Sacred Heart Schools celebrates 125th anniversary

Last Sunday, Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton (SHS) concluded a yearlong celebration of its 125th milestone anniversary. Festivities were marked by a Congé (pictured below), French for “leave taking,” a traditional — often surprise — day of play for students observed by Sacred Heart schools worldwide.

The institution’s long history as a top independent Bay Area preschool—12th grade school is chronicled on its 125th anniversary website developed to showcase the theme, “125 Years – Educating For A Lifetime.”

The website is the culmination of a two-year-long project by Sacred Heart Preparatory (SHP) librarians and students who assembled a visual timeline of the school’s growth from thousands of photographs housed in the historic SHS Main Building archive room.

On August 1, 1898, SHS opened its doors to its first 23 students. Since then, the school has expanded to a vibrant, co-educational day school for 1,185 students, situated on 63 acres.

Sacred Heart’s Main Building (pictured below) — the first structure built on campus — is considered an architectural jewel of the San Francisco Peninsula; it survived both the 1906 earthquake and the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, although both caused damage.

Over 300 Religious of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (RSCJ) have served on the school’s grounds since 1898. The school’s Catholic identity, mission, and goals mirror the historic priorities of the RSCJ, founded by Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat, who also established the first Sacred Heart schools in post-revolutionary France.

“For 125 years, what has remained constant throughout our growth has been the school’s dedication to service,” said Sister Nancy Morris, the former SHS director of schools from 1971 to 1989, who still lives on campus adjacent to the RSCJ retirement center, Oakwood.

To mark its 125th anniversary, the school’s iconic Main Building underwent a timely restoration project of its two historic parlors.

Said SHS Director of Schools Richard Dioli: “We are paving the way for the next 125 years, preparing students to meet tomorrow’s challenges with compassionate hearts.”

Photos courtesy of Sacred Heart Schools