Holy Cross School

History

June 10, 1910:   Fr. John Toomey sees the cornerstone of Holy Cross School  put in place, and the school building serves as a combination school and church until the new church is built.

September 14, 1911:  The Sisters of St. Joseph are entrusted with the education of the 113 students who arrive when Holy Cross School opened its doors;  three weeks later enrollment reaches 130.

1919: School enrollment grows to over 300 students.

1920’s:  Enrollment grows even higher to 400 students; however, the opening of two new parishes nearby reduce the school’s numbers to near 200.

1940’s:  Enrollment returns to 400 students.

1950’s:  Enrollment tops out at 602 students in 1957.

1967:  Holy Cross begins to organize the school library circulation system. Also, The Mother’s Club is formed to develop a communication network between parents and teachers, to raise funds for classroom supplies, and to subsidize field trips for students.

1969: The Mother’s Club becomes the Home & School Association.

1970’s:  Many improvements are made to the Holy Cross school building, including, new windows, panic bars on all doors, installation of new auditorium floor, and the building of a kitchen in the auditorium.

1980’s:  Kindergarten was added with 24 students enrolled. Enrollment is restricted to no more than 30 students in a class, and enrollment approaches the optimum of 264 in 1988.  A music program, an after-school program, a new computer lab, a new backup boiler for the church and school are added. The school auditorium kitchen is replaced,  the school is completely repainted and the parking lots are repaved. 

1989:  Holy Cross faculty and school community begins work on Middle States accreditation, a process of self-study and self-improvement.

1993: Holy Cross School achieves its first accreditation by Middle States Association.

1995:  A pre-Kindergarten opens, but after 4 years of declining numbers, closes in 1999.

1996:  Physical education classes begin in the gym of the nearby Lutheran Theological Seminary.

2000’s:  Upgrading of school electrical system is accomplished and the installation of a wireless network and new computer lab.

2001: Art teacher is added to the school staff.

2004:  Holy Cross School is granted re-accreditation after school faculty and school community engage in a self-study to develop an Action Plan for the future.

2007 and 2008:  Holy Cross School 5th grade students are chosen to receive two expense-free years of “Dancing Classrooms Philadelphia,” a ballroom dancing experience.

2008:  Holy Cross establishes a three-year “Family, Street, Neighborhood Peace Program” which is supported by a grant from the Josephine C. Connelly Foundation. The Connelly Foundation continues its financial and curricular support of Holy Cross School with a grant for a new wireless laptop cart and 16 new laptops.

2009: To enhance communication among school families and the faculty and staff, Holy Cross launches a new website for the school as well as individual sites for all of the teachers.