History

            St. Mary Magdalen Regional School is one of the oldest Catholic schools in the Camden Diocese.  Father Charles J. Giese, who was appointed to Saint Mary Magdalen Church in June 1881, opened the school with forty-five students and a teacher named Alice Marshall in 1882.  In 1885, he obtained the help of the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth from Convent Station, New Jersey.  When the Sisters of Charity came to teach, the school had 150 students registered.  Sister Mary Adele Sheehan was the first superior who opened the mission with four other Sisters: Sister Ann Therese, Sister Elise, Sister Rose, and Sister Mary Louise.  The school had grades 1 to 9.  On August 26, 1935, the members of the parish prepared a surprise celebration for the Sisters of Charity commemorating their fifty years of service to the school.  The Sisters of Charity withdrew from St. Mary Magdalen School in July, 1951 after 78 years of service.  The last Sisters of Charity to have been missioned in Millville were:  Sister Dolores Marie, superior, Sister Mary Simplicia, Sister Mary Mildred, Sister Robert Marie, and Sister Therese Francis.

            The Sisters of Charity were succeeded by the Daughters of Mercy, from Newfield, New Jersey.  At the request of Bishop Bartholomew Eustace, the Daughters of Mercy accepted to staff the school.  On September 5, 1951, Sister M. Amable, superior and principal, with Sisters Agnes, Bernadette, Magdalene, Francesca, Lorenza, and a lay teacher, Mrs. Stephen Gregory, opened classes with an enrollment of 236 students.

            On June 3, 1953, Father James J. Zegers was appointed pastor.  Father Zegers purchased a row of homes along West Powell Street where a new school and convent were built. They were dedicated by Archbishop Celestine J. Damiano in May 1964, the year St. Mary Magdalen Church celebrated its centenary.  By this time the enrollment had grown to 578 pupils. Sister Gabrielle Gattone was the principal when the school celebrated its centenary in 1982.  The Daughters of Mercy continued their fruitful work among the children and people of Saint Mary Magdalen until 1984.

            From 1984 to 1993, the school was administered and staffed by committed lay personnel.  The school and parish is indebted to the faithful and dedicated lay teachers, and principal, Miss Lynda Vingi, who staffed the school during the ten year interim without Sisters.

            On May 13, 1992, Father Anthony J. Manuppella was appointed pastor and he immediately began to look for Sisters to come and teach in the school.  On July 15, 1993, five Missionary Daughters of the Most Pure Virgin Mary arrived in Millville:  Sister Maximina Cruz, Sister Maria Luisa Cardenas, Sister Raquel Madrigal, Sister Rosa Maria Ojeda, and Sister Armida Fabela, superior and principal.

In 1994, a pre-kindergarten for four-year-olds was added to the K through 8 program; whole language, Spanish, library science, music, and art were added to the curriculum.  That same year, the school was chartered into the National Junior Honor Society, and the school day was extended by one hour.

            A computer laboratory and computer science were added to the curriculum for all grade levels in September of 1996.  The computer laboratory, called the Joanne Theresa King Memorial, was founded by Mr. and Mrs. Stewart Staele, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Galetto, Sr., Mr. and Mrs. Peter Galetto, Jr., and Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Connelly in memory of Joanne Theresa King, a student of the school who died in March of 1996.

            On October 4, 1999, the Most Reverend Nicholas A. DiMarzio, Bishop of Camden blessed a new four-classroom addition to the school.

            On April 27, 2001, after a process of self-study, evaluation, and strategic planning for ongoing quality educational improvement, the school proudly received certified accreditation by Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

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