Nestled among the trees and foothills of the Spanish land grant, San Fidel, is the small, private, Catholic Mission school, St. Joseph. For the last 100 years it has been a school serving the Catholic community. On May 1st the school invited friends and families to join the happy occasion marking their 100-year anniversary.
On this beautiful day the playground was surrounded by booths of local assistance entities and food vendors. In the cafeteria the community was served lunch catered by Miriam Lucero, a former student of St. Joseph. The mood was so carefree that conversation was easy with this friendly crowd. Ms. Lucero’s classmate, Valerie Seymour Garcia, of Acoma, gave a little insight into student life in 1968. She was in the 1st grade that year, her teacher was Mrs. Connie Serna, and she remembers, “The nuns were strict, but we all listened. Our parents were strict too.”
Garcia attended the school for 6 years, and when Lucero, her classmate, was asked about her strongest memory she said, “Everything! We were supposed to wear dresses, but in the winter it was cold, so we wore pants.
One day, we forgot our pants at the bus stop. We had to wear long jackets, to our knees, to cover up. The Sisters found out and we were in trouble! We got swatted!”
Ms. Hannah Johns, assistant to Principal Antonio Trujillo, and soon to be a teacher, was enthusiastic about the joyful day, “There was a lot of preparation because we’re sharing the blessings we’ve received in being a school for 100 years, so we are sharing with the community and families. The Catholic church and Pueblo culture are closely linked together. Parents send their children here for the religious and educational training. We do a yearly survey.”
Principal Trujillo pointed out the school’s greenhouse, an updated structure and more useful. The students will soon be planting seeds to grow corn, squash, watermelon, pumpkin, and tobacco. The food items will supplement their lunch program and the garden’s yield will be shared with the religious leaders at Sky City, Acoma and in Laguna Pueblo.
While other community schools with a small student body are having difficulty gaining funds for their programs, St. Joseph is in a secure position. Trujillo recalled that in 2010 there were 12 students, this year the student body has grown to 41 students, and the goal for the 2024-2025 academic year is 50.
Trujillo credits the school’s Board of Directors for their positive financial situation.
“They are from all over the country,” he said, “Kentucky, Arizona, and Santa Fe, Acoma, and Laguna in New Mexico. Our students have been awarded scholarships for the 2024-2025 academic year. Organizations like Daniels Fund and ACE Scholarships, and individuals as far away as New York, California, and Colorado have made contributions. We are also affiliated with the University of Notre Dame.”
What attracts these patrons to this school? “The kids. They meet during the Gala, a semi-formal event with art, wine, dancing and hosted by KRQE news anchor Dean Staley, and on personal tours.”
“We also have a micro-school, combined grades in one classroom. We are focused on molding our students’ character and to help them reach their career goals, preparing them for community leadership roles.”
“Changing the heart will change minds for a better world, is our guiding motto,” said Trujillo.
The day concluded with a traditional Pueblo throw, sharing gifts with their guests.