Our Lady of Lourdes School will celebrate its 79th anniversary in 2020. We are located in a three-story brick building in downtown Bethesda, Maryland, just a block from the Bethesda Metro station. All classrooms are large, bright and airy. The past ten years have been years of growth and change for Our Lady of Lourdes School.
The parish was established in 1926, and its first pastor was Father James J. O’Connor. He purchased the building and land from the Chinese Embassy, which had used it as its summer residence. The upper floors were converted into the rectory, and Masses were held on the ground floor. On March 16, 1930, the first Confirmation was administered by Archbishop Michael J. Curley. As the congregation grew, so did its needs. More land was purchased, as well as another building. In the spring of 1940, the plans for the three-story building now housing Our Lady of Lourdes School were begun in earnest, and the school building was completed in January of 1941.
There were eight classrooms, a kindergarten and a library; the auditorium at the rear of the building could seat 600 people; this was used as the church for Our Lady of Lourdes Parish. On September 5, 1941, 236 students enrolled in the first registration of the school. Tuition was $25 a child. The first graduation was held in June of 1942 with thirty-one graduates. By 1944, the enrollment had reached 484, and by 1955, enrollment was up to 1052 students. The Provincial of the Franciscan Sisters of Glen Riddle, from Glen Riddle, PA, staffed the new school. They lived in the large convent which was adjacent to the school building.
Father Elmer T. Fisher was appointed the third pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes in November of 1945. He took a special interest in the children and was a familiar figure in all classes. It was under Father Fisher’s direction that the new wing of the school was begun in 1950, the same year he began renovations in the Church. Both the new wing of the school and the new Church were dedicated in May of 1951.
As other areas built new churches and formed new parishes, the number of parishioners and the enrollment in Our Lady of Lourdes declined through the seventies and eighties.
In the late nineties, enrollment hit an all-time low, and there were concerns about the stability of our parish school. Things turned around dramatically with new leadership and programs, going from 100 students to 275 within five years. At this time, Our Lady of Lourdes School is thriving; having room for only a few more students in specific classes. The school enjoys a solid academic and social outreach reputation that is due, in large part, to a strong parent community and a faculty who are dedicated to ensuring that Lourdes’ students live their faith in today’s world. Our Lady of Lourdes School was named a 2015 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence and a Best of Bethesda School this past year.
In 2004 the school’s cafeteria was redone by upgrading the service line, installing new lighting fixtures as well as new, and much larger, windows. The teacher’s lounge was renovated, as well, and moved to the main floor of the building, thus ensuring easy access and a certain place of community for teachers and staff. In the summer of 2010, we enlarged and enhanced the new Library Media Center area, and an accessible entrance was added to the main floor of the building. In 2011, a magnificent turf field and the beautiful Luke's Garden were completed. In 2014 a new Sport Court outdoor basketball court and a large decked area were completed outside. In the summer of 2014, new windows were installed in the gym, and air conditioners were installed in the cafeteria. In the summer of 2015 two bathrooms and a hallway outside the Little Group classroom were renovated.
In 2016 the playground equipment was replaced and a new playground surface was installed. In the summer of 2017 the area behind the gym was rebuilt to include a classroom and a meeting space. At the end of the current school year two new benches were placed next to our field and basketball court. One was dedicated to the work of our Principal, Mrs. McGann, who has retired after 13 years of loving and faithful service to our school. The other bench was a replacement for Ms. Truax's bench that we hope will continue to bring years of enjoyment to our community.
Technology changes continue, school-wide WiFi has been established, Kindergarten through 3rd grade students have access to 1:1 iPad use, students in grades 4-8 have access to 1:1 Chromebooks for their classes as needed. In the fall of 2019, we opened our STREAM lab. We renovated a classroom on the main floor, added Sphero robots, circuit technology, iPads, new furniture and storage, and much more. Teachers integrate science, technology, religion, engineering, art and math through investigations, hands-on activities, and design engineering.
The parish was established in 1926, and its first pastor was Father James J. O’Connor. He purchased the building and land from the Chinese Embassy, which had used it as its summer residence. The upper floors were converted into the rectory, and Masses were held on the ground floor. On March 16, 1930, the first Confirmation was administered by Archbishop Michael J. Curley. As the congregation grew, so did its needs. More land was purchased, as well as another building. In the spring of 1940, the plans for the three-story building now housing Our Lady of Lourdes School were begun in earnest, and the school building was completed in January of 1941.
There were eight classrooms, a kindergarten and a library; the auditorium at the rear of the building could seat 600 people; this was used as the church for Our Lady of Lourdes Parish. On September 5, 1941, 236 students enrolled in the first registration of the school. Tuition was $25 a child. The first graduation was held in June of 1942 with thirty-one graduates. By 1944, the enrollment had reached 484, and by 1955, enrollment was up to 1052 students. The Provincial of the Franciscan Sisters of Glen Riddle, from Glen Riddle, PA, staffed the new school. They lived in the large convent which was adjacent to the school building.
Father Elmer T. Fisher was appointed the third pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes in November of 1945. He took a special interest in the children and was a familiar figure in all classes. It was under Father Fisher’s direction that the new wing of the school was begun in 1950, the same year he began renovations in the Church. Both the new wing of the school and the new Church were dedicated in May of 1951.
As other areas built new churches and formed new parishes, the number of parishioners and the enrollment in Our Lady of Lourdes declined through the seventies and eighties.
In the late nineties, enrollment hit an all-time low, and there were concerns about the stability of our parish school. Things turned around dramatically with new leadership and programs, going from 100 students to 275 within five years. At this time, Our Lady of Lourdes School is thriving; having room for only a few more students in specific classes. The school enjoys a solid academic and social outreach reputation that is due, in large part, to a strong parent community and a faculty who are dedicated to ensuring that Lourdes’ students live their faith in today’s world. Our Lady of Lourdes School was named a 2015 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence and a Best of Bethesda School this past year.
In 2004 the school’s cafeteria was redone by upgrading the service line, installing new lighting fixtures as well as new, and much larger, windows. The teacher’s lounge was renovated, as well, and moved to the main floor of the building, thus ensuring easy access and a certain place of community for teachers and staff. In the summer of 2010, we enlarged and enhanced the new Library Media Center area, and an accessible entrance was added to the main floor of the building. In 2011, a magnificent turf field and the beautiful Luke's Garden were completed. In 2014 a new Sport Court outdoor basketball court and a large decked area were completed outside. In the summer of 2014, new windows were installed in the gym, and air conditioners were installed in the cafeteria. In the summer of 2015 two bathrooms and a hallway outside the Little Group classroom were renovated.
In 2016 the playground equipment was replaced and a new playground surface was installed. In the summer of 2017 the area behind the gym was rebuilt to include a classroom and a meeting space. At the end of the current school year two new benches were placed next to our field and basketball court. One was dedicated to the work of our Principal, Mrs. McGann, who has retired after 13 years of loving and faithful service to our school. The other bench was a replacement for Ms. Truax's bench that we hope will continue to bring years of enjoyment to our community.
Technology changes continue, school-wide WiFi has been established, Kindergarten through 3rd grade students have access to 1:1 iPad use, students in grades 4-8 have access to 1:1 Chromebooks for their classes as needed. In the fall of 2019, we opened our STREAM lab. We renovated a classroom on the main floor, added Sphero robots, circuit technology, iPads, new furniture and storage, and much more. Teachers integrate science, technology, religion, engineering, art and math through investigations, hands-on activities, and design engineering.