1893

St. Francis of Assisi School is founded.

In August of 1893, upon accepting an invitation from the Reverend Patrick Duggan, the Sisters of Mercy from Meriden arrived to staff the newly founded St. Francis of Assisi Parochial School built behind the church. Sister Mary Josephine O’Keefe, R.S.M. was the first principal of over 1,200 enrolled students. Every child of school age in the parish was attending St. Francis. The school was very cosmopolitan at the time with students representing nearly every country in Europe and even some in Asia and Africa. Even in its formative years, one of the true strengths of St. Francis School has been in its diversity, accepting children of all races, ethnicities, and faiths.

1956

St. Peter School is founded.

In September of 1956, St. Peter School was opened with 91 students registered for Grades 1,2, and 3 and 40 Kindergarten students in attendance. Sister Mary Patti, M.P.F. was the first principal. The Most Reverend Henry O’Brien, Archbishop of Hartford, laid the cornerstone. Documents and a personal note from Monsignor Botticelli were cemented into the cornerstone of the school. For well over 50 years, the Religious Teachers Filippini of New Jersey staffed the school.

1962

The current Academy building is completed.

During the pastorate of the Right Reverend Monsignor John J. Loughlin, the current school was built at 360 Prospect Street complete with 16 classrooms, a full-size gymnasium, cafeteria, and kitchen. In December of that year, more than 600 students packed up their desks and carried their belongings up Main Street to the new school building. During the 1960s and early ‘70s, St. Francis of Assisi School flourished and families from outside Torrington were not allowed to attend. A lottery was established for Torrington residents to select children to attend.

2006

St. Francis and St. Peter merge.

In 2005, St. Francis and St. Peter Schools merged into one school with two campuses. St. Peter School educated Pre-K through Grade 2 students while St. Francis of Assisi educated Grade 3 through Grade 8 students.

In 2006, the school’s name was changed to St. Peter/St. Francis School.

2017

St. John Paul the Great Parish is established.

In 2017, after almost two years of planning, the Archdiocese of Hartford made a decision to consolidate the Catholic community formerly known as the Torrington Cluster of Roman Catholic Parishes which included St. Francis of Assisi, St. Peter, Sacred Heart, and St. Mary churches, into one parish. In June of that year, this Catholic community became known as the St. John Paul the Great Parish.

2018

St. Peter/St. Francis is set to close.

In August of 2018, upon his arrival to St. John Paul the Great Parish as the new pastor, Father Emmanuel Ihemedu was advised that approval had already been given to close St. Peter/St. Francis School due to dwindling enrollment and lack of funds to keep the school open. After consulting with many church, school, and community partners, a new vision emerged for the school. It was determined that closing the school would not be in the best interests of the children, families, parish and town.

2019

The school is reformed as a STREAM institution and renamed.

Father Emmanuel wrote, “Not only will STREAM make Catholic identity central in our school, empirical evidence show that it is an effective program to prepare children for high school and for the 21st century workforce. Subsequent to this, Father Emmanuel made a formal request to Archbishop Blair of the Archdiocese of Hartford for approval to change the name of St. Peter/St. Francis School to St. John Paul the Great Academy with STREAM curriculum.

In August 2019, Archbishop Blair and his cabinet approved the requested name change and STREAM curriculum and St. John Paul the Great Academy was established.

Today

SJPTGA continues to grow.

St. John Paul the Great Academy is a thriving, dynamic STREAM school rooted in faith, service and academic excellence where Pre-K to Middle School students are challenged and inspired to become collaborators, critical thinkers, future leaders and global citizens