Katherine Parker, Hailey Trotter and Luke Hix celebrate the 60’s on Sept. 22
First Grade teacher Bethany Norton shows off her cool side.
Bob and Jeanine Mullin stand with their granddaughter, Marlee Mullin a seventh grade student, following the performance.
Fourth grade students, led by Collette McMahon, Anna Behlau and Kendall Mroz perform the finale to the dance “Middle of the Night.”
Longtime parishioners, Bernie and Janet Coombes pose with their son, Kevin, St. Jude School graduate, Class of 1971 at the parish picnic.
St. Jude School moms enjoyed spending time with their children on the activity field. Pictured, left to right, Angela Ripper, Ann McCain Shelby, St. Jude School Class of 1980 and Cherie Cravens.
It began with a group of families who gathered to worship and share their faith in a room over a drug store in Red Bank. It resulted in the formation of St. Jude Parish and in 1960, the opening of St. Jude Catholic School.
50 years later, the tradition of parochial education continues, true with the struggles that many Catholic schools in the country are facing, but without question, with a heritage and culture of family, faith and commitment.
Throughout this school year, students, faculty, families and alumni will commemorate the special anniversary. A variety of events have been held to kick off the celebration.
Faculty and students celebrated a “return to the 60's day” to acknowledge the decade of the school’s founding. People dressed in mod and hippy clothing and remembered days gone by. Everyone had fun looking at pictures of faculty and staff from 1960 (or as close as they could get for those younger folks) and trying to guess who was who.
Over 250 grandparents celebrated Grandparents Day with a breakfast, special presentation by the St. Jude School Advanced Band, and a play dedicated to the decades of 50 years of Catholic education at St. Jude School.
Connie Wilson, grandmother of Nick and Keller Danberry, traveled from Michigan to attend and said, “Please pass along my thanks for a great Grandparent’s Day. It was my pleasure to have come from such a distance. Congratulations on the 50 years.”
Working through the Home and School Association, hundreds of parishioners gathered for a parish picnic celebrating the school’s 50th anniversary, the first held in many years. The Knights of Columbus #8576 cooked a delicious barbeque and guests brought plenty of sides and desserts to share. Parish ministries including the Scouts and Youth Group helped to provide entertainment and fun for the event.
A Mass at 5:30 pm, with a processional of St. Jude School faculty and staff was held. Music and liturgy were offered by students. The offering of gifts was made by two families who represented three generations of St. Jude School alumni families.
When asked about his years at St. Jude School, former Chattanooga mayor, Jon Kinsey, said, “I was there 47 years ago, and the whole time I was there, I never realized it (St. Jude School) was so new. I went there in the third grade, and I guess I just had the sense that it had been there forever. I had no clue. I loved St. Jude, it was wonderful to me...it was a very nurturing environment.”
Upcoming events for the 50th anniversary are a visit by Bishop Stika on Feb. 2, with an encore presentation of the 50th anniversary play and the “Heart of St. Jude Dinner Dance” on Feb. 12, 2011.