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Principal: Curriculum: Discipline: 421 W. New York Ave General Information: Website Comments:webmaster@stpeter-deland.org |
St. Peter Catholic School History |
| In 1951 Bishop Joseph P. Hurley and Father William A. Neuhaus, pastor of St. Peter Parish determined a need for a Catholic school in DeLand. In September of 1952, St. Peter Catholic School opened with 43 students and two sisters from the Immaculate Heart of Mary congregation. The school served grades one through four. In the fall of 1955, four more grades were added. Sister Marie Leone was the first principal followed by Mother Theodine.They served the school for ten years.The Immaculate Heart of Mary sisters were recalled to their mother house in Monroe, Michigan, in 1962. |
| In February of 1962, Father Patrick Malone was appointed pastor of St. Peter Catholic Parish.He brought four Irish Sisters of Mercy from Wexford, Ireland, to carry on the work and teaching in St. Peter Catholic School. In the mid-sixties two more sisters arrived. All classes were held in five dilapidated scattered old buildings. |
| In April 1965, the parish launched a campaign to obtain financial pledges from parishioners to build a school. In November of 1966 a $200,000 school was dedicated by Bishop Donald J. Herlihy of Ireland and Bishop Joseph P. Hurley of St. Augustine. On Ash Wednesday, February 8, 1967, students, teachers, and staff moved into the new school. Sister Mary Keane, RSM, was principal and a full time teacher for twenty-one years. After her retirement in 1983 due to ill health she was followed by Sister Anne Doyle. In 1983, grade eight was closed and remained closed for four years. A kindergarten was added in 1985 and during the 1987-88 school year the eighth grade was reinstated. Sister Anne Doyle resigned in 1988, and in August of 1988, Mrs. Joan Kinsey became the first lay principal after twenty-one years of teaching at St. Peter Catholic School. In June, 1990 the two remaining Irish sisters were recalled to Ireland, and St. Peter Catholic School became an all lay faculty. |
| Due to an increase of working parents, a need was determined to offer an Extended Care Program in 1989, and in 1990 Pre-Kindergarten and Morning Care were added to the program. |
| 2003 school renovations began in the existing building. All classrooms and bathrooms were remodeled, but the school still was in need of more space. At this time pre-kindergarten was housed in the old convent, and kindergarten was conducted in a large room in the Ministry Building. A building campaign was established for the construction of a new school wing and for church improvements. Construction of a new 2.7 million dollar school wing began in April 2004. The new wing would consist of nine spacious classrooms, science laboratory, media-center, a computer laboratory, administrative offices, conference room, clinic, offices for Spanish, guidance, and resource, and a large separate storage facility. This new facility brought for the first time all grades pre-k-8 under the same roof on February 28, 2005. This new facility will help to enhance the curriculum. The renovated rooms in the original building are now used for music, art, Spanish, physical education, morning and extended care and grade three. |
| St. Peter Catholic School was initially accredited on May 15, 1973, and continues to be accredited by the Florida Catholic Conference. The school although predominately Catholic accepts students from all faiths and presently serves 266 students from St. Peter, Our Lady of Lakes, St. Ann, and St. Clare parishes. The present faculty and staff continue to remain dedicated to providing students with academic excellence in a faith-filled environment. The faculty is certified by the state of Florida and provides a well-balanced curriculum as outlined by the Diocesan and State guidelines. |
| The school continues to offer programs of excellence. However, first and foremost, it exists to form students in their Catholic faith and to give them opportunities to live out their faith through various service projects within and outside the school/parish community. |
| The Catholic identity of St. Peter School is alive and well. The Gospel message of Jesus is infused in all of the curriculum areas and the school acknowledges Jesus as the Master Teacher. |
| St. Peter Church |
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| Orlando Diocese |
| Father Lopez Course Description |
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