Susi K. West

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About The Teacher Label:


About The Teacher
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!

Mission Label:


Mission
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.