It was then, for the first time, that every high school student attending our school could take the Polish Regents exam – currently the LOTE (Language Other Than English Exam in Polish) – and receive valuable 3-6 points/credits for a foreign language in American high schools. Also at that time, a formal ceremony was introduced to welcome children starting first grade. This student initiation ceremony remains an important event in our school to this day. During the terms of office of Ms. Katarzyna and Ms. Beata, many educational, cultural, and social events were organized and sponsored: performances, competitions, and ceremonies (Polish Independence Day, Grandparents’ Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, celebrations of the ordination of John Paul II), as well as Polish Festivals in Poughkeepsie, end-of-school picnics, carnival and costume balls for students and parents, and various school trips. Students, parents, and teachers participated in trips to New York City, Pennsylvania, various performances, the Pulaski Day Parade in Poughkeepsie, group trips to local farms, and sleigh rides.

It was then, for the first time, that every high school student attending our school could take the Polish Regents exam – currently the LOTE (Language Other Than English Exam in Polish) – and receive valuable 3-6 points/credits for a foreign language in American high schools. Also at that time, a formal ceremony was introduced to welcome children starting first grade. This student initiation ceremony remains an important event in our school to this day. During the terms of office of Ms. Katarzyna and Ms. Beata, many educational, cultural, and social events were organized and sponsored: performances, competitions, and ceremonies (Polish Independence Day, Grandparents’ Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, celebrations of the ordination of John Paul II), as well as Polish Festivals in Poughkeepsie, end-of-school picnics, carnival and costume balls for students and parents, and various school trips. Students, parents, and teachers participated in trips to New York City, Pennsylvania, various performances, the Pulaski Day Parade in Poughkeepsie, group trips to local farms, and sleigh rides.

The convenience of being located next to a Polish parish gave our students the opportunity for spiritual development in accordance with Polish traditions. Once a month, our students fully participated in the youth Mass, preparing songs and readings in Polish. Every year, together with teachers and parents, they participated in the Rosary, Midnight Mass, Nativity Scene, Epiphany, St. Joseph’s Day, Stations of the Cross, Lenten Retreats, Corpus Christi procession, and Masses at the beginning and end of the school year with the blessing of schoolbags. We sincerely thank the Polish priests: Jan Jacmierski, Zdzisław Nawrocki, Edward Traczyk, and Jacek Nowak for their support and cooperation.

After St. Joseph Church in Poughkeepsie was forced to close its doors in November 2014, the school faced the urgent need to find a new home. Paulina was instrumental in this transition, managing the relocation to a new parish while establishing the school’s new official identity as the Maria Konopnicka School of Polish Language. Her dedication ensured the school’s future by navigating all the complex legal requirements and administrative filings necessary to maintain its operations.

Her leadership was marked by key initiatives, including the successful expansion of the school by opening a second location in Monroe, NY, substantially increasing student enrollment. Furthermore, her team helped to foster a deeper connection to literary culture by organizing and hosting numerous meetings with contemporary Polish authors and activities.

The administration and teachers rose to the new challenges and ensured that their students felt the changes as little as possible. Classes resumed, maintaining the school’s traditions; student initiation ceremonies, assemblies, field trips, parties, picnics, and more. The school expanded its activities by organizing many new and interesting programs and projects. In recent years, thanks to cooperation with the Central Association of Polish Supplementary Schools, we have had the honor of hosting world-renowned Polish writers and other distinguished guests: Ewa Chotomska, Agnieszka Frączek, Basia Kosmowska, Jerzy Kisielewski, Wojciech Widłak, Rafał Mohr, and the Polish Puppet Theatre. Thanks to the strong motivation of teachers and parents, students participate in annual Polish Diaspora School Festivals and various competitions. Students also perform on local radio station WVKR 91.3 FM at Vassar College, reciting and singing for the Polish community who listen to the Polish-language program on Saturdays from 8-9 AM. After many years of hiatus, we are once again marching with the Polish community in the Pulaski Day Parade in New York City.

The administration and teachers are very optimistic, as interest in the school is growing. More and more Polish families with young children are moving to the Hudson Valley area and enrolling their children in our school.