ATHERTON, Calif., May 17, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- This Sunday, Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton (SHS) will conclude a yearlong
celebration of its 125th milestone anniversary. The school
community will attend a Mass and Congé, French for "leave taking,"
a traditional—often surprise—day of play for students observed by
Sacred Heart schools worldwide.
Explore the institution's long history as a top independent Bay
Area preschool—12th grade school by visiting its 125th anniversary
website developed to showcase the theme, "125 Years - Educating For
A Lifetime."
The website is the culmination of a two-year-long project by
Sacred Heart Preparatory (SHP) librarians and students who
assembled a visual timeline of the school's growth from thousands
of photographs housed in the historic SHS Main Building archive
room.
On August 1, 1898, SHS opened its
doors to its first 23 students. Since then, the school has expanded
to a vibrant, co-educational day school for 1,185 students,
situated on 63 acres.
Sacred Heart's Main Building—the first structure built on
campus—is considered an architectural jewel of the San Francisco Peninsula; it survived both the
1906 earthquake and the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, although both
caused damage.
Designed by Irish-immigrant architect Charles Devlin, it echoes the Romanesque
features of nearby St. Patrick's
Seminary, which also withstood both earthquakes, as well as
many of the area's churches, convents, hospitals, and schools also
built by Devlin.
Over 300 Religious of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (RSCJ) have
served on the school's grounds since 1898. The school's Catholic
identity, mission, and goals mirror the historic priorities of the
RSCJ, founded by Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat, who also established
the first Sacred Heart schools in post-revolutionary France. Today, the RSCJ has grown its ministry
to include over 150 schools in 44 countries worldwide. SHS—the
13th Sacred Heart school to be built in North America—continues an
equally-long tradition of ensuring access to education, emphasizing
personal faith, preparing students for lives of meaning and
purpose, and active service to its community.
"For 125 years, what has remained constant throughout our growth
has been the school's dedication to service," said Sister
Nancy Morris, the former SHS
director of schools from 1971 to 1989, who still lives on campus
adjacent to the RSCJ retirement center, Oakwood.
To mark its 125th anniversary, the school's iconic Main Building
underwent a timely restoration project of its two historic
parlors.
"We invite the community to celebrate the longevity of Sacred
Heart as we recognize the achievements of our students, educators,
RSCJ, alumni, and parents," said SHS Director of Schools
Richard Dioli. "We are paving the
way for the next 125 years, preparing students to meet tomorrow's
challenges with compassionate hearts."
ABOUT SACRED HEART SCHOOLS, ATHERTON
Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton
(www.shschools.org) was founded in 1898 and is located on
a 63-acre campus in Atherton,
California. It is an accredited preschool—12th grade school,
with a total enrollment of 1,185 students, and is a member of the
International Network of Schools of the Sacred Heart.
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SOURCE Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton