PITTSBURG — As some Catholic schools close their doors due to rising costs and shifting demographics, St. Peter Martyr School is ready to mark its 75th anniversary, with students working on turning their classrooms into “museums.”
To coincide with the celebration, students will create exhibits representing different decades of the school, providing a glimpse into its history and how it has evolved. The project has become a path of discovery for students, as they tackle their assigned moments in time.
Students will showcase their work during a reunion on April 26.
Currently, the 75th Student Committee, made up of middle school students, meets every Monday after school and is responsible for creating the aesthetic for their projects. They plan to interview alumni along with former and current faculty members to turn their stories and experiences into exhibits.
The project also is an opportunity for students to discover new things, their strengths and abilities.
Isaiah Makena Lugo, 13, who is researching the 1980s, has taken a liking to some songs from artists such as Michael Jackson, Prince, and Madonna.
“I never knew a lot about these songs but wow, I’ve enjoyed them. I liked listening to Prince, Madonna, and other artists,” said Lugo.
He said the project has helped him manage his time, work with other students, and know that it’s OK to make mistakes.
“I feel like I’m achieving something by helping and going through the school history,” said Lugo. “It’s helping me to tell stories.”
Miguel Cabrera and Vaka Bloomfield, both assigned to the 1990s, have learned about various sports activities the school had.
“They had so many, like track and field, lacrosse, tennis, and others, but we don’t have them now,” said Cabrera, 12, who said he is good at doing “deep dives” for information.
Bloomfield, 14, said he found out about different slang words used in the 90s.
“My mom used to say bomb.com and I Googled it and found out it’s from the 90s, so that’s why she says it,” chuckled Bloomfield. “It all sounds corny to me, but my mom says that’s what they used to say back in the day.”
Bloomfield is working on composing a piano score for a video exhibit, tweaking the school’s anthem, which was originally composed on a guitar and sung a cappella.
“It was the first time I tweaked the song and when I did that, I was really proud of myself,” said Bloomfield.
Milania Davis, 14, said working on the anniversary project has given her a chance to honor the deep sense of community fostered in the school.
“I cannot stress enough how beautiful the community here is at our school,” said Davis. “I used to be isolated, but I’ve grown to be an incredible human being, and I owe a lot of that to the community as everyone is supportive.”
She hopes that visitors, especially former students, will feel nostalgic and like they have been transported to their younger days as they view the exhibits.
“I think it’s really special to bring our guests and the people who walk through the museum into what St. Peter Martyr looked like throughout the years,” she said.
History teacher Joanne Davi said the school is more than just an academic institution. It has been a foundation for students who have gone on to become local leaders, small business owners, and even NFL players.
Davi said the school has always been a pillar of the community in Pittsburg and has fostered a deep-rooted connection between it and the city.
“I looked at photos of the school’s events and saw my grandmother had volunteered here, she didn’t go to school here either, but those days, people turned up for every event at the school,” said Davi. “I feel like this school was so interconnected, like Pittsburg’s history moves with (the school’s) history, if that makes sense.”
Principal Katie Wilson, an alumnus, said her family has been part of the school since 1989. Wilson graduated in 2000 and returned to work there 13 years later.
With 179 students and a dedicated team of educators, Wilson takes pride in the school’s personalized approach to education. Although it has been around for decades, Wilson said many in the community are unaware of it.
“We often joke that we’re the best-kept secret in Pittsburg,” said Wilson.
To change that, the school has undertaken a rebranding initiative.
“We want to offer families another option for high-quality, faith-based education in a nurturing, tight-knit environment,” said Wilson. “Part of this anniversary celebration is also to engage our community and tell our alumni that we are still here.”
There is always a fear of closure, but Wilson said St.Peter Martyr has been thriving. Aside from grants, the school does not rely on outside funding and is mostly run on tuition fees and fundraising.
“We are able to provide financial assistance so students can attend here, so part of bringing back our alumni is to get some help with fundraising so that we can (continue providing) great education to students in Pittsburg,” said Wilson.