ABERDEEN — On Monday, Sept. 22, 1890, 30 students attended their first day of school at the brand-new St. Rose Academy in Aberdeen.

The school was started by seven sisters from Holy Rosary Convent in New York who took a six-day train ride to the Pacific Northwest at the request of Bishop Aegidius Junger of the Diocese of Nesqually.

Those sisters, who would eventually become the Dominican Sisters of Edmonds, also created a hospital and convent to accompany the school and served as St. Rose’s principal and teachers.

Eventually, Father Michael O’Donnell identified the need for a larger school, and St. Mary School in Aberdeen was built as St. Rose’s replacement.

On St. Patrick’s Day 1926, the new building got its first use when children performed in the school’s auditorium. Students officially moved to the St. Mary School building after Easter break in April 1926.

Members of the 1933 St. Mary School graduating class are pictured sitting together with their diplomas. (Photo courtesy of Pete Scroggs)

According to Pete Scroggs, advancement director at St. Mary, it’s believed that St. Rose Academy was one of the first Catholic schools in the state, though that cannot be verified.

Throughout its 100 years, the school has seen waves of flourishment and rocky low points. Scroggs said he’s heard from alumni who told him that there used to be 60 students in a classroom when they attended.

“Now to a time when this area is a little more remote, we don’t have a huge population, especially of younger people and Catholic families,” Scroggs said. “The fact that the school is still here is a huge testament to our alumni and parishioners and their support through the great times and the leaner times.”

He said that this past school year, St. Mary had around 115 students from preschool to eighth grade.

Now, St. Mary School is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a celebration on Sept. 19.

The event will begin with Mass celebrated by Archbishop Paul D. Etienne at St. Mary Church. After Mass, the school will host an open house with food, tours and viewing of memorabilia. The day will conclude with a celebration dinner at the St. Mary Parish Center.

Graduates of St. Mary School's 2026 class stand on the steps in front of the school. (Photo courtesy of Pete Scroggs)

Scroggs said he hopes the celebration will be an opportunity for alumni to reconnect with one another and see the school as it is today.

He mentioned that much has changed since he was a student at St. Mary 50 years ago, noting the increase in diversity the school has seen.

Due to the parishes of Grays Harbor clustering in 1995, the school sees attendance from across Grays Harbor County. Some students commute 45 minutes each way, Scroggs said.

“We’re way more diverse now — racially, socioeconomically, culturally than we were,” he said, remembering that the school’s student population was primarily made up of white, middle-class Catholics when he attended.

Now, around 50% of St. Mary’s students are non-Catholics, and there is an increasing influx of students from different ethnic backgrounds.

No RSVP is required for the St. Mary School 100-Year Celebration Mass or open house. More information regarding tickets for the celebration dinner will be revealed soon on the school’s website.

The St. Mary School 100-Year Celebration will be held on Sept. 19.

  • Mass celebrated by Seattle Archbishop Paul D. Etienne will begin at 11 a.m. at St. Mary Church in Aberdeen.
  • An open house will be held at St. Mary School from noon to 3 p.m. with food, tours and viewing of memorabilia.
  • A celebration dinner will begin at 5 p.m. at the St. Mary Parish Center.
The 1947 St. Mary School basketball team poses for a team picture. (Photo courtesy of Pete Scroggs)