At the turn of the century, in 1900, under the pastorate of Father John Faughnan, property on the corner of West Chestnut and North Franklin Streets was purchased and construction began for a parochial school. The new school was opened in September 1901 and consisted of 10 classrooms, an auditorium, and an administrative office. The first year of operation, the school’s staff consisted of seven Sisters of Mercy.

This building would accommodate both grade and high school students simultaneously for the next fifty years. The elementary grades met in the basement and on the first floor and the junior and senior high school classes met on the second and third floors. Immaculate Conception would prove to be more than just a parochial school, in that it became an entire education system. I think it’s interesting to note that during this time, the high school incorporated commercial subjects into the curriculum as well as academic. This school was approved by the Department of Public Instruction of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and became a four-year high school. The high school curriculum was revised in 1932 and gave the students the option of either a four-year college preparatory program or a four-year program of general courses.

In 1953, along with the appointment of Father Ralph L. Hayes as pastor, came plans for a high school that would be built next to the church rectory. The high school students were moved from the one building schoolhouse to their own building in the fall of 1956. The new high school was designed to accommodate four hundred and fifty with twelve classrooms, two science laboratories, a library, listening center, art room, gymnasium, wrestling room, locker rooms, cafeteria, health room, guidance department, and administrative offices. The faculty of nineteen consisted of Sisters of Mercy as well as lay teachers.

Due to a still growing school population, 1963 brought with it plans for a new and modern parochial elementary school. The proposed site was the newly obtained old Hoge cemetery property located between Walnut and Spruce streets directly behind the church and senior high school. The bodies from the gravesite were exhumed and placed in a memorial (The graveyard dates back as early as 1790 and includes bodies from the Revolutionary and Indian Wars. The plot was also utilized by many travelers on their way Westward. It also held the remains of William Wilson, a great-great-grandfather of former president Richard Nixon). A major fund drive or ‘Parish Development Program’ was soon underway to help with the estimated cost of $600,000.00. Original plans for the new elementary school called for the six primary, six elementary, and six junior high school classrooms, with a cafeteria, library, health room, and administrative offices. Architects Deeter and Ritchey of Pittsburgh (also responsible for the award-winning convent building adjacent to the Immaculate Conception Church) were hired for the design and contractor McAnallen Brother, Incorporated of Washington constructed the new elementary school. Monsignor Charles Owen Rice, the pastor during the construction and planning months, and Sister M. Colman, principal, were actively involved in the planning and recommendations for the new building. During these planning stages came the death of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy. It was in his honor that the school was named. Monsignor Rice is quoted as saying, “We named the structure in his honor because of our pride in his life and our sorrow at his death.”

A groundbreaking ceremony took place November 8, 1964, and construction began the following day. You will find in this report original blueprints that were done on April 16, 1964, by the architects. However, there were some revisions made in the final construction (note the letters to Monsignor Rice from Sister Colman). I could not find documentation on the exact day that the school opened but there was a Kennedy Memorial Plaque dedication on November 23, 1965. On January 5, 166 John F. Kennedy School was dedicated by Bishop John J. Wright. The new elementary school won two first honor awards for excellence in design and consisted of three levels occupying fifteen classrooms, a library, including an audio-visual center, science laboratory with display and storage rooms, two materials centers for small group instruction, a bookstore, faculty lounge, staff room, health room, administrative office with adjoining workroom, a lobby, and an activities room. Along with the new structure, came a new concept in education curriculum known as “ungradeness.” Students were thoroughly tested in a given subject (mathematics and language arts) and then assigned according to readiness and ability, not grades. Sister Colman, principal at the time, explained, “Educational growth at the grade school age should be broader rather than the spiral. It is the desire of educators that more can be added to the curriculum in the area of enrichment rather than the speed with which a child completes any given assignment, be the controlling factor.” Another sign of the times, a one which we are reverting back to, is what we today refer to as constructivism. Previous to this new assessment tool, the elementary students were given report cards quarterly (every eight weeks, conforming with national trends) and before that, they were given in six-week periods.

The years to follow would bring a decline in the enrollment of the high school. By 1989, the school consisted of one hundred and thirty-five students and even though there was a controversy between the parents and church officials, the “Class of 1989” would be the last to graduate from the high school.

The following school year saw the “high school” building filled with middle school students, grade six through eight.

Today the school is thriving with 525 students. The elementary building consists of preschool through fifth grade and the former high school now houses grades six through eight.

The school year 2001-2002 will be one of celebrating our centennial. Through the school year, we will be focusing on changes in education and lifestyle during these hundred years. Our first parish celebration will be a Liturgy and open house to be celebrated during the month of October. We would be looking forward to celebrating with all former graduates and students.
 
-From The History of John F. Kennedy Catholic School written by Tina Hilk, Fall 2000
 

Further History

The story of Catholic settlement and the establishment of parochial schools in Washington Country is an interesting one which had its beginnings at the end of the 19^th century. Sometime between 1795 and 1800, a Franciscan priest named Father Lonergan accompanied a group of Catholic settlers from Latrobe to West Alexander. There they were welcomed by the Montague and Robinson families, who were among the earliest Catholic pioneers in western Pennsylvania.

After some time, Catholic communities began to grow in Claysville, Brownsville, Monongahela, and Washington. A church needed to be built, but unfortunately, Catholics were regarded with some hostility by their protestant neighbors and their efforts to buy property on East Maiden Street were thwarted. In 1853, the property was purchased on East Wheeling Street and the first church to be consecrated as the Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary was erected. While the church was still located on East Wheeling Street, Father John J. Faughnan decided that it was high time to establish a parochial school.

The property was purchased at the corner of North Franklin and West Chestnut Street and construction of the school began in 1900. A three-story, ten-classroom building, complete with auditorium, was ready for the fall term in September 1901. Immaculate Conception did not just open a parochial school, however; it began an entire educational system and was one of the few parishes in the Diocese of Pittsburgh to be a simultaneous operation of both an elementary and a high school. It was regarded as one of the most modern in the Pittsburgh Diocese.

A staff of seven Sisters of Mercy handled all classes. One of the members of the first graduating class was Theresa MacIssac, who later entered the Sisters of Mercy. As Sister M. Bonaventure, she served for many years as a teacher and principal of the school. The school served both grade and high schools for 55 years. The lower grades occupied two basement classrooms and the first floor, while the seventh and eighth grades shared an uneasy coexistence with the first two high school classes on the second floor. The top story contained junior and senior classrooms, a chemistry lab, a typing room, and an auditorium.

Father Martin Hughes replaced Father Faughman in 1911 and the most vexing situation that confronted the parish, since the building of the school, was the lack of centralization. The church was located at Wheeling and Lincoln Streets, the rectory one block away at Beau Street and the school and convent four blocks away from both buildings. Father Hughes soon started a long-range program to unite all parish buildings on one site. The property adjoining the school and convent on West Chestnut was purchased in 1915, and after a disastrous fire damaged the church on Wheeling, a new church was erected in 1929 and completed in 1930.

In 1956 the new high school was erected and the entire old building was used for the crowded elementary grades. Soon it too outgrew all available space on the four floors of the original building, and in 1963 plans for the construction of a new and modern elementary school was begun on the site of the abandoned Hoge cemetery which was acquired from the city of Washington. The architects were Deeter and Ritchey of Pittsburgh, the contractor was McAnallen Brothers, Incorporated of Washington. Monsignor Charles Owen Rice, the pastor during the construction and planning months, and Sister M. Colman, R.S.M. was the principal. It is noted that two years later the school received a first honor award for excellence in design from the Pennsylvania Society of Architects.

The new school built at a cost of $55,000 replaced the 65-year-old structure known as the Immaculate Conception Grade School formerly located on North Franklin Street and which was demolished as soon as the new building was completed.

Located between Spruce and Walnut Streets, directly behind the church and senior high school, the 15 classroom structure consisted of three levels including an audio-visual center, science laboratory with display and storage rooms, two materials centers for small group instruction, a bookstore, faculty lounge, staff room, health room, administration office with adjoining workrooms, a lobby and an activities room. One each of the three levels the classrooms in the west wing have movable walls to accommodate combined groups on occasion. There is also an electric service elevator on each floor. The curriculum will utilize the latest in instructional technology. Nearly all classrooms have overhead projectors, film projectors, and materials for team teaching.

The present enrollment was 500 pupils in eight grades, with seven Sisters of Mercy, six lay teachers, and ten teacher-aides. Classes resumed in the new grade school on October 20, 1965.

The new building was named the John F. Kennedy Grade School because the new building was in the planning stage at the time of the tragic death of President Kennedy. Monsignor Rice, the pastor at this time, said on this occasion. “We named the structure in his honor because of our pride in his life and our sorrow at his death.”

Bishop John J. Wright officiated at the dedication which was followed by a parish dinner attended by Monsignor John B. McDowell, superintendent of schools of the Diocese of Pittsburgh and the former Governor David L. Lawrence. Also attending the ceremony was the Auxiliary Bishop Vincent M. Leonard of Pittsburgh, and many county and city officials.

On January 18, 1966, Monsignor Charles O. Rice was replaced by the new Pastor, Reverend Howard J. Ford who came from St. Peter’s Church in Tarentum, Pennsylvania. Father Ford being interested in music and a musician himself, expanded on the music and liturgy of the church in which the children participated. Donations continued to be received for the library and school in general, as was a bronze bust of President Kennedy.

The school day consisted of approximately eight periods of forty minutes each, though the Primary Department had a more varied schedule. Students participated in many contests such as science, history, geography, athletics, the Physical Fitness Pentathlon co-sponsored by the Amateur Athletic Union of the United States and the Quaker Oats Company, the annual drive for cancelled stamps, the Annual Spelling Bee, the D.A.R. History Award, the American Legion Awards and many, many more. The students were highly competitive

At this time Sister Margaret Hannan became principal, but in a short time was succeeded by Sister M. Helena McCormick who continued to encourage the children to lead a more Christian life, serve the church in the best manner possible and to succeed in today’s society through education and participation.

The school enrollment has decreased due to the economic condition of the business in Washington, but the competitive spirit and good will of the students have not decreased due to the watchful encouragement of Sister M. Helena McCormick, the principal. Parents are being transferred to other areas which necessitate the transfer of students to other cities and states. The enrollment, at present, is stationary but fluctuates with the times. If the economic conditions in Washington would improve, the enrollment would again rise.

Our hope is that as each year ends both the students and the faculty can rejoice in a job well done. We hope, too, that each year has brought us closer to that greatest of all goals, not just followers but doers of the word. May we all, students and teachers, go out and “spread the good news.”