Saint Andrew Elementary School, Riverton, opens with anticipation and gratitude

Intermountain Catholic

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Father Francisco Pirez prays during the Consecration of the first Mass celebrated at Saint Andrew Elementary School Nov. 24. The newest school in the Diocese of Salt Lake City Catholic School System opened Aug. 20 to students in grades pre-kindergarten through grade 5. St. Andrew Parish and School is in Riverton and the school will be a second feeder school for Juan Diego Catholic High School. The first Spanish and English Masses at the new school Aug. 24. drew more than 300 people each. ?We drew more people than we expected,? said Fr. Pires.

RIVERTON — The students who came back to school at St. Andrew Elementary School in Riverton have the honor of being the school’s very first students. The teachers and staff of the newest school in the Diocese of Salt Lake City’s Catholic school system welcomed their students Aug. 20.

The school, located at 11835 South 3600 West in Riverton, is alive with vivid colors. Holy Cross Sister Karla McKinnie is the principal of the new school, and she oversaw the building of the school with Father Francisco Pires, pastor of St. Andrew Parish.

Built through the generosity of the ALSAM Foundation, St. Andrew Elementary School will be a second feeder school for Juan Diego Catholic High School at the Skaggs Catholic Center, the first feeder school being St. John the Baptist Elementary and Middle Schools.

"We have 110 students registered now in grades pre-kindergarten through five," said Sr. Karla. "Eventually we will have grades pre-kindergarten through eight, and our maximum capacity is 300 students."

In addition to the regular academic classes, St. Andrew Elementary School offers extended day care beginning at 7 a.m. and ending at 6 p.m. Currently, grades four and five are combined in one classroom. As the student population increases, that class will be split.

Ground was officially broken for the new school Sept. 1, 2007, but initial construction and leveling of the land began in June 2007, Fr. Pires said. "Replacing the soil for the foundation took a month, and because of compaction of the original soil we had to replace from seven to eight feet of soil. Then, we had to add more soil for the parking lot."

Fr. Pires now has 350 families registered in St. Andrew Parish. They have been gathering for Masses in both English and Spanish in a nearby theater Megaplex. With the school open, Masses are being moved to the school, which has plenty of open space and a full-size gymnasium that seats 500 or more.

"Both Masses have been crowded at the Megaplex," said Fr. Pires. "Each one fills a theater that has 250 seats. For some time I have been celebrating a Saturday evening Mass in a basement chapel of the rectory. That Mass has been drawing about 40 people."

The rectory is a house nearby the school.

The establishment of St. Andrew Parish and School in Riverton reflects the growth of the population in the southwest part of the Salt Lake Valley, said Sr. Karla.

Fr. Pires said he had no idea how many Catholics were living in the area until they began offering Masses at the Megaplex. "That has been a big surprise for us. The Hispanic community, especially, has grown, but both Masses have seen increases in numbers. There are as many Hispanic families as there are Anglo families out here."

Sr. Karla held her first teachers’ meeting Aug. 11, and then she held a second meeting Aug. 18. On Aug. 14, parents were invited to meet the teachers. Parents were among the volunteers who were setting up classrooms the week before school opened.

"We’ve moved from meeting with the architect, Stephanie McCarthy, from EDA Architects, Margie Howell, project manager from Culp Construction and Ken Fackrell, Culp Construction’s on-site head to meeting with teachers, parents, and new students," said Sr. Karla, who assisted in the planning and opening of the Skaggs Catholic Center. "Of course, this has been easier because it’s much smaller, but it’s only been Fr. Pires and me, so there’s been a lot of pressure."

From the front door of the school, students will enter into a common area, from which the classrooms, computer labs, and administration offices extend. Outside the front door of the school is a large courtyard that will be the home of the new St. Andrew Catholic Church when it is built.

The school has six teachers, an aide for the pre-kindergarten class, and an aide for the kindergarten class. Eventually, St. Karla would like to hire four more teachers. In addition to a computer lab, the school has a science lab. In one of the empty classrooms for the upper grades, Sr. Karla said a temporary chapel will be put in place to facilitate children’s Masses. All classrooms are wired for cable television and the Internet.

"We’ve been blessed in that we’ve been able to get used televisions and other equipment through the old Cottonwood Hospital," said Sr. Karla. "We’ve gotten other items like carts and furnishings through Discovercard."

Both Sr. Karla and Fr. Pires said they would like to see the enrollment expand and more school volunteers to assist with special programs, after-school activities, and sports.

"People are excited about this school," said Fr. Pires.

The school and parish colors are blue and gold. Their logo is a circle with the Wasatch mountains above trisected portions that show a dolphin (the school’s teams will be called the River Dolphins), a fishing boat drawn from scriptures, and a cross of St. Andrew.

The school and parish will be dedicated Saturday, Sept. 13 at 2 p.m. The dedication will be followed by a reception to which everyone is welcome.

After all the building, there are still goals. Fr. Pires said he would like to see the church built in six years.

"We are depending on the growing population in this area," he said.

On the weekend of Aug. 24, the parish moved its Masses from the multiplex to the gathering space of St. Andrew School. Fr. Pires said he plans to move the Mass into the school gymnasium as soon as the bleachers are installed.

"I’m so filled with emotion," said Jo Rae Kay. "Seeing the parking lot filled… This is a monumental day for us. It’s a dream come true."

Toni and Bill Batt said that Aug. 24 was the first time they were in the new building. "This is wonderful," Toni said.

Michelle Mulcahy, who has two children in the school, said she is thrilled with the school and with Mass in the new building. "My kids love their new teachers."

Kendra and John Wheeler said they liked having Mass celebrated in the new school building. "This is the first time we’ve been in the building, and it’s really beautiful," said Kendra.

The early Spanish Mass Aug. 24, was filled to overflowing. Fr. Pires said they’d set up 300 chairs, but had to bring more chairs down from the school cafeteria to accommodate all the people. The later English Mass drew almost as many worshippers.

"Welcome to our school," Fr. Pires said at the English Mass. "We thank all the people who made it possible for us to have our own worship space. We thank the Skaggs family and the ALSAM Foundation, and we thank Bishop Wester and Msgr. (J. Terrence) Fitzgerald (diocesan vicar general). They have helped us open this building to all people as a school and a parish facility.

"…The most special thing we can do in this special place is celebrate the Eucharist. We’re getting new enrollments every day. Our teachers and our students will set an example of the best that can be achieved," Fr. Pires said, comparing the new teachers and students to the Olympic heroes. "It isn’t easy to begin a new school. We have a new set of heroes.

"Saint Peter was a hero, too. He was a rock of the faith. We should all work toward being like St. Peter, who knew who Jesus was. When people ask us who Jesus is, we should all give them a personal answer."

For further information about St. Andrew School and Parish call 801-254-8600 or go to their web site:www.Standrewut.org.