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Sowing Seeds of Success: 1944 - 2044 |
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Saints Peter and Paul Elementary School is part of Saints Peter and Paul Church in Wilmington, California (second- oldest parish in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles), itself founded in 1865, and Historic Faith Center of the San Pedro Pastoral Region. The little Catholic school began in 1944, under the direction of Franciscan Sisters of Charity and Penance. For seven years, Franciscan Sisters taught in three Quonset huts set in the Church's present-day parking lot. Each hut housed double grades, the administration and washrooms located in a center hut. The original convent was directly opposite the school on Ravenna Avenue.
2009 marks 65 years of educational transformation, sowing the seeds of success for residents of Wilmington, California's Saints Peter and Paul School Elementary. The original reason for this elementary school's existence: rigorus teaching of Catholic values, academic excellence, respect, and disciplined character development - are reinforced even more today, focusing on remain the high standard of excellence delivered by a professionial, caring Principal and teachers committed to imparting those spiritual, intellectual, and emotional skills required to thrive in the real world.
Quonset Hut beginnings....
In 1951, ten St. Joseph of Cluny Sisters came to this Wilmington, California parish, four of whom arrived directly from Dublin, Ireland. Replacing the original quonset huts, doors of the new school building opened in Spetember, and students entered their brand new classrooms. The town of Wilimington already had a colorful history: Phineas Banning named the town after his home town of Wilmington, Delaware, building his own home where he could almost see the harbor he was developing. Banning's Landing at the tip of Avalon Boulevard commerates the actual site. Union soldiers encamped east of Saint Peter and Paul School at Drum Barracks on Cary Avenue. Today, Drum Barracks is an historical landmark. Civil war soldiers actually helped build Saint Peter and Paul's first Church in 1865, on the land now occupied by today's school. At that time, Saints Peter and Paul Church was the only Catholic Church between La Placita, the first mission in Los Angeles, and San Diego.
More Colorful Facts
So it was at the new school building in 1951, with parents lined up to pay tuition while Mother Gabriel MacMahon, Principal, newly arrived in California, attempted to make change - not yet understanding the difference between a 'nickel' and 'dime.' No school secretary, but, a janitor, Mr. Art Feller. His apartment at the north end of the building. Custodians continued living there until 1984, when they were relocated near the Church. The apartment became the religious education center of the parish, later incorporated into the regular building with a door directly into the school hallway.
Students came from the 'Harbor area,' defined as Wilmington , Carson, Harbor City, Lomita, Palos Verdes and San Pedro. Primary classes quickly increased to 50-55 students. The Sisters, Irish and British trained, took strong hold on challenges with strict discipline. Religious training and education permeated the curriculum - creating a foundation of respect and courtesy.
In the '50's, most mothers were stay-at-home, allowing formation of a vibrant Mothers’ Club. These Sisters helped children with "special needs" long before the era of special education. Teacher aides in the classroom were unknown. For decades, it the resourcefulness of the Sisters created the means to handle all challenges, behavior issues, and class preparations.
Sister Monica
Sister Monica, a talented musician and dramatist, taught full time, producing and directing stage plays: The Emperor’s New Clothes, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the Nightingale and several more, painting backdrops, making props and costumes. Sister Monica had endless energy, skill and ingenuity. Parents worked eagerly with her to produce great community entertainment.
Sr. Monica later became the art teacher at St. Anthony’s High School in Long Beach, teaching art for seventeen years on the third floor. Several Cluny Sisters taught at St. Anthony’s - always holding special affection for students coming from Saints Peter and Paul Elementary.
An athletic program for boys and girls kept interest and enthusiasm at a high level. One year Saints Peter and Paul Elementary won the “Parent Participation” trophy at St.Anthony’s High School Annual Basketball Tournament! In the picture above Art Diaz is accepting MVP award from Coach Walt Peterson in 1956 (I think). The girls played volleyball and had cheerleading squads. It was simple: No expensive uniforms, no special coaching. Parents were happy to be there for their children. The Archdiocese had an active Catholic Youth Organization (CYO), parish-based for young adults. It was now reaching down to elementary and high school level and inter-mural competitions were blossoming.
In the 1960’s Mrs. Marian Knybel became the first lay teacher on the staff of Saints.Peter and Paul School. Pastor John L. Brennan decided the religious and lay faculty should not be mixed - building a small faculty room for Mrs. Knybel. It now houses the laminating and other office machines. The Sisters simply moved over - joining Mrs. Knybel on breaks and lunch. The original faculty room has come full circle (south end of school) becoming, in sequence, a junk room, Title One, Kindergarten, Writing to Read Lab - and today, back to faculty room!
Children were prepared for the sacraments of Reconciliation, Holy Communion and Confirmation. On Saturdays the Sisters taught religion to parish children attending public schools. The old school building on the church parking lot was used for this important work.
In the 60’s the whole Church underwent dramatic change. The Sister and lay staff attended workshops and seminars to become proficient in the new ways of teaching religion. They were involved in the '60's turmoil of the era. The Sisters remained constant, instilling principles of truth, honesty, diligence, responsibility and self-control.
The Archdiocesan Department of Catholic Schools grew from a single clerical supervisor with a small staff, to a large office keeping pace with the ever-expanding educational needs of new parishes springing up throughout Los Angeles county, and the need to be competitive with public education with its large financial resources. Standardized testing was introduced. To these diciplined educators, however, it seemed there was less and less time for actual teaching, but the stalwart Sisters remained consistent.
Fewer women in the first world were entering convents and the St.Joseph of Cluny Sisters in Ireland were sending their young nuns to the developing world rather than to Southern California. Saints Peter and Paul Elementary hired more lay teachers to complement the Sisters, and together they continued their excellent work.
Religious education of children attending public schools grew in number and importance. The sacrament of Confirmation was no longer administered in grade 7. It now became the responsibility of teenagers to attend special classes to receive this sacrament. The Sisters joined well-trained lay volunteers on Saturday mornings and Tuesday nights to ensure this vital work. The school classrooms were used by the religious education students and the usual problems of joint use arose. With dialogue and good will the work continued and with Sister Mary Glynn and later Sister Mary Patrice Watson at the helm the programs flourished. Sister Loretto Moynihan continued Sister Mary’s excellent work with RCIA and bible study. 706 Bayview Avenue was a hive of activity day and night except Sundays!
After Mother Gabriel MacMahon, Mother Carmel Kehoe became principal. She was followed by Sister Mary Joseph O’Reilly (the title “Mother” was dropped), Sister Gabriel Delaney, Sister Genevieve Vigil and Sister Ena Maguire. The latter retired in 2002 and since then the school has been under lay leadership. The current principal is Ms. Nancy Kuria.
Changes since 1951 are quite striking. Oil derricks and pumps profiled the landscape everywhere, including the Church parking lot (playground of the first Saints Peter and Paul Elementary), and convent backyard. The rhythmic sound of oil being pumped filled the air. When a well was being drilled or repaired the noise was incredible as the drill dug into the earth and long pipes were raised up high and lowered into the ground. The work went on for 24 hours sometimes for a week. The walls of our new convent were slightly cracked on one nearby job. The parish was compensated and we Sisters received 10 lbs of See’s Candy to make up for our sleepless nights! Now most signs of oil resources are gone literally underground. It is reported that Wilmington has one of the largest oil fields in the U.S.
Palos Verdes was open hillside with winding roads and spectacular views wiht few houses. TOday, every foot of prime land has a house with a maze of roads covering the hills. The views remain spectacular!
In Willmington, apartment buildings replaced single family dwellings. From a mainly Caucasian population, Wilmington is now multi-cultural and a good knowledge of Spanish is most desirable. St. Philomena’s parish started in 1956. Five Cluny Sisters went to this new Carson parish to teach catechism every Sunday morning for several years. The Sisters taught in garages, rectory and church lobby. Chaotic, but the young nuns were zealous. Fr. O’Callaghan and parishioners were grateful. When that parish school opened we had fewer students in SPPS from the Carson area but others came. The port has grown to an immense size and provides employment to a large sector of Wilmington’s population.
Along with all this growth has come a break-down in family life, ever increasing drug use and crime and a sense of rootlessness. At SPPS we have been able to maintain a safe environment, a place where children feel loved and respected for who they are. We follow an established routine so that they have a sense of security and stability for six hours a day. Disagreements are negotiated and generous sharing of learning, eating, and playing space is required and rewarded. Para-liturgies, highlighting feasts and holidays, augment our formal religious education and school programs give scope to musical and artistic ability. Students know they are loved and appreciated. Total enrollment is under 300, creating a small, safe-community atmosphere, knowing everyone by name, a genuine interest in each one and their families.
Students of Saints Peter and Paul are engendered with pride in their Wilmington community. They are encouraged to visit local historical places, grateful to those coming beforet them, on whose shoulders they stand, inheriting a rich legacy.
Staff
Saints Peter and Paul School has an experienced and dedicated group of teachers and administrators. Each teacher strives to create a supportive and challenging classroom atmosphers that allows children to reach their full potential. Teachers and curriculum are certified by the State of California. There are nine (9) classroom teachers and four specialty teachers: Technology, Music. P.E., and Art. The school also has a part-time librarian.
Staff Directory (hyperlink) (to create a hyperlink use the chain symbol in the menu)
Pix of Principal, Nancy Kuria - with personal message of welcome and values -
School Uniforms
Students at Saints Peter and Paul are expected to adhere to the uniform code. Parents are required to supply uniforms. Uniforms are purchased from the ____________catelog, or through the following link: <>
Uniform exchanges are sponsored by the PTO - with variable dates. Please check.......
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