By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
St. Malachy School is having a birthday party.
The elementary school, which is connected to St. Malachy Church, at 595 East Ogden Ave., in Geneseo, reaches a milestone anniversary in the 2023-2024 school year and plans are in place for a weekend of special events.
Light refreshments will be served and activities will get underway in the Parish Hall after the 5 p.m. Mass on Saturday, Feb. 3, and after 8:15 and 10:30 a.m. Masses on Sunday, Feb. 4.
Members of the community are invited to the weekend celebration which also includes an open house in the school after each of the Masses.
The Most Rev. Louis Tylka, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Peoria, will celebrate the 10:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, Feb. 4, at St. Malachy Church. Sixth grade students at St. Malachy School will make up the choir and provide readings at the Mass.
The anniversary celebration is being held in conjunction with Catholic Schools Week, Jan. 28-Feb. 4.
Tim Smith is principal of St. Malachy School which has an enrollment of 124 students in kindergarten through sixth grade.
According to records, the first parish school was built in 1923 at 208 East Park St. in Geneseo, and was originally staffed by Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa Mound, Wis. By 1966, more classroom space was needed for the growing enrollment and four new classrooms were added.
At that time enrollment was 229 students in grades 1-8, and the school staff included four nuns and four lay teachers.
In 1972, the nuns were withdrawn from the school and seven lay teachers were employed, and the student body was reduced to six grades. Kindergarten was added in 1981.
Due to continued growth of St. Malachy Church, a new education center was built as part of the parish complex on East Ogden Ave. in Geneseo.
Students and teachers moved to their new classrooms on April 3, 1989. In August of 2010, an additional two classrooms, a gymnasium and several office spaces were added to the church/school complex.
ST. MALACHY SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT:
“The mission of St. Malachy School (kindergarten – grade 6) is to teach that Christ is the center of our lives, and it is through Him that we educate and develop the whole child in a safe and nurturing environment.”
In searching for history about St. Malachy School, I found this:
“WHAT MAKES ST. MALACHY SCHOOL SPECIAL”:
-“Christian values permeate the classroom lessons.
-Unique opportunities exist to build character, self-confidence and leadership.
-Family atmosphere is enhanced by the support of the Parents Club.
-Students attend Mass or prayer services weekly.
-All students attend STEM, music, art, computer, library, and health/wellness classes.
-The yearly All-School Project expands students’ horizons to consider the cultures of people throughout the country and world.
-The excellent teachers choose to teach in our school.
-St. Malachy parishioners contribute generously to the endowment and tuition assistance funds.
-St. Malachy Catholic School is accredited by North Central Association, Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI).”
First Grade
Second Grade
Sixth Graders
