In June 1960, when Sts. Barnabas and Pius X became overcrowded, Archbishop Floersh appointed Reverend James J. Dalton as pastor of St. Martha Catholic Church. Seventeen acres of land were acquired on Klondike Lane.
Construction of the church and school began and the first Mass was offered on Thanksgiving of 1961, with folding chairs as pews. The men of the parish constructed the rectory, garage and walk. The first bulletin on file reveals that there were 424 families registered.
School for the children was held at St. Pius X in the afternoon from September through November 1961. There were three sisters and three lay teachers on staff. There were only 25 children in each grade, with the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th being taught by one teacher.
Almost immediately, St. Martha experienced very rapid growth. In the fall of 1964 there were 131 children registered for the first grade. The graduating class in 1965 totaled 110 students.
In 1977, St. Martha was the second largest school in the archdiocese.
Kindergarten became part of our school in 1993. In 2002, prekindergarten was also added.
Completion of the Sister William Carrico Hall was a highlight of the year in 2000. This welcome addition let us expand, adding three classrooms and an Art Room. By 2014, the preschool expanded to include a 3 year old classroom and in 2016, the preschool moved into newly renovated classrooms in that wing. Today, our preschool has grown to include two 3 year old classrooms and two traditional Pre-K classrooms.
Our old library and computer lab received an overhaul in 2020 to create The C.O.R.E., which stands for the Central Office of Reimagined Education. The C.O.R.E. contains our STEM lab and library. This space is outfitted with the latest technology and other tools and resources to expand the critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, and creativity skills of our students.
Most recently, our amazing PTO raised money to install a $150,000 playground that was designed to appeal to students all the way through 8th grade and to encourage physical activity.
We would love to share more about our wonderful school with you! Schedule a tour and come see how we have grown over the years!
At St. Martha Catholic School, our students are encouraged and supported to discover who they want to be, explore the world, and share their gifts and talents through education, servant leadership, and Christian living.
St. Martha Catholic School provides our students with the tools of Catholic leadership to be life-long learners. Students are challenged to use their gifts to shape the world’s future as faith-filled, productive citizens of a global society.
…while making life-long friends and laughing a lot too!
Dr. Martin Luther King once said, “Intelligence plus character – that’s the goal of a true education.” As both a parent and long-time educator, I strongly believe St. Martha Catholic School does a phenomenal job at ensuring both of these important aspects of a child’s education and formation. The holistic development of our students is very important to us, as we encourage and support each student to discover, explore, and share their gifts and talents with others.
As principal, I am proud to serve the St. Martha community! St. Martha has played an important role in my family for decades and I have worn many hats within the parish. My husband, John, is a 1993 graduate of St. Martha. My sons, Ethan ’19 and Noah ’21, are graduates of St. Martha as well. My daughters, Peyton and Quinn, are currently students at the school. Our family’s experiences within the St. Martha parish community have been wonderful.
St. Martha has a rich tradition of excellence in all that we do. From challenging academics, to faith formation, to diverse extra-curricular opportunities, to a winning sports program – our lively school and parish have so much to offer each and every individual.
Sincerely,
Suzanne Barnett, Ed.S.
Principal, St. Martha Catholic School
