 |
|
|
HistoryIn 1996 with the concurrence, blessing, and active participation of Fr. Joseph Lively, a steering committee of 15 parishoners from St. John the Evengelist Church formally began plans to start a new Catholic School.
The committe began discussions with diocesan officials, which led to a sub-committee raising funds to make necessary repairs and upgrades to the former Catholic Central School building on Maple Street in St. Johnsbury. The Diocesan Administrative Board approved the opening of Good Shepherd Catholic School for the 1998-1999 school year as a diocesan regional school.
The committee had a vision of children learning in an environment that not only offered excellence in academics, but was also a place where they would learn about God, about Jesus, His Son, about the Spirit of God who makes all things new. They sought to create a sanctuary where children would learn about respect for one another and for adults, about the need for discipline and self-contol, about the need to care for each other and for those who can't care for themselves. They valued the importance of prayer, joy, friendship and faith in our children's lives.
Former Principal Robert Gessner with new students as they began the 10th academic year at Good Shepherd.
In August of 1998, Good Shepherd Catholic School opened for the first time with 47 students enrolled in grades K - 6, plus 21 Pre-School and Pre-Kindergarten students. The following year, Good Shepherd added 7th and 8th grades, and graduated its first class (of 2 students!) in June, 2000.
In the fall of 2006, in order to accommodate the growing of number of students at Good Shepherd, we developed the Good Shepherd Early Education Program and expanded our learning space to the Fr. Joseph Lively Parish Center. Our Pre-School, Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten classes, along with a professionally staffed extended care program are thriving in this new environment.
With 154 students enrolled for the 2007-2008 school year, Good Shepherd Catholic School is completing its first decade of educating and nurturing the young people in our school community. This June, we will send 19 graduates into the world beyond Good Shepherd, confident in their academic, personal and spiritual abilities. We thankfully and prayerfully remember those individuals who so many years ago, breathed life into our school. Not a day passes without us giving thanks to all involved in upholding this sanctuary, beginning of course, with the Good Shepherd.
In 2008-2009 and again in 2009-2010 Good Shepherd experienced record enrollment.
|
|
|
|
