St. Stephen School Celebrates 85-Year Anniversary

In a day and age where Catholic Schools and private schools alike find themselves competing with each other and the public school system, St. Stephen School proves to be an example of success in longevity and healthy enrollment. Beginning in September of 2016, St. Stephen School began its celebration of 85 years in Kingsville, Maryland. So what has made this school of approximately 320 students so successful all these years?

Well, as they say in real estate, “location, location, location.” Located at the fringe of Northern Baltimore County, St. Stephen School has attracted both residents of Baltimore and Harford County and 30 different zip codes to its campus in the picturesque Gunpowder of Kingsville, where its neighbors like Jerusalem Mill, seem to represent life in a different time. “There is a wonderful sense of community here where you can’t possibly escape the Catholic presence,” says Mary Patrick, Principal of St. Stephen School.

After undergoing a comprehensive strategic planning process several years ago, Mrs. Patrick and its very active and supportive School Board heard and felt an overwhelming and resonating message of community strength in its analysis. “It was and continues to be very important for us to maintain that sense of community, for us a Catholic Community, that binds all of us-- students, teachers, administrators, parents and a very supportive Parish together. We each want all parties to be successful. Not one party will ever let the other party fail…we really believe that is how and why we’ve been successful,” says Father Lawrence Kolson, Pastor of St. Stephen Church.

Tradition and history also have played an integral role in its school success. The seed of Catholic education began in 1841 in the Bradshaw home of Miss Stephanie Raphel. By 1851, St. Stephen parish was officially recognized as a place of worship. Needing a larger facility for the growing community, the parishioners purchased a two-story frame building. This became the church and school, with all grades occupying the lower floor. For the next twenty-five years, the thriving community grew steadily and became a closely knit, friendly community with strong ties to the parish and to Catholic education. The parish’s continued growth dictated the need for a larger church and school. Parishioners toiled for over a year hauling large rocks from the countryside to the current site on Bradshaw Road. This work, begun so humbly with the very essence of what God had created in this beautiful countryside, was to become part of the charisma of St. Stephen School.

In 1931, the church was completed and the two-story frame building was moved to the top of the hill and became St. Stephen Elementary and High School. Later, Rev. Vincent Fitzgerald, pastor, renovated the existing building and engaged the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia to teach. On the opening day of school in September 1931, one hundred seventy students crossed the threshold for instruction. In 1953, a new building was erected. This became the elementary school and the frame building became the high school. In 1963, St. Stephen School had an enrollment of one thousand students. St. Stephen High School closed in 1968 with the opening of John Carroll Regional Catholic High School.

After the addition of a new Pre-K building in 2014, St. Stephen School continued to upgrade and improve the existing school building by being “ahead of the curve” in installing air-conditioning in a zip code where not all of the public schools had yet to be upgraded. “Installing air-conditioning throughout the school has proven to be a worthwhile and beneficial investment, we have truly found our students and teachers to be far more productive in an environment with such climate control, and it certainly has served as a benefit in recruiting” says Rachel Harkins Ullmann, School Administrative Manager. Mrs. Ullmann also explains that the school is thrilled to have its accreditation from AdvancED and plans to expand its STEM offerings and leveled literacy intervention program, provide more resources to its middle school math and science programs, and has expanded its Spanish curriculum into the primary grades through Kindergarten. There has also been an addition of a 3D printer, a Robotics club, an Outdoor classroom, and students even have an opportunity to run in its own School Color Race through its 39 acre campus annually.

We invite you to see what’s next for this school that is moving forward in an area seemingly untouched by time. Attend our Spring Open House on March 16, 2017 with both day time and evening sessions available. Also, the school and Kingsville community-at-large eagerly anticipate the annual tradition of the St. Stephen Carnival. The Carnival scheduled for June 15 to June 17, which includes child-friendly rides, homemade fried dough and just good old-fashioned fun, makes it onto most local families’ “Kick Off to Summer Must Do” list.

St. Stephen School will conclude its Anniversary Year with a Signature & Celebratory Event on Saturday, May 20, 2017 at 7 p.m. at the School Hall. The event includes beer, wine, dinner, dessert and dancing to a live band. Must be 21 to attend. For tickets or more information, contact the School Office at 410-592-7617 or visit our website at www.ssschool.org.