Stamford Catholic High School, Stamford, CT

      Stamford Catholic High School was founded by the Diocese of Bridgeport to afford Catholic co-educational schooling  on the secondary level.

     In 1954, the Most Reverend Bishop Lawrence H. Sheehan and the Diocese of Bridgeport purchased a twenty-six acre site on Newfield Avenue.  During the 1957-58 scholastic year, Stamford Catholic High School was constructed by the George L. Hickey Company at a cost of three million dollars.  The school plant was designed to accommodate 1200 students and contained 40 classrooms as well as a chapel, auditorium, gymnasium, library and other study facilities.

     Seven Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame taught 140 sophomore students at St. Maurice School in Glenbrook during the construction.  On September 3, 1958, SCHS, a co-educational institution, opened its doors to 700 freshmen, sophomores, and juniors.  Mother St. Mary Thomas, C.N.D.  became the first principal of SCHS.

     The Reverend Father James Desmond, a diocesan priest, was the second principal for the school year 1962-63.  His death at the close of the first semester resulted in the temporary appointment of a diocesan priest, the Reverend Father Leo Suwinski.

     The school was incorporated in 1963.  During the following two years, 1963-65, SCHS moved quickly toward an enrollment of 1200 students with the appointment of another diocesan priest, the Reverend Father Edward McCall, as principal.  His assignment to the missions in Brazil brought about the appointment of the Reverend Father Normand Methe, a diocesan priest, as the principal in 1965.  The Augustinian Recollect Fathers (O.A.R.) joined the teaching staff in 1966.

     When Father Methe was transferred to St. Leo’s Parish in 1969, Sister Elizabeth Davies, C.N.D., formerly the assistant principal, became principal.  Five Sisters of the Presentation order were also added to the expanding faculty, until June 1971, when they were assigned to other high schools conducted by their own community.

     At the end of the 1971-72  school year, Sister Davies left to begin her missionary work with the people of Appalachia.  Sister Dorothy Flanagan, C.N. D. assumed her place as principal in September of 1972.

     At the close of the 1974-75 school year, Sister Dorothy Flanagan left to assume a new position at Notre Dame Academy in Waterbury, Connecticut, and Mr. Joseph DiSette assumed the position of principal    Mr. Joseph DiSette left SCHS in 1979 to enter private business.

     Sr. Judith O’Connor, O.S.U. (Order of St. Ursula), became Stamford Catholic’s ninth principal in July 1979.  In the spring of 1988, Sister Judith O’Connor was elected Provincial for her community, and in June left SCHS.  Sr. Judith made her mark as the longest reigning principal of the school.  In June 1988, Mr. Donald Conetta became principal and remained principal until 1992.

     Following the closings of two diocesan high schools, Central Catholic in Norwalk in 1990, and St. Mary in Greenwich in 1991, Stamford Catholic High School was re-named Trinity Catholic High School as part of a merger of all the schools by the Diocese of Bridgeport.  The school became a regional high school serving the tradition of Catholic, co-educational secondary education in southwest Fairfield County and neighboring Westchester County in New York State.

     In August of 1992, Sister Ritamary Schultz, A.S.C.J. , was appointed principal and remained in the position until the end of the school year 1998. Sr. Ritamary was assigned by her community to be principal of the Order’s school in Hamden, Connecticut.

     Mr. Peter Borchetta was appointed by Bishop Edward Egan as Trinity Catholic’s third principal in August of 1998.  At the end of the school year 2001-2002, Mr. Borchetta decided to accept a position in another private school.  For the school year 2002-2003, Mr. Thomas Celestino assumed the position as principal of the school but left after only one year.

     A search for a new principal was begun by Bishop William Lori.  Mr. Robert D’Aquila, long standing faculty member, and vice-principal at the school was selected principal.  He is the current principal.