St. Mary's Prep in Denville celebrates 60 years of education

St. Mary's Prep elementary school in Denville celebrated its 60th anniversary in January during Catholic Schools Week with an alumni breakfast, ice cream sundaes, raffles and more.

On Jan. 29, students in the eighth-grade class ushered alumni through the halls into classrooms and around the school as the former students, teachers and administration reminisced about their earlier academic lives.

"I got a great education here that helped me throughout my life," said Susan Mills, a 1978 graduate of St. Mary's. "The school has changed in terms of technology and activities — we didn't have sports or a computer lab, but we did have a great science lab. I dissected my first frog here."

School built in '54

Before the actual building housing St. Mary's Prep was built, students attended classes at St. Mary's Parish starting in August 1947.

Organized by a small group of nuns from the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother ministry in Denville, elementary students were taught religion and trained for altar services and also conducted a girls' choir. These classes continued until construction of St. Mary's Prep was completed in 1954.

The school was built adjacent to the parish and included a middle school across the street (now the Denville municipal building) at a cost of $392,000. The buildings accommodated 300 students, from kindergarten to eighth grade.

According to a news article from around the time of construction, the school boasted the latest in modern architecture, including aluminum exterior windows, radiant heat in all rooms (except for the gymnasium), asphalt tile floors and an electronic clock system.

"I had a wonderful experience teaching at St. Mary's," said Geraldine Taormina, who taught third grade from 1966-72, then taught library science and sixth-grade science from 1991-97. "Middle school science was my first love, and I got to teach it here.".

Taormina's five children also graduated from St. Mary's.

Today, the school has been updated quite a bit from its original layout to include computer labs, library resources, a 3-D printer, a full-size stage for musical programs, an art and music room, and iPads and laptops for students to use.

Family spirit

Many graduates of St. Mary's have chosen to send their children to the school as well, including Mills, who has a daughter, Danielle, in eighth grade.

"The students are friendly and nice, and I feel challenged academically," said Danielle.

"I loved the family spirit here best," said Sister Mary Joan, who was principal from 1966 to 1975. "The supportive parents, the dedicated staff, and the volunteers — it's why the school is still here."

Initially, Sister Mary Joan had plans to become a nurse but was asked to teach for one year and stayed in the profession for 47 years. "I felt like I was really making a difference in children's lives," she said.

During a trip through the school, Diane Burton, a former principal of Riverview Elementary School in Denville and a former student at St. Mary's, spoke to the second-graders during physical education class.

"I remember being your age at this school, and I loved it," she told the students.

Students had many questions for the alumni, asking about the teaching differences, uniforms, and if they knew their parents when they went to St. Mary's.

In 1959, the school celebrated its first graduation of 39 eighth-grade students and 66 kindergartners. Each student received a diploma from Bishop James A. McNulty.

This year, 14 students in eighth grade and 26 kindergartners will graduate from St. Mary's Prep.

"Family, students, staff, alumni, parents, administrators: Together we are all St. Mary's," said Principal Margaret McCluskey as she addressed attendees at the anniversary celebration.

For more information, visit www.stmarysprep-denville.org.

Share your memories of St. Mary's Prep. Email eabreu@dailyrecord.com