Visitation BVM Elementary School

Visitation BVM School began in 1954 with the establishment of the Parish by the founding pastor, Monsignor John Larkin.  His vision to include a school became a reality with the use of classrooms at Bishop Kenrick High School.  Not long after the first floor of the current school building was used for the eight grades.  The Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth responded to the request of Monsignor Larkin to staff the new educational facility and these Sisters have provided the principals and many teachers through the fifty-four years of the school’s existence. Many outstanding lay teachers have taught at Visitation and have worked with the Sisters in spreading the mission of service to families and of teaching as Jesus did.  Gospel values and faith formation are the pillars upon which the philosophy of Visitation BVM School has been based since its inception.

A second floor and gymnasium were added to the building in the early years and finally a Junior High wing was built in the late 1960s.  A sports complex, including a football and soccer field and a baseball/softball diamond was completed with the assistance of the J. P. Mascaro family in 1992; and a botanical center was built onto the existing Science Lab in 1994.  In 2005, a renovation project was completed with the addition of nine more classrooms in the Junior High Wing and the renovation of current rooms to include a state-of-the-art Library and Media Center and a Technology Lab. The building project of these later years demonstrates the on-going and deep commitment of the Pastor, Principal and people of Visitation BVM to the Catholic formation and education of the youth of today and tomorrow.  Currently, thirty-four classrooms house Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 8.

Three Middle States studies in 1985, 1998 and 2006 have been completed with rankings of “outstanding” by the visiting teams of educators who have evaluated the programs, faculty, staff, students and auxiliary personnel.  Currently the school holds Middle States Accreditation which is effective until May of 2014.

Through the years, Visitation has graduated nearly 4,800 students who have gone on to high school, college and beyond, to distinguish themselves spiritually, scholastically, athletically and in the cultural arts.  Visitation BVM’s history continues now in the twenty-first century with growth in a rigorous and relevant education rooted in the Gospel message to go forth and preach the ‘Good News’ to a world that is in need of the promise it brings.