Sacred Heart School (Saratoga, California)
Encyclopedia
Sacred Heart School in Saratoga, California
, USA is a private co-educational Roman Catholic school. The school grades range from pre-school Montessori for 4–5 year olds through junior high school (8th grade). The school is attached to Sacred Heart Church
which was the first Roman Catholic church in Saratoga. Both the school and church are attached to the Diocese of San Jose. The current principal of Sacred Heart is Arlene Bertolotti and current enrollment is approximately 350 students. The school colors are red and white and their mascot is the Mustang
.
and first reconciliation
. Students who reach the 8th grade and are Roman Catholic participate in the sacrament of Confirmation.
All students are required to wear uniforms. Boys generally wear white polo shirts with blue pants while girls wear plaid jumpers and in the junior high grades, skirts. In the late 1990s students were ordered to wear school-specific exercise clothes for physical education as well.
In addition to the primary school building, Sacred Heart includes Geary Hall, originally used as the church building proper before the addition of the current church building. Geary Hall now serves as the school's gym/theater for sports including Basketball and Volleyball as well as physical education classes. Other sports students can participate in are flag football, softball, and track.
During the renovation and rebuilding of the neighboring Saratoga Public Library, Sacred Heart School leased part of the school's playground to house a temporary library in trailers so that the library was not forced to close completely during the renovation. This greatly reduced the amount of space for students to utilize during recess times, however it was deemed a worthy compromise for the community.
The Diocese of San Jose, being a relatively young diocese, recently underwent its first transition of power from one bishop to his successor in 1998–1999. The diocese first bishop Pierre DuMaine
and his successor Patrick Joseph McGrath
. Bishop McGrath chose Sacred Heart as his temporary residence during the transition period when both DuMaine and himself were co-bishops of the diocese.
Sacred Heart was also going to be one of the first schools to utilize solar power
to provide 50+ kilowatts of power to power the school as part of the statewide clean energy program. Unfortunately budget shortfalls in the Diocese of San Jose ended the project before it could be completed.
Saratoga, California
Saratoga is a city in Santa Clara County, California, USA. It is located on the west side of the Santa Clara Valley, directly west of San Jose, in the San Francisco Bay area. The population was 29,926 at the 2010 census....
, USA is a private co-educational Roman Catholic school. The school grades range from pre-school Montessori for 4–5 year olds through junior high school (8th grade). The school is attached to Sacred Heart Church
Sacred Heart church
-India:* Sacred Heart Malankara Catholic Church, Mylapra, also known as Sacred Heart Church, in Kerala, India* Sacred Heart Church, Puducherry * Sacred Heart Forane Church Thiruvambady,Kozhikode,Kerala-Indonesia:...
which was the first Roman Catholic church in Saratoga. Both the school and church are attached to the Diocese of San Jose. The current principal of Sacred Heart is Arlene Bertolotti and current enrollment is approximately 350 students. The school colors are red and white and their mascot is the Mustang
Mustang (horse)
A Mustang is a free-roaming horse of the North American west that first descended from horses brought to the Americas by the Spanish. Mustangs are often referred to as wild horses, but there is intense debate over terminology...
.
History
Sacred Heart School was founded in 1955 after Sacred Heart Parish moved from what is now downtown Saratoga to the school's current location on Saratoga Avenue. The school opened its doors in 1957 as a 4-grade school. However the school was quickly expanded both physically and in the number of grades to incorporate K–8 educational levels. It would remain as such until the school was further expanded in 2000 with the addition of the pre-K programs. The average class size of Sacred Heart is 26 students in a homeroom class. Subjects taught include all state mandated subjects such as Social Studies, Math, and Science as well as the addition of Religious Studies courses. Students in the 2nd Grade that are Roman Catholic participate in the sacraments first communionEucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
and first reconciliation
Sacrament of Penance (Catholic Church)
In the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation is the method by which individual men and women may be freed from sins committed after receiving the sacrament of Baptism...
. Students who reach the 8th grade and are Roman Catholic participate in the sacrament of Confirmation.
All students are required to wear uniforms. Boys generally wear white polo shirts with blue pants while girls wear plaid jumpers and in the junior high grades, skirts. In the late 1990s students were ordered to wear school-specific exercise clothes for physical education as well.
In addition to the primary school building, Sacred Heart includes Geary Hall, originally used as the church building proper before the addition of the current church building. Geary Hall now serves as the school's gym/theater for sports including Basketball and Volleyball as well as physical education classes. Other sports students can participate in are flag football, softball, and track.
During the renovation and rebuilding of the neighboring Saratoga Public Library, Sacred Heart School leased part of the school's playground to house a temporary library in trailers so that the library was not forced to close completely during the renovation. This greatly reduced the amount of space for students to utilize during recess times, however it was deemed a worthy compromise for the community.
The Diocese of San Jose, being a relatively young diocese, recently underwent its first transition of power from one bishop to his successor in 1998–1999. The diocese first bishop Pierre DuMaine
Pierre DuMaine
Roland Pierre DuMaine is an American Roman Catholic bishop. He was the Bishop of San José in California for the first 18 years of the diocese. Bishop DuMaine attended St. Joseph College, Mountain View, California, and St. Patrick Seminary in Menlo Park, California. Bishop DuMaine was ordained...
and his successor Patrick Joseph McGrath
Patrick Joseph McGrath
Patrick Joseph McGrath is the second Roman Catholic Bishop of San José in California, USA. Known as P.J., McGrath was born in Dublin, Republic of Ireland....
. Bishop McGrath chose Sacred Heart as his temporary residence during the transition period when both DuMaine and himself were co-bishops of the diocese.
Sacred Heart was also going to be one of the first schools to utilize solar power
Solar power
Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun, has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar radiation, along with secondary solar-powered resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of the available...
to provide 50+ kilowatts of power to power the school as part of the statewide clean energy program. Unfortunately budget shortfalls in the Diocese of San Jose ended the project before it could be completed.