St. Denis School, Manasquan, marked 50 years of achievement, growth and change Oct. 10 with a gala anniversary celebration that included Mass celebrated by Bishop John M. Smith, a trip back in time at the school, a look at the present and a peek into the future.

Hundreds of students, past and present, along with their families, friends and well-wishers from around this area of the Shore toured the school where scores of birthday cards, time capsules and treasured photographs commemorated the founding of the institution by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chestnut Hill, Pa. in 1950.

At the Mass, Bishop Smith recalled the heritage of the school.

“Fifty years ago, in the parish, Father John F. Welsh opened a school…and we are celebrating 50 years of Catholic Education.

“I’m sure there are hundreds of graduates around the state and nation that would say this school gave them a foundation of education and faith,” Bishop Smith said. “Blessed are they who had the opportunity, as I had, to attend Catholic primary school.”

Father Stanley P. Lukaszewski, pastor of St. Denis Parish, talked about the school anniversary as part of an overall “jubilee year” at the parish which is also celebrating the 100th anniversary of its founding. “It’s been a wonderful year,” he said, “a year culminating in the anniversary of the school.”

The anniversary was designed to showcase how the school had grown since then, said Trudy Bonavita, who has been its principal for 17 years.“The mission of the school hasn’t changed,” she said, but the building and the classrooms have.

When the school opened, it was a one-story, eight-room facility open to students in the first through fourth grades, said Bonavita. “In the 60s, it became a two-story building.”

Kathy Gibson Naughton, a member of the class of 1967, and a teacher now herself, spoke about memories that never faded including responding to the news that President John F. Kennedy had been assassinated with prayers and air raid drills in the hallways during the height of the Cold War.

Naughton, who lived in Neptune City back then, remembered taking taxis to school every day with other students who lived out of town until busing was provided for students not within walking distance.

Bonavita talked about how things have changed in the 17 years since she arrived.

Music, computer and art rooms have been added as have a prek room and a student chapel that seats 60 for prayer services and small Masses, she said.

The biggest change though, she said has been a technology boom.

“When I first got here, technology was just beginning. There was a small computer lab and students paid on a personal basis to participate in using it. Everyone did the same lesson.”

Now, the school has gone wireless, she said. “The computer lab includes daily schedules where the kids work. There are (smart boards) in the classrooms and even our pre-k children work on the computers once a week with their eighth grade buddies. We have brought technology into every curriculum.”

Other changes include the full day pre-k for four-year olds who can stay half a day or a full day. “We also offer after care for children with working parents so they have a place to stay after school.”

Grades four through eight have Spanish lessons twice a week while k-3 have one session a week. “All our students participate in religious programs.”

Another strong focus now is volunteering on projects for the community at large, Bonavita said. “Over the last three years all of the grades have become involved in some kind of community service.

Last year the students participated in beach cleanups and other environmental projects designed to safeguard endangered shore birds, she said.

They collected 120 bags of items for earthquake victims in Italy and went planting with the town garden club.

“Each teacher directed a project with their class,” she said. Girls made blankets and mother-to-be bags for girls who were pregnant and going to school while the boys made crosses and shaving kits for homeless men.

“We worked hard at having our children give back to the community.

The lessons have been very good for them,” Bonavita said.

Portions of this story were taken from a Coast Star report.