Blessed Sacrament School celebrates 25th anniversary

Courtesy photo/Blessed Sacrament School

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Blessed Sacrament School's 277 students gather on the altar of the church with the pastor, Monsignor Robert Servatius, to sing happy birthday to the school.

SANDY — Blessed Sacrament School will celebrate its silver anniversary with a birthday party during the school’s gala fundraiser, Spring Fest, which will be April 30.

"This is a big celebration for us and we are combining it with our Spring Fest, which provides funds to help with our learning resource center and other operations in the school," said Monsignor Robert Servatius, pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish. "The school began in 1986, and we have flourished over these 25 years, completing the building."

The school’s first eighth-grade class graduated in 1994 and many of the students go on to the local Catholic high schools, Msgr. Servatius said. "We’re looking forward to moving ahead for another 25 years."

Dominican Sisters Barbara Stanek and Sharon Carroll, along with Msgr. Servatius, established the school in 1986 at the request of the Most Rev. William K. Weigand, then Bishop of Salt Lake City.

"We started out with very little," Msgr. Servatius said. "We didn’t have any school furniture or a school. We started with classes in the parish center while the first phase of the school was being built. Now we have a full complex, with a pre-kindergarten through eighth grade classes, a library and the learning resource center, a gymnasium/auditorium, and our recent addition, which accommodates the science, music, art and Spanish departments."

The first principals were Sr. Barbara and Sr. Sharon, from 1986 to 1995. Holy Cross Sister Catherine Kamphaus (now superintendent of Utah Catholic Schools) was principal from 1995 to 1998; Jim Markosian from 1998 to 2003; Judy Julian from 2003 to 2010; and Matt DeVoll from 2010 to present.

The school has been recognized as the 2010 and 2011 Community Cares Utah State School of Character; received the 2008, 2009 and 2010 National Promising Practice Award for its monthly student program linking a virtue, a saint and a service project; new family mentoring program and interfaith meditation garden.

"There have been a lot of celebrations in connection with the anniversary," said Sonia West, the school’s director of advancement. "In February, we had a big birthday celeb ration for the school, where all 277 kids gathered on the altar with Msgr. Servatius in the church and sang happy birthday to the school. We videotaped it and we’ll show that with a champagne toast at the Spring Fest."

West also made a 12 foot by nine foot paper birthday cake with five tiers and 277 candles; on each candle is a photo of a student. The paper cake hangs in the school hallway.

Angie Larson, chairperson of the annual Spring Fest, said parents, grandparents and friends of the school can also celebrate this milestone and the excellence of education provided at Blessed Sacrament School by attending the Spring Fest.

"We have such great support by the parishioners of both Blessed Sacrament Parish and Saint Thomas More Parish," Larson said. "This is our annual gala and our goal is to raise between $50,000 and $60,000 for the school."

The Spring Fest will be April 30 at the Salt Lake City Marriott Center, 220 S. State St., from 5 p.m. to midnight, with dinner, dancing and silent and live auctions.