Above image: Sisters of St. Francis from an undated photo were among the first teachers in St. Raphael School. | St. Raphael School mid-construction, 1951. | An artist’s rendering shows the completed St. Raphael School on Gropp Avenue. Courtesy photos
1950 • Four Sisters of St. Francis move to the new convent at 84 Maple Shade Avenue in preparation for teaching at St. Raphael School – Sister Mary Euiropia, principal and third grade teacher; Sister Rita Francis, Sister Marie Anthony and Sister Mary Mengolds.
Dec. 9, 1951 • The cornerstone of St. Raphael School is laid and dedicated, with Bishop George W. Ahr presiding. Designed by well-known Trenton architect William W. Slack, who also prepared plans for numerous churches and schools in the Diocese, including Notre Dame High School and the adjacent convent and Chancery buildings, Lawrenceville. The school’s foundation on Gropp Avenue was a response to the post-World War II demographic surge in Hamilton Township, where Catholic families sought an educational environment that mirrored their domestic moral frameworks. The school’s establishment was not merely a local parish project but part of a broader Diocesan movement to solidify Catholic identity in suburban New Jersey.
1976 • St. Raphel expands with the introduction of a parish center that includes a gym/auditorium and cafeteria
2008 • Little Angels Preschool construction begins
2009 • Science Lab opens for grades 5-8; new playgrounds, softball and soccer fields added
2010 • St. Raphael opens its first Laptop Computer Lab
2011 • Campus is fully updated with WiFi to support 1:1 digital learning
2019 • SPRINT Lab and Audio Recording Studio added for STEM enhancement; program includes introduction to video production, 3D design and printing, engineering and robotics
2020 • 1:1 Chromebooks and iPads deployed for immediate transition to virtual learning during COVID-19 pandemic