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School of the Month - March 2010 |
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St. John School - Benton Harbor, Mich.
 In 1915, five IHM Sisters made the 10-hour train trip from Monroe to Benton Harbor, Mich. to open St. John School for students in grades one through eight.
Once they arrived, they discovered the school building was unfinished. To add to the sisters' disappointment, "When the school bell called the Catholic youth of Benton Harbor, only 76 responded," according to the convent chronicler.
The following year was noteworthy to the chronicler because "nothing of an alarming nature took place." The school added a high school that year, starting with a ninth grade and adding one grade per year. The first senior class graduated in June 1920.
 Enrollment increased to nearly 200 students by 1925. The boys' choir became active; a student council was organized; and the newly formed boys' football and basketball teams, known as "the Irish," created a "keen interest in athletics." Girls' volleyball and basketball teams began in 1944.
During the 1950s, the parish built a new high school. The school newspaper, Irish Spotlight, first rolled off the press in 1953, and the yearbook, The Eagle, was first published in 1954. During the winter of 1958, the chronicler noted that "...we were snowed in to a depth of two free days!"
During 1967, our Featured Class Year, 13 IHM Sisters taught the 741 students. The football team defeated rival St. Joseph in the homecoming game for the first  time in seven years. On Jan. 27, "At 7 a.m. began the snowstorm that developed into the biggest blizzard of the automobile age!" The school remained closed until Feb. 1. Snow cancelled classes just a few weeks later during the "second-biggest blizzard."
The junior/senior prom took place April 1 in the school cafeteria, and Shoreham Inn hosted the dinner dance on May 3. Seniors picnicked at the Jack & Jill Dude Ranch May 29. On June 4, at 1:30 p.m., the 62 seniors graduated.
A year later, St. John experienced a serious financial crisis. In March 1968, the parish began a campaign to keep the school open another year. Although the campaign was successful, an independent survey showed that the merger of the three Catholic schools in the area - St. John, St. Joseph and St. Bernard - was necessary for any of the schools to survive. A 1969 merger resulted in the creation of the Lake Michigan Catholic School System (LMCSS).
The last to graduate from St. John Benton Harbor was the Class of 1969. LMCSS still operates for students in preschool through grade 12.
If this brings back memories of your own school days with the IHM Sisters, why not share them online? The sisters would love to hear from you!
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Other Features:
- Featured Class Year Trivia
- Memories about classmates, teachers or your school.
- Scheduled class reunions
Previous School of the Month Features
February 2010 - Our Lady Star of the Sea, Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.
January 2010 - Immaculate Heart of Mary High School, Westchester, Ill.
December - St. Regis, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
November - St. Mary, Marshall, Mich.
October - St. Anne, Warren, Mich.
More School of the Month features are available in PDF format which requires Adobe Reader on your computer. If you don't have Adobe Reader, you can download the latest version here.
September 2009 - St. Charles, Newport, Mich.
August 2009 - Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Emmett, Mich.
July 2009 - St. Mary, Wayne, Mich.
June 2009 - St. Mark, Cleveland
May 2009 - Most Holy Trinity, Detroit
April 2009 - St. Matthew, Flint, Mich.
March 2009 - SS. Peter and Paul, Ionia, Mich.
February 2009 - St. Vincent DePaul, Detroit
January 2009 - Marian High School, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
December 2008- Annunciation, Detroit
November 2008 - St. Columban, Birmingham, Mich.
October 2008 - St. Patrick, Carleton, Mich.
September 2008 - St. Hugo, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
August 2008 - St. Philip, Battle Creek, Mich.
July 2008 - Christ the King, Detroit
June 2008 - St. Mary of Redford, Detroit
May 2008- St. Joseph, Monroe
April 2008 - Our Lady of Lourdes, River Rouge, Mich.
March 2008 - Hall of the Divine Child
February 2008 - St. Mary, Mount Clemens, Mich.
January 2008 - St. Thomas, Ann Arbor
December 2007 - St. Michael, Flint
November 2007 - St. Catherine, Detroit
October 2007 - St. Martin, Detroit
September 2007 - St. Raymond, Detroit
August 2007 - Bishop Gallagher High School, Harper Woods, Mich.
July 2007 - Holy Redeemer High School, Detroit
June 2007 - Lorain Catholic High School, Ohio
May 2007 - St. Mary, Akron, Ohio
April 2007 - Holy Name, Birmingham, Mich.
March 2007- St. Gregory, Detroit
February 2007 - Our Lady of Lake Huron, Harbor Beach, Mich.
January 2007 - St. Patrick, Wyandotte, Mich.
December 2006 - Holy Cross, Marine City, Mich.
November 2006 - St. Felicitas, Chicago
October 2006 - St. Rose of Lima, Detroit
September 2006 - St. John, Jackson, Mich.
August 2006 - Sacred Heart, Dearborn, Mich.
July 2006 - Epiphany, Detroit
May/June 2006 - St. Frederick, Pontiac, Mich.
April 2006 - Immaculata, Detroit
March 2006 - St. Mary Academy, Monroe, Mich. |
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