Before Mrs. Christine (Chris) Glatz ‘78 was one of the beloved “Main Office Ladies” at OLSH, some may be surprised to know of a few different activities she was involved with at the school.
As an OLSH alumni, Chris was a part of the cheerleading team, prom committee, handbell choir, and was Junior class president during her time in high school.
As the first student from the small Catholic grade school of Our Lady of Fatima in Hopewell to attend OLSH, Chris knew she wanted a similar, comforting environment for high school.
Many things have changed since Chris graduated from OLSH in 1978, but one thing has remained the same: her love and gratitude for the OLSH community.
“The fact that I am here is a generational blessing from my parents,” Chris said. “They sent me to OLSH as a student and then I was able to make a career here for the last 35 years. It is amazing how some things that you aren’t directly responsible for have such a huge impact on your life.”
After graduating from Bradford Business School with a secretarial certificate in 1980, Chris began working for an electrical engineering company for 5 years.
Chris’ mother, Eleanor “Cookie” Plucinski, worked in the OLSH Main Office while sending Chris, her sister Mickey ‘80, and her two brothers Ed ‘82 and Tim ‘91, to OLSH. Knowing Chris was looking for a career change, the OLSH Principal at the time, Sr. Christopher told Eleanor to have Chris work at OLSH.
Chris began at OLSH in January 1986, helping with both the business and Main Office duties. She and her mother worked together for 25 years.
Chris is very involved with student life in her current position. Her job involves managing transportation, the school calendar, databases for demographics and attendance, and assisting with all major school events from Prom to Graduation. Chris also manages the Our Lady’s Food Pantry Giving Tree project during Christmas.
“When you work in the Main Office, everything in the school eventually rolls through here,” Chris said. “ You have to communicate with everyone and understand everything that has to work together to get things done.”
Everyone knows that Chris has a lot of school spirit as she was the OLSH Spirit Coordinator for 5 years and assisted with the annual Powder Puff Football Games through 2018.
“I have a huge collection of OLSH Spirit wear,” Chris said. “It fills an armoire, a bin, and 2 large drawers that are stuffed to bursting!”
Chris’ favorite part of her job is carrying on her role as a mom to many OLSH students. She frequently provides students with a cup of tea or a snack from the snack drawer, and is a comforting presence when students need it most.
“I really love my interactions with the students. Teenagers are the best,” Chris said, “you can just tell them how it is. In their mind they think they are adults, but they are still just kids; they are wonderful.”
Chris and her husband Tim were introduced to one another by their moms when they were in high school. The “arrangement” worked out for the pair and they have been married for 40 years with 2 children, Greg and Gary, who are now grown and live in York, PA and Alaska, respectively.
As for hobbies with her immediate and extended family, they enjoy going to minor and major league baseball games and taking vacations camping and boating on lakes. Chris and her husband have also done several motorcycle trips to Maine. One of Chris’ favorite personal hobbies is cooking for her family.
Chris’ faith is a very important part of her life. She and her husband volunteer as Youth Group Leaders at Monacrest Methodist Church. She loves that she can spend time with more teenagers and help them grow stronger in their faith.
Chris has also had a special connection to her faith through the example of the Felician Sisters at OLSH.
“I absolutely love the Sisters and their presence at OLSH,” Chris said. “They treat every kid as their own spiritual child, praying for them and always supporting them,” Chris said. “They have also always been so good to my family. They are amazing women of God and I cannot thank them enough.”
One of Chris’ favorite Bible verses hangs in her office as a gift from Sister Adrian: “Be Joyful Always” - 1 Thessalonians 5:16.
In 2017, Chris was selected to receive the OLSH Alumnus With Heart Award for her commitment to the school. Her love for OLSH is still evident today as she continues to spread her spirit and joy to the students at the place she has called home for so many years.
“Because of the way the world is, OLSH is my normal, home, my safe haven,” Chris said. “I hope that we can reflect that same feeling for the students too - that OLSH is a good, safe place; that it is home. It is the best place to be.”