History

Around 1890, a school was established and conducted by two Benedictine sisters. Due to the economic conditions, this school was closed by the spring of 1893. In 1907, a parish school was reopened and classes were held in the church basement. In 1910, the present school property was purchased, and a new building was built. When the school was ready for students, it began with eight grades and a commercial course was offered after the eighth year. This course was dropped and a regular high school was added in 1915. The first high school graduation was held in 1920, and the last graduation was held in 1932. Ninth grade was re-added in 1933 to form a junior high. This system continued through 1973. In 1955, Immaculate Conception Parish consisted of 900 families. The decision was made to form two parishes. Thus, Holy Name Parish was established in August of 1955. Holy Name School was opened in the fall of 1957 and held classes for students in grades one through nine, staffed by the Bernadine Sisters. In 1966, the Bernadine Sisters withdrew from the school to return to Pennsylvania, and the

school was closed.

After more than a year of construction, the new Immaculate Conception School addition was dedicated on August 30, 1964. The addition included eight classrooms, a library, administrative office, a gym with locker rooms, kitchen, and enclosed the fore tower from the old and new building. In keeping with the times, innovative programs were established at the school. A dual enrollment system with the Watertown Junior High School for the seventh and eighth grades began in the fall of 1971. Kindergarten began in the fall of 1973-1974. The late 1980's started a trend of changes at the school. Due to a decrease in enrollment, seventh and eighth grade was closed in 1985.

During the summer of 1989, a significant building project occurred. The 1939 school was demolished, and a portion of the school was remodeled. The remodeling added four classrooms, a new library, and three office spaces. This project also created a space for preschool for 4-5 years olds to begin in the fall of 1989. In 2000 preschool for 3-4 year olds was implemented. In 2002 another milestone was reached with Kindergarten becoming an all day every day program.