Sister Rosemarie Honors 4th Grader Who Wrote Letter Saying She Wants to Attend Holy Names

ALAMEDA, CA - It started as a class project created by Erin Rapposelli, fourth grade teacher at St. Joseph’s Elementary School in Alameda. It ended with the president of Holy Names University paying a surprise visit to a girl in that class who wrote a compelling letter.

Sister Rosemarie Nassif, SSND, PhD, walked into Mrs. Rapposelli’s class one recent morning and asked if Joanna Fontillas was present. Mrs. Rapposelli told the surprised roomful of nine-year-olds that this was the president of Holy Names University. Many of the students gasped in surprised and pointed out the bashful Joanna, who finally came forward to meet President Nassif. Joanna had written a compelling letter to Sister Rosemarie, expressing her desire to attend HNU when she grows up. She also wrote that, “My mom, Leslie Garcia, my dad, Ramon Fontillas and my aunt Ophilia Garcia all went to Holy Names. I want to go to Holy Names because I like small campuses and I want to go to a Catholic school. I like to sing, dance and play volleyball … my goals are to get good grades and be accepted into your college.”

Sister Rosemarie presented Joanna with a Holy Names University t-shirt and several other gifts for her and her mother.

Rapposelli created a program in her class called College Bound. “From the very first day of school, I talk to my scholars about their purposes on earth and their goals.” She separates the students into table groups that are labeled with various university names, including Bay Area schools. “I find that once the children are aware and interested, they begin to notice that education is all around them. It is very powerful when they are asked by ‘University name’ to line up quietly or to begin a team project. ‘Bring honor to your university,’ I tell them.” The year-long study of these various universities culminates with personal letters written by the students to the schools they have learned about.

Joanna’s letter so touched President Nassif that she decided she would visit her and her classmates at St. Joseph’s. Rapposelli said she is certain that her students (she calls them “scholars”) will never forget that morning when Sister Rosemarie strolled into their classroom.

Sister Rosemarie spoke to the class about the importance of furthering their education. She engaged the students with questions about college life, various degree programs and majors. She later said she was “amazed at the depth of their knowledge. These are very sharp students with a very gifted teacher,” she said.