THE CHILDREN

Originally, the plans called for a school to be built on what is now the parking lot along Land Park Drive. However, the neighbors would not agree to a zoning variance to accommodate the school buildings and playground areas.

Only two parcels of sufficient size were available within a reasonable distance of the church. One five-acre plot situated behind the Edmonds Field ball park was too small. The other, a much larger parcel owned by the Southern Pacific Co., was located alongside its tracks west of Land Park. Although Southern Pacific at first refused to sell the property, it eventually agreed to sell the lot in December 1946 at a cost of $10,000.

The original property did not include the area on which the convent is located. That lot was owned by Catherine Bennett, who agreed in February 1947 to trade it for an equal value lot taken off the north end of the school property.

In March 1947, a drive was instituted to raise funds for the proposed school. The drive generated over $40,000 in cash and pledges, enough to warrant starting the school.

On January 5, 1948 clearing of the property began with the removal of trees on West Land Park Drive. By March, the foundation had been laid and the brick walls had begun rising. Work proceeded rapidly and on September 20, 1948, the doors of the new school opened with 210 children already registered. The first unit of the school was prepared to handle children from kindergarten through Fourth Grade.

Four of the local Sisters of Mercy from St. Joseph's Academy assumed charge of the school. Sister M. Ita was appointed principal, assisted by Sisters M. Vincent, M. Stanislaus and M. Stephen. The sisters were required to commute from the Academy until a convent could be built for them on the school grounds.

In anticipation of building a school, McHugh established a kindergarten class on September 15, 1947, held in the parish hall. On Sunday, May 30, 1948, "graduation" exercises were held in the church for the 31 kindergarten pupils, with McHugh distributing the diplomas.

On March 30, 1950, a convent for the five Sisters teaching in the school was ready for occupancy. The school added a second wing in 1951 and an auditorium-gymnasium in 1962.

When the school first opened in 1947, McHugh established a novel tuition policy. Parishioners who use the Sunday contribution envelopes regularly, and contributed according to their means, were not required to pay any tuition. "No Catholic child living in this parish will ever be deprived of a Catholic education in Holy Spirit School because of lack of money," he said.

This policy prevailed regardless of the amount of the weekly contribution, provided the parishioner contributed according to conscience and according to available means through the Sunday envelope. McHugh reserved the right to form an opinion as to whether parents were contributing according to their means. If, in his opinion, they were not, they received a tuition bill. Any parishioner objecting to the bill was welcome to meet personally with the pastor to discuss it. Non-parishioners were required to pay tuition.

Unfortunately, due to increasing costs, the "No tuition" policy was discontinued beginning with the 1973-1974 school year.

In 1979, the Holy Spirit School Foundation Fund, a permanent trust fund the income from which would be used to help finance school operations, was created and administered by a group of parishioners.

Space does not permit a listing of all the Sisters and lay teachers who deserve praise and thanks for their work in the Holy Spirit School. The following are the names and tenures of the principals who served the school: