St. Mary School marks 160th anniversary

St. Mary School celebrated its 160th anniversary of educating students in the heart of downtown.

St. Mary School, 237 4th St. in Elyria, celebrated its 160th anniversary of educating students in the heart of downtown.

“This is a way of celebrating the long relationship the school and the city have,” said Sharon Urig, principal at the school. “It’s a big thing where the kids and their families are getting ready for the new year, and we have a lot of alumni coming back as well.

“It really celebrates the school being a prominent figure that is centrally located right in the middle of downtown Elyria.”

Urig said she constantly hears from alumni of the school.

“You always hear from folks who say they went here and they enjoyed their time at St. Mary’s,” she said. “People always say they wanted to go back and tour the place; they wanted to see the halls and classrooms.

“It brings back memories for them, and it shows the proud tradition we have here. The community itself has also been very generous in their support of our school.”

Urig said she has been with the school for a decade now.

“I’ve been a principal for four years, and spent time as a kindergarten and fifthgrade teacher here at St. Mary’s,” she said. “It’s been a place I’m fortunate to be a part of. I look forward to continuing the great tradition here.”

Natalie Kelly, a fourthgrade teacher at St. Mary’s, said the point of the celebration was to draw attention to the milestone.

“It’s our way of letting the community know about how long the school has been established here in the city,” Kelly said. “We set ourselves apart here, at St. Mary’s, with the family-like atmosphere we have.

“We really have a melting pot of different cultures and backgrounds here at the school, and we look forward to continuing to educate the students here in Elyria,” Kelly added.

“It really celebrates the school being a prominent figure that is centrally located right in the middle of downtown Elyria.” — Sharon Urig, St. Mary principal

ZACHARY SRNIS — THE MORNING JOURNAL T-shirts were given out Aug. 15 to St. Mary’s students as the school celebrated 160 years.