Some Utah Catholic schools open academic year with facility improvements

Friday, Aug. 29, 2025

UTAH — As the 2025-26 school year started, many Utah Catholic schools welcomed their students with a variety of upgrades in their facilities.

J.E. Cosgriff Memorial Catholic School in Salt Lake City repaved the parking lot and added two classrooms to their facility with the help of a grant from the Skaggs Foundation, “which made this project possible,” said Mary Thorne, the school’s principal.

The two classrooms were needed to accommodate the growing school community and “to reduce class sizes and [provide] a more secure public entrance to ensure the safety of our students and staff,” she said.

Before this project the school had been able to split classes in grades kindergarten through third grade. 

“With the grant funding and this new construction, we are now able to add two more classrooms to split our fourth and fifth grades,” Thorne said. “This reduces class sizes from about 35 students to 15-17, which provides tremendous benefits for teaching and learning.” 

The project also allowed the school to increase K–5 enrollment to about 25 students per class, she said.

In addition to the new classrooms, a wellness room and an additional restroom, the remodel included a new secure single point of entry.

“Visitors will now be vetted at a vestibule window made of ballistic glass before entering the school, significantly enhancing campus safety,” Thorne said.

The classrooms are not yet in use; construction is scheduled to be completed by Sept. 15.

“In the meantime, we created temporary classrooms for kindergarten and first grade so that our fourth and fifth grades could immediately begin in smaller half-classes,” Thorne said. 

The teachers have told her that they are already seeing the benefits of reduced class sizes, “with students able to engage more actively and move around more comfortably,” she said. “Parents are excited as well, knowing their children will thrive with the new student-to-teacher ratio.”

The Catholic high schools also have made improvements.

The turf in Judge Memorial CHS’ McCarthey Stadium in Salt Lake City has been replaced.

“Our field was well past its expected lifespan. Most fields last about eight to 10 years, but we had been playing on ours for 13,” said James Cordova, JMCHS’ athletics director. 

Over the last year, Cordova, Principal Patrick Lambert and Jimmy Soto, director of advancement, explored a variety of options to improve the playing field surface. Most days, the stadium is used from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and “with this high level of use we needed to ensure that our students and future students are getting the best experience possible,” Lambert said.

“The new field was essential not only for improving the quality of play but also for ensuring the safety of our athletes,” Cordova said, adding that the project became possible “thanks to the generous support of our Judge community. A group of outstanding individuals recognized the need for an upgrade and stepped forward to help make it happen through their donations.”

The school broke ground on the project at the end of the school year and the turf has been installed. The new turf provides a cooler surface and delivers more cushion to the athletes, Lambert said. 

“The feedback from our student-athletes has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Cordova. “The upgraded turf and infill provide a safer, more consistent and more player-friendly surface.”

Juan Diego CHS, located in Draper, also underwent several renovations, all “designed to enhance student support, improve daily experiences and foster community on campus,” said Carrie Lentz, JDCHS advancement director.

JDCHS built a new testing center, tutoring spaces and a campus life center, expanded the St. Joseph Commons and relocated its uniform store. During the upcoming school year, the Black Box theater, eight new classrooms and outdoor courtyard and the expanded south campus entrance will be finished.

The new testing center provides students “with a quiet, focused environment for testing, tutoring and one-on-one instruction,” Lentz said. “This dedicated space supports academic success by offering an area free from distractions, ensuring students receive the individualized attention they need to thrive.”

The Saint Joseph’s Commons, where students eat lunch, “has been expanded to provide additional student seating and improve lunch period scheduling,” Lentz said. “With more room to gather, connect and enjoy meals together, students now benefit from a more comfortable and efficient lunchtime experience.”

The new Campus Life Center offers a “welcoming space for respite and rejuvenation,” she said. “In addition to providing a peaceful environment to recharge, the center also serves as a hub for meetings, event planning and preparation for Campus Life retreats, fostering student leadership and engagement.”

The uniform store, Saint Paul’s Place Storefront, was relocated to the southwest side of the high school. “Patrons can enjoy direct access to the store from the parking lot, while students will continue to access the shop from inside the building, making it easier than ever to purchase uniforms, spirit wear and school essentials,” Lentz said.

“Each new space was thoughtfully created to better serve our students, families and faculty while continuing our mission of providing an exceptional Catholic education,” Lentz said.