NAME:
Susan K. (Susi) West
SCHOOL:
St. Pius X High School, Houston, TX
CLASS:
Mathematics
SCHOOL PHONE:
713-692-3581
Susanne Gale Rose Kapczynski West '69: Ms. Susi K. West
Education: St. Pius X Elementary, El Paso, TX, grades 1-3; Assumption School
(Seton Catholic, but now it's Assumption School again!) grades 3-8; St. Pius
X High School, Houston, grades 9-12; Rice University '73, BA Linguistics,
Anthropology and French; Washington University, St. Louis, MO '74, MA
Linguistic Anthropology; University of Houston: Concentration in and Teacher
Certification in Mathematics, '82
Classes taught '09-'10: College-Preparatory Algebra I; Pre-AP [Honors]
Algebra I; Pre-AP [Honors] Precalculus (with introductory Calculus
Contact info: Please don't call my voice mail...I am notoriously horrible at
remembering to check it. Call my home phone instead (281-445-5056) or e-mail
me at wests@stpiusx.org.
E-Mail is preferred, but feel free to call me at home if you feel the need.
I also respond to handwritten notes.
I was born in El Paso, Texas, July 1, 1951, the first of two children to
Vincent F. (Copper) nad Nona Jean Recek Kapczynski. My dad was a lifelong
railroader, and my mother a stay-at-home mom who created beutiful prom
dresses and outfits for me, and homey crochet doilies like my grandmothers
before her. They both taught me the value of work and commitment to a
promise or a goal, and how to love...EVERYTHING. Neither attended school
beyond high-school, though my dad took some business courses, but they have
always been wise beyond formal education. AND...they have always been proud
of my educational pursuits: I am the only college athlete and graduate in my
immediate family...at least so far.
We lost my dad early this year, and I miss his sports analysis, his down-to-
earth humor, and amazing conversation greatly. He taught me everything I know
about sports, stats, and the real world! My brother, Vince Jr., is also a
bona fide railroad man, able to dispatch, run and repair steam engines and
practically anything else. His nickname is Oohcha or Rekap depending on whom
you ask. My sister-in-law is Shelia, an antiques expert, and an
extraordinary daycare teacher.
I married Gary T. West, St. Pius X Social Studies Chair, AND THE LOVE OF MY
LIFE , in January of 1990.
I have 2 children: daughter Brenna Aislinn (SPX '95), 33, who attended UT,
and is currently and a loan officer in Dallas. She's extrememly good at what
she does. She was a cheerleader and class oficer while at SPX, and also
played basketball, volleyball and softball.
Son Garrett Vincent Theodore (SPX '09), is 19 and a first-year student at St.
Mary's University in san Antonio. He played football as a DB and special
teams player, basketball, and baseball as an outfielder/LHP. He was on
Student Council for 4 years, and, following in his parents' footsteps, became
a certified Eucharistic Minister, both at SPX and St. Rose of Lima Caqtholic
Community, his senior year.
We have three cats: Lord Vader (the black Russian Blue, who's the 'old man'
of the bunch); Solo (a really beautiful velvet gray who gives new meaning to
curiosity and mischief [intentional chaos-provoker and guilty-as-sin lovable
rogue] who loves for me to take him outside to observe the world); and
Anakin, otherwise known as 'Anakitty' (a fuzzy, kind of out-of-focus, fuzzy-
wuzzy black feline, who is more tentatively inquisitive [accidentally chaotic
and pretty much a 'fraidy-cat'] and who is secretly observant and loves to be
close, but not TOO close). I used to have a doberman/shepherd mix named
Floofer, and a toy collie named Niencke Dink, but now all canine duties are
handled by Gabrielle Liberty (Gaby), a Golden Retriever (mostly)/Chow/Cocker
mix, born on or around Sept. 11, 2001, who is the size of a small pony, loves
to go for rides [especially to Grandma's house and to run errands], who
thinks she's the same size as the cats, and appears intent upon carpeting the
entire house with fur.
As a former Lady Panther and collegiate athlete (I played college basketball
and volleyball at Rice back in the days when you could play more than one
sport, and women didn't get college scholarships for athletics) and city-
league fast-pitch softball, I love all sports, but especially BASEBALL, and
accept extra tickets to Astros or Rice/Texans/Rockets/Dynamo/Aeros games (or
any other sporting/music venue) graciously and with much gratitude. I am a
passionate 'Stros fan (I cheer loudly for Lance and Tim, fellow Owls) and I
have loved coaching baseball/softball, and watching my kids play. I am an
excellent and meticulous scorekeeper/statistician, and a bona fide student of
the game. I even have an honorary 'doctorate' from "Astros University".
I am an AVID reader [Mysteries, romances, and sci-fi/fantasy (including the
Wheel of Time series and all the Harry Potters.)] I recently completed The
Shack by William p. Young, and I strongly recommend it to all Panthers! I
collect miniature owls, panthers/black cats, rulers, and all manner of
baseball stuff. I like rock music (Journey, U2, Foreigner, Moody Blues,
Bryan Adams, Dave Matthews Band, Coldplay, Nickelback, Daughtry, and Bon Jovi
are my favorites, though I like Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban, too). I
listen mostly to XM radio, but also 106.9, 94.5, 96.5, 103.7, Sportstalk 610,
and 740 [the Astros station] as well as other stations in the area. My most
recent musical jaunt was to Dallas to catch Bon Jovi and Daughtry in concert.
(courtesy of my daughter). I like to ROCK!!!
I love swimming (and now have access to a pool on a regular basis, thanks to
a membership at Fitness Connection at Greenspoint) and am developing a real
interest in Tai Chi and Yoga, but haven't begun either, yet. I also love
studying languages and other cultures. I love Mexican, Vietnamese, Greek,
and Italian food as well as most other kinds of 'ethnic' and 'fusion' foods,
as long as it doesn't have much refined sugar or saturated/trans fat, since I
and my husband are both diabetically challenged [sugarfree Dove Chocolate
Cremes and the 'No sugar added' mini-chocolate cakes at Escalante's and Olive
Garden are great, as are the no sugar added ice creams!]. Please don't ever
give me sugared candies/cookies ...can't have 'em!
Teaching is my lifelong vocation and my passion, though I've done other
things. However, when I retire (HA!), I hope to manage a bookstore/tea shop,
or help Gary run a retreat center in a "green" location close to a fresh-
water stream or river. My dream vacation is a cruise to a place where I can
sit close to clear water all day long and read, read, read, do Sudoku and
other puzzles, swim, and explore. I loved traveling to the Northeast (Cape
Cod, New York) several years ago, and to Montreal before that. Two summers
ago G, G and I took an extended vacation that included a week at a condo in
Branson, and a trip to the Mark Twain birthplace in Hannibal, Mo., the Field
of Dreams Movie Site in Iowa, a visit to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area [the
day before the bridge crashed] and took in a St. Paul Saints baseball
game...what a zoo!!!] Then we were off to South Dakota to visit the Mount
Rushmore and Crazy Horse monuments, as well as a genuine Mammoth dig...a big
thrill for a former anthropologist!! All of this in little Sammy, our Toyota
Matrix!
Last year the Schattles joined us in Branson and we visited a tribute to the
Eagles as well as our annual visit to the Haygoods show, one of my favorites!
Since Mrs. Schattle and I graduated from dear ol PiHi together, we had a
great time enjoying the peace and beauty of the Ozarks and absorbing all that
one-of-a-kind history and family concerts and shows! This year the Wests got
to see Noah, the musical! What a treat!
I was thrilled to be the teacher chosen to accompany 4 students to Rome a few
years ago; it was my first trip off the continent. Now I'm ready for more!!!
Last year, the Hubby won a trip to the lands 'where Dominic trod' (Italy,
Spain, France...)and I'm hoping that eventually, I'll get to make that trip,
too!
My favorite color is forest green, though I love the kinda-close-to-Rice-
blue of our Toyota Matrix, and my favorite treat is anything sugar-free, low-
fat CHOCOLATE!!! Sugar-free Oreos, Dove Raspberry or Chocolate Cremes or
Godiva, Cheesecake Factory '6 carb', Mrs Schattle's Sugar-free cheesecake,
and No-sugar Jellos and Puddings are favorites. I LOVE the carb-
free no-sugar-added ice creams!
This is my 29th year of teaching at Pi Hi{!}, and I still love it (and my
students)! In fact, 4 of my high school friends and 5 of my former students
now work here! I have also taught several children of former
students...COOL!!!
I am NOT wordy, nor do I EVER exagerate..never, ever, not at all! HA!!!
Anything else you want to know? Ask. I might just tell you!
I pledge to work to foster a love of all things mathematical and to aid in
the growth of my students as strong, honorable, caring human beings who live
to love, learn, serve and make a positive difference in a chaotic world. If
you learn only math in 218, you've missed the point.