The Sacred Heart School History
Sacred Heart School is the
parish school of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Parish in Hampton, New
Hampshire. Sacred Heart School was founded in response to the expressed
need of parents who wished to provide a Catholic education for their
children. In September 1963, under the leadership of pastor Msgr.
Matthew Casey and principal Sr. Mary Barnea, SM, Sacred Heart opened
with students in grades 4 and 5.
The administration continued
to add another grade each year, beginning with junior high grades, until
the Grade 1 through Grade 8 elementary school was complete.
The first class
graduated in 1967.
Sacred
Heart School flourished through the 1970s, reaching a maximum
enrollment of approximately 250. In 1983, Msgr. James Watson became
pastor and appointed Jeffrey Quinn principal of the school. In 1984,
at the request of Principal Quinn, a Kindergarten program was
established at SHS.
When Fr.
George Ham became pastor in 1988, he appointed Sister Mary Francena
Morin, SM, principal. After Sr. Francena’s retirement in 1993, Sister
Mary Joan Walsh, OLL, was appointed. In 1994, Sr. Mary Joan identified
a need that was not being met in the greater community and began a
full-day Kindergarten program. During this time period, a
Pre-Kindergarten program was added, along with an Extended-Care program
for students who need to arrive earlier or leave later than the regular
school-day hours.
The
current Sacred Heart School leadership team includes pastor Fr. Maurice
Larochelle and principal Mrs. Catherine Smith. The school enrolls
about 340 students in Pre-kindergarten through Grade 8. For a capsule
summary of Facts about Sacred Heart School, please follow the link
below.
