On Sept. 3, 1919, St. Agatha Academy formally opened with an enrollment of 54 students in elementary and high school courses. 

Six days later, a small double cottage adjacent to the church became a boarding house for 12 students. Tuition ranged from $25 a year for primary grades and $60 in the graduating year. Boarders paid $250 to $300 annually.

The Sisters of Divine Providence owned and operated the school and provided six teachers. 

Now, 100 years later, the school sits on the same corner in downtown Winchester. It is much larger now, with more than 120 students enrolled from 3- and 4-year-olds in its Montessori program to its eighth graders.

St. Agatha employs a little more than 20 staff, and the Sisters of Divine Providence no longer own the academy, but they do sometimes stop in for a visit. 

While much growth and change has happened over St. Agatha’s 100 years on the corner of Boone Avenue and Main Street, one thing has remained constant: St. Agatha Academy staff, students, parents and more have always been a family. 

St. Agatha will celebrate its 100-year anniversary Saturday.

Saturday’s schedule is: 

— Mass at St. Joseph Church, 4 to 5 p.m.

— Student performances in the church hall, 5:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.

— Dinner in the church hall, 5:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.

— Classrooms open at St. Agatha Academy, 6 to 7:30 p.m.

— Bouncy house and activities in courtyard, 6 to 8 p.m.

Susan Wallace, who has been a teacher at St. Agatha for 33 years, said one of her favorite changes throughout her time at St. Agatha was the introduction of a buddy program where older students paired with younger students. 

“If you were to go to Mass, you would see the eighth graders sitting with the second graders, and the fifth graders sitting with the kindergarteners and so they became like these mentors to little ones,” Wallace said. “It brought out the softer side of the middle schoolers who sometimes can be just all ‘so cool.’ But when they then have that little one that they need to help be encouraged, help them know how to hold their hands to pray, help them find the songs in the song book, it brings out a gentler side of those middle school.”

Jeanne Lane, who is the director of the Montessori program and has been with St. Agatha for 25 years, said the addition of the classical curriculum was one of the best changes made to St. Agatha. Wallace agreed, adding the classrooms seem more engaged now than ever before. 

“I have to say that the absolute best, greatest joy that I’ve had as a teacher here, has been when we brought the classical curriculum,” Wallace said. “It is so much richer, so much more in depth. The kids themselves really get excited and involved and they can’t wait.”

The addition of the Montessori program in 1977 was significant, Lane said.

“One of the beautiful things about Montessori is when a student comes to our program, it’s very individualized,” Lane said. “You know, it’s all individualized, and we take the students where they are, and then we move them forward.”

Christy Hisle, who has worked at St. Agatha for eight years but was a St. Agatha parent before that, said adding the buses in 2012 was also a game-changer as parents no longer had to drop off their students, but a bus could make the transportation process more seamless. 

Deacon Ron Allen, who is the principal of St. Agatha going into his second year, said St. Agatha is still growing and changing. Just this year, St. Agatha offers more extracurriculars than ever such as archery, chess, Kentucky Youth Assembly, theater,  band, cross country and more. Students participate in a Christmas concert, poetry night, volunteer at the famed spaghetti supper fundraiser and more. Eighth graders travel to Washington, D.C. for a class field trip. 

The opportunities are endless, Allen said. 

Hisle said over the years she has seen how St. Agatha creates a solid educational foundation. 

Hisle said she moved to Winchester from Lexington because of St. Agatha. She was impressed with the school so much so that she moved to town, she said. 

“I would do it again in a heartbeat,” she said.

Her three children have made lifelong friends at St. Agatha.

“Each grade is like a little family, brothers and sisters,” Hisle said. “They just know each other so well.” 

Even the parents bond, Hisle said. 

“I have friends that were were parents at that time too,” she said. “There’s just a special family feel here, along with the rich education.”

Wallace agreed, adding all three of her children attended St. Agatha.

“Not only do we have great academics, and we have that family feel here, but it’s all couched in great morals, and we can bring in religion to all those great things,” she said.

St. Agatha has been through a few challenges throughout its long history, Wallace said, such as when the Sisters of Divine Providence began relocating after they sold the school. 

“I think that was that was a challenge because we wanted to make sure we still brought that virtue and that faith and it’s so much richer when it comes from someone who’s given their life,” Wallace said. 

Wallace said the sisters occasionally stop in to visit and they try to keep in touch, but it’s not the same. The last sister, Sister Ruth Parent, left in 2004.

Wwhenever there was a challenge, financial or otherwise, there have always been people to step up, whether it be the Knights of Columbus, parents or the community as a whole.

Wallace said one tough time that comes to mind is when a St. Agatha student was involved in an accident and was out of school for a while for rehabilitation. 

The St. Agatha family worked to support the family and the student as much as they could.

“It was amazing to see that when a tragedy struck someone in our school, that there was just this immediate gathering of the wagons to see what can we do?” Wallace said. 

As far as St. Agatha’s greatest accomplishments go, Wallace said it’s amazing the academy is still standing in the same place it was originally established, adding she’s been at St. Agatha for nearly a third of its existence. She came to St. Agatha looking to be added to its substitute teacher list, but ended up with a job, she said. 

“Seven years ago, my husband passed away and this was exactly where I needed to be,” Wallace said. “Everyone from my students, to the parents, to my colleagues, everyone just stepped up and helped me to walk through that and still do because it is a continued journey. 

“I remember he passed away at the end of the school year before school was out. And I was in no shape to do report cards… and all of the families of everyone in my class said ‘It’s fine. You just let us know when you’re ready.’ And I think it was in … late July, early August, when I finally did report cards, and I said ‘What should we do?’ and they all came to me. They all came out to my house … all of the families came and they brought treats for the kids. And I just sat and enjoyed them as the report cards were handed out in my living room. And it was really beautiful and it really just cemented what I knew and it just made it very real that they are family.

“… I just can’t imagine teaching anywhere else. This is my first teaching job. And it will be my last.”

Lane added some former students might recall the St. Agatha basketball team’s win over the Mount Sterling Trojans in the 1960s, which may be considered a great accomplishment. 

Wallace said the friendships that have been made over the years are also something for the academy to be proud of. Families cycle through the academy; in recent years, Wallace has been teaching the children of her former students. 

“It delights me to look up and find a grand student,” she said. 

In the next 100 years, the staff agreed that while St. Agatha will continue to change, they hope it retains that family atmosphere.

“I hope it still has that same family feel,” Wallace said.