While it has gone by multiple names and has experienced changes over the past century, Bishop Schad Regional School remains the heart of Catholic education in Vineland – and Cumberland County.
The institution, which first opened its doors in September 1921 as Sacred Heart Grammar School, boasts a distinguished history of providing quality education while fostering the faith of youth.
“What stands out the most about our legacy is our school’s mission to continue teaching Gospel values,” says Sister Olga Cano, MDPVM, the school’s principal. “It was taught 100 years ago in this very building and will always be the main component in the education we provide our students.”
The 2021-2022 school year saw the Bishop Schad school community celebrating its 100th anniversary, a milestone that has included paying homage to its beginnings and its evolutions through the years.
When Father James Bulfin was named pastor of Sacred Heart Church in July 1919, he consulted with Bishop Thomas J. Walsh, of the Diocese of Trenton, about the need to expand the church there. (At that time, the Diocese of Camden would not exist for another 18 years and all the area of South Jersey was administered by the Trenton Diocese.) The bishop responded by emphasizing the importance of Catholic education, and is credited with saying, “without religious training, our youth and our schools and churches will soon be empty and then in a few years, there will be no need for churches.”
With those marching orders, plans for Sacred Heart Grammar School began, and construction on its building was completed in May 1921. The school opened its doors the following September to 235 students, who were taught by five Sisters of Saint Joseph. One of the future graduates was James Schad, who worked alongside his father on the construction of the school building. He went on to serve as the only auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of Camden, and became the namesake of the school community in 2007 when Sacred Heart School merged with Saint Francis of Assisi School.
One defining characteristic of the institution has been the continued presence of religious sisters in its classrooms. While the number of sisters has decreased over the years, in 2016, the Missionary Daughters of the Most Pure Virgin Mary joined the school community.
“The presence of religious sisters at Bishop Schad is very important to our school. It sends a message to our students that people devote themselves to God,” says Sister Olga. “I believe our presence also provides the feeling of God’s constant love, compassion, and acceptance. It teaches our students that God is with us always.”
She adds that the lay educators who join the religious sisters at Bishop Schad “are Christian professionals with a vocation to prepare students on their faith-filled journey.”
One of those educators is Dina Strain, who teaches sixth grade and has been with the school for 20 years. She also attended school there from kindergarten through 12th grade.
“I enjoyed my experience as a student, and enjoy it even more as an adult,” she says. “Deciding on teaching as a career, I had no other thought but to teach in the same school I attended. The Catholic community in Vineland is close to my heart. This school is so important in South Jersey.”
She continues, “I love being able to teach about my faith in everyday lessons and discuss God daily. I cannot imagine having to filter that. Our student body is strong in faith, and including prayer every day only builds on that faith.”
Veronica Glogau has been teaching at the institution for 23 years, spending 22 years teaching second grade and preparing students for the Sacraments, and now teaching third grade. Previously, she was involved in the school community as a parent volunteer during the time her two sons attended Sacred Heart Grammar and High School. Glogau’s mother, and her mother’s siblings, attended the school as well.
“I have a rich collection of both memories and stories,” she says. “For instance, fond memories of receiving pretzels from the sisters for deeds done well, and placing them on the heat registers to warm them. Bishop Schad school still has ‘pretzel days’ on the first Friday of the month for students to purchase.”
Her long-standing connection to the school led to her engagement on the anniversary planning committee – a celebration that has rekindled the love that many have for the institution.
“It has connected long-lost friends and provided a platform for people to share their memories, reconnect and fill in the gaps with lost information, as well as honor so many who have made contributions to our rich history,” she says.
Sister Olga was excited to join the Bishop Schad community, but was quickly confronted with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic the same year she arrived.
“I was very excited to come to Bishop Schad; it was a school with great tradition and a growing enrollment,” she says, adding that the community was ready to tackle the challenges of the pandemic. “Bishop Schad had to adjust and adapt to a new way of teaching. It was an incredible challenge, but we welcomed the changes and maintained the focus that our students are the main priority.”
Over the years, the school’s enrollment has also changed, with a growing population of Hispanic students.
“The community was changing, therefore, the school population changed. It became my mission to bridge the diversity and make it known to all communities that this is a school for everyone, serving all of God’s children and sending a message that all are welcome,” says Sister Olga. “The best way to describe the school community is family. [Over] the past several years, gaps have been closed and strong relationships have been formed amongst our students, faculty and staff, and our parents. Once you enter our doors, you can feel a loving and accepting environment.”
Glogau shared the same sentiments about Bishop Schad.
“One hallmark of our school is the blending of faith and family, church and school. Our families from earliest times have woven their faith and culture into the fabric of our school, from the early immigrants that settled here, to the diverse families that now choose our school for their child’s religious education experience,” she says. “The common thread has been a devotion to Jesus, to Mary and to our beloved school.”
Jonah Middleton graduated from Bishop Schad in 2014. “The friends that I made there on the very first day of kindergarten are some of my closest friends today,” he says. “The teachers were familiar faces, and our school felt like a loving family.”
He considers himself fortunate to have been part of the school’s history, and sees the institution as a “blessing” for the Vineland community.
“Their presence in our community has long been a pillar of Catholic education. I smile when I think of all the lives that have been touched by this school,” he says. “The work of Bishop Schad School is more important today than ever. Faith integrated within our education truly teaches essential life skills.”
Sister Olga also spoke about the importance of Catholic education in today’s world.
“When families come to our school, the search is not only for an excellent education, but also to provide an atmosphere of strong moral values,” she says. “Parents place their faith in us that we will always set and provide the Catholic example. The presence of God is in every subject taught, and we dedicate ourselves to helping every student on their faith formation journey.”
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