St. Marguerite Catholic School, a blessed alternative in Tooele

Intermountain Catholic

+ Enlarge

Marcella Burden, Principal of Saint Marguerite Catholic School, gives blessing to student Abigail Lizana, who notices the camera and smiles. ?I love this tradition. I think it's very neat,? said Burden. IC photo by Priscilla Cabral

TOOELE — A teacher blessing each one of her students before they leave the classroom is not a typical scene in most schools, but Saint Marguerite is not a typical educational institution. It is the only Catholic school in Tooele. "We felt the need to help and provide an alternative," said Marcella Burden, Principal. "We even have non-Catholic students whose parents are frustrated with the public school system," she said.

Beckie Garcia says she loves "the individual attention" her seven-year-old daughter Amelia receives at St. Marguerite, which might include a hug or two. " A nun once told me to never be afraid to hug my students because for some, it might be the only hug they receive during the day," said Janet Barbaro, founder of the school.

Yet the most extraordinary fact about Saint Marguerite Catholic School is the stroy of its beginnings. "It goes back to over 25 years ago, when Barbaro started a pre-school in her basement," said Burden. "At first we had 12 kids, then 18, and then 32, until we had over 50. And about 15 years ago,we moved to an empty building that was a convent," said Barbaro.

The number of children grew progressively until they had to be transferred to another basement, that of St. Marguerite Parrish. By then, the basement was a pre-school and a kindergarten. "Then two years ago, we added first grade. And this year we went up to third and became an official Catholic school," said Burden.

The school will start a remodeling and construction process this summer. About five classrooms will be added to the school, which will be meant to accommodate religious education students as well. "We have a five year plan to become a pre-k to eighth grade school. So, we’ll be adding about two grades every year," said Burden.

"I hope that by the end of the five years we have a permanent building outside and enough faculty for special classes, such as music and Spanish. There’s potential. We are a growing community."