Saint Clare School is a Roman Catholic elementary school operated by Saint Clare Parish in Santa Clara, California, in the United States. It serves families of the Diocese of San Jose, from kindergarten to eighth grade. Saint Clare School was founded in 1856 by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and is located next to Santa Clara University (formerly Santa Clara College).
St. Clare School's motto is "Teach them what they need to know for life” St. Clare School is the oldest primary school in Silicon Valley and is one of the oldest schools in California. Secondary schools to St. Clare are Notre Dame High School for girls and Bellarmine High Schools for boys and were both founded in 1851. San Francisco's Spring Valley Science Magnet School, was founded in 1852 and is the oldest Public School in California. School Programs:
- America Reads Program - Tutors from Santa Clara University help kids read early.
- Silver Box - Successful program for promoting values and behavioral expectations.
- Silver Circle - 6th-8th graders break into small group of peers they meet with regularly.
School Accreditations: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Western Catholic Educational Association
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Timeline
1856 Saint Clare School is founded as a primary school by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur who came to create one of the earliest school systems in California. It is built next to Mission Santa Clara and the recently built Santa Clara College (1851) later known as the University of Santa Clara. The school serves the growing numbers of settlers in Santa Clara County. The sisters also build and run a secondary school, Notre Dame High School (San Jose, California) for girls in nearby San Jose that is the sister school to Santa Clara Prep (later known as Bellarmine College Preparatory for boys). 1925 Saint Clare Parish is built next to St Clare School. A fire in 1926 destroys the 96 year old Mission Santa Clara. The new parish becomes the Sunday service focal point for St. Clare School families that had been attending Mission Santa Clara. 1952 School fund raised $138,000 to build a new convent for the school teachers located across from the school at 725 Washington Street Santa Clara, CA 95050. This building is now the St. Clare Rectory where the parish priests live. 1956 School celebrates 100th Anniversary. Ever increasing enrollment demand on St. Clare School causes the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco to authorize the creation of nearby St. Martin School in 1955 and St. Justin School in 1958. 1958 August 7, 1958 - A new junior high school was built across Washington street from the school, next door to the St. Clare convent. [1] 1998 Sisters of Notre Dame turn over control of the school to incoming Principal Kathy Almazol and the priests of St. Clare Parish. Principal Kathy Almazol starts the schools' innovative "Silver Box" program based on Ephesians, (4:29), "Do not use harmful words but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you." 2006 School Celebrates 150th anniversary.
Administration control of St. Clare School
- 1864-1974 Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
- 1976-1998 Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM)
- 1998-Present Principal Kathy Almazol, St. Clare Parish, Diocese of San Jose
Notable Alumni
Sonya Paz attended 1972-1976 - Celebrated Silicon Valley artist.
Notes
- ^ Santa Clara News August 1958
