St. Patrick Cathedral School
HISTORY

In September, 1872, St. Patrick Cathedral School opened as an Academy staffed by the Sisters of Mercy. Ten years later, in 1882, it became a fee school. At this time an intensive drive for a new school building was started. The response was so great that the cornerstone of the new school was laid on June 21, 1882. In September 1881, the new St. Patrick Cathedral School was opened with an enrollment of 650 pupils and a faculty of twelve Sisters of Mercy. As a point of interest, the cost of the school was $41,500.00. The parish school has been educating students continuously for one-hundred-thirteen (113) years.

The 100^th Anniversary of the school was celebrated with a Mass and dinner dance. Graduates, faculty, and priests participated in the celebration. Reverend John Shugrue, Class of 1930, was the homilist at the Mass. Thom Phalen, Class of 1950, was the toastmaster at the dinner. This was the first Alumni gathering of the school and the response was overwhelmingly positive. Graduates renewed acquaintances with sisters, lay teachers, and classmates - many of whom had not met for years.

A total renovation of the school was completed during the summer of 1982. The cost was approximately $300,000.00 The people of St. Patrick Parish raised funds for this tremendous undertaking. As a result of these improvements, the third floor, which had been closed in the early 1960's, was reopened. The seventh and eighth grades, a science lab, and a computer lab are now located there. In the same year, the library was moved from the church hall into the building, expanding services and allowing us to staff it full time. The office, previously located in the school basement, was brought up to the first floor. The kindergarten was enlarged and an activities room was established in the lower level which has enabled the school to offer an after-school program.

The kindergarten was initially opened in September of 1980, with two half-day sessions and a total enrollment of 20 students. In 1990 the program was expanded to one full day session. The kindergarten currently accepts twenty-four children per year.

In 1964 a junior high was established, comprised of grades seven and eight. In 1994, with the inclusion of the sixth grade, a middle school curriculum was instituted. Another major curriculum development was the inclusion of computer instruction to students in grades two through eight.

The Sisters of Mercy continued teaching at St. Patrick until 1985. With the opening of the 1985-86 school year, they were replaced by the Sisters of charity of Our Mother of the Church who continue to teach at the school; one sister is currently the administrator and one serves on the faculty. There are also ten full-time and two part-time lay teachers, one library administrator, one aide, and an administrative assistant on the staff.