Saint Amborse School

Saint Ambrose School

Ground breaking for the school took place on July 17, 1935. While the building was under construction, five Sisters of Providence from St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana arrived in August: Sister Francis Jerome, Sister Margaret Josephine, Sister Josephine Therese, Sister Bernard Marie and Sister Mary Aquila. They were warmly greeted by Father O?Toole and his then assistant, Father Raymond Tepe. The first convent for the Sisters was the large house on Hayworth Avenue just behind the church property, which had been the religious education center. School opened in September, in temporary quarters in the convent. Ted Smith was the first of over 100 students to enroll that year, and the first of many to follow.

During the years that followed, the parish community grew as the city expanded westward. School enrollment continued to increase. On October 6, 1935, Sr. Rose de Lourdes arrived to add the number of teachers. By November the school was ready for occupancy; on November 24, 130 students participated in the school dedication with both civic and religious ceremonies.

The 1940's brought a change in school administration. Sister Mary Raymond came very well equipped with calmness, kindness, and fairness well suited to teaching our students. A competent and capable teacher, she remained unruffled through their many adolescent pranks. World War II brought new activities to St. Ambrose. The Red Cross Ladies knitted socks and scarves and packed Red Cross boxes for our servicemen overseas. There were paper drives, scrap iron drives, and air-raid drills. The School building, as well as the Convent, was made of poured concrete over steel reinforcement. The School therefore was designated a civil defense shelter. Gasoline, coffee, sugar, and meat rationing went hand in hand with War savings bonds. For all these efforts the school was awarded the coveted Minute Man Flag, which was flown proudly over the School for many years.

Academically, St. Ambrose School always provided a first class education for not only the children of parishioners but also to non-Catholics and children of those working in the area but living elsewhere. Scholarships to Catholic High Schools were abundant as were honors at entrance awards.

The 1950's continued the tradition of excellence in education and involvement in school and parish activities. Taking first place in the Tidings drive was a joyful achievement for each of the years 1957 through 1960. St. Ambrose students had always thrown themselves wholeheartedly into any collection efforts, be it to ransom pagan babies, sell Christmas Seals, collect newspapers or sell Tidings subscriptions. But to be first in the Archdiocesan subscription drive was a significant achievement.

In 1961, the entire School was renovated to provide eight state-of-the-art classrooms. But the School was now without a cafeteria and the Parish was without a place to gather. So, in 1963 the last Parish building was completed on the site of former residential court south of the School. The Parish Hall, with its spacious and well-equipped kitchen, ample storage facilities, school library and music rooms, was a welcome and much needed and used addition for the parish community and its various activities.

The late 60's saw the widening of Fairfax Avenue. With this project came the loss of the cool green lawns in front of the School. Sister Marie Kathleen was followed by Sister Helen Dolores as principal. The increase in the number of school classrooms in 1961 had necessitated the hiring of lay teachers. Tribute must certainly be paid to the many dedicated lay person who have labored untiringly, and often at a financial sacrifice, for the students at St. Ambrose. Without their assistance, untold benefits would not have been realized, for they, too, have continued the tradition of excellence begun so long ago.

1980 saw the passing of three beloved teachers: Sister Mary Aguila, Sister Mary Augusta and Sister Marie Monica, the principle from 1953 -1958. Sister Catherine Elizabeth continued as principal until 1982, when Sr. Edna Scheller brought her capable and concerned involvement to St. Ambrose.

In the years since the founding of the parish, the demographics of the local community changed much. What had been streets lined with mostly single family homes, gave way to multi-storied apartment houses. What had been a region of traditionally structured families became an area composed of a mixture of all types of family structures and life styles. This diverse community, which once had been fairly homogeneous, was now characterized by persons from diverse backgrounds, cultures, religious affiliations, languages, lifestyles, and customs. In 1993, with a declining student population, the St. Ambrose School was closed.