this project back up until the start of the ‘24-25 school year. I got into contact with Kim at the end of September. She provided me with vivid insight into the student culture, which I felt was exactly what was needed.
Kim was an art student, and a varsity basketball player when she attended NPHS. She and her friends often chose to lift weights with the boys during gym; instead of playing the sport provided. When it came time to start her independent study as a senior she “just wanted to paint a bodybuilder.” She felt “empowered” lifting weights with the other male students and wanted to show that appreciation through her art work. She found inspiration from the gold’s gym logo, but in reflection, she realized it was nearly identical. She felt that it showed how she valued her experience, but it also served as a reminder of her journey “dealing with body image” and how challenging it was as a young woman.
During her time here she really appreciated two things: 1. Comradery, 2. Teachers. She felt that her grade “was always the coolest” even as Sophomores. Reflecting through the lens of a female student wanting to weightlift in the 90’s and being accepted in that environment, says something about her grade.
Kim says that she hopes that NPHS students today know that there is “more than one path” and to figure out “whatever that means to you.” Whether it is going to college, entrepreneurship, social media influencer, “whatever works, works.” After high school Kim went on to SUNY Cortland; majoring in psychology with an art minor. She took her degree into becoming an art therapist, she now works at Saint Basil’s Academy, bringing art therapy to children and their families.
I felt stuck for a while, I wasn’t sure how to best illustrate the history of our school. With some brainstorming I realized that the display case with some of Charles Davis’ memorabilia was perhaps the perfect resolution. For the last time, I started my process again. Luckily, Coach Tegler has kept his contact information as several alumni have reached out to him for various reasons.
Charles Davis, the famed football player turned sports broadcaster, attended NPHS about 40 years ago. After NPHS he attended University of Tennessee on scholarship where he continued to play football, as he did in high school. When I spoke with him, he acknowledged that he was “famous because he was on television” but he hopes that he can represent his class through his recognition for their lives and careers as well.
New Paltz wasn’t always just about the football team. It was about the “robotics team, the debate team” noting that it was probably “much more healthy” to recognize the entire student body, rather than the “athletes and just the athletes.” These were the people that had done “preschool all the way up until graduation with me,” and they are people that deserved to be recognized just like the football players.
Throughout his life he always appreciated the coaches, mentors, and guidance that he received from NPHS. He feels that even though he has moved he is still a “NP guy through and through” in part due to the people that “gave themselves up” to allow him and his classmates to “ pursue excellence.” He says that he hopes students today know to always ask for help. The people around you are “there for you” and they will help you pursue the dream that “burns inside of you” no matter what it takes.
I think part of being a part of a culture in any environment, it is important to understand what came before you. In our case, we have a pretty good history. So I hope with this students can continue to shape the culture that they want to see, based on how our past has influenced our current.
The Maroon 