Welcome to the St. Anthony of Padua School Website. We have begun with the history of school because of its long existence as a Catholic School in the area. Other information has been included to inform you about St. Anthony School, a school with a very bright future for continued excellence into the new millennium.
Under a spreading apple tree in 1881, Brother Leo Shopoefer taught his first religion classes until the cold autumn days drove them indoors to the wooden frame building where church services were held. The following year, the Franciscan Sisters of Peekskill came to take over the school which had moved into a small building nearby that consisted of a basement, a large classroom, and two small anterooms.
In 1897, Fr. Hyacinth Rueberg drew up his own plans and oversaw the construction of a school and entertainment hall down Bartholdi Avenue from the new church. This structure was known as the CYO building. In 1927 the present school was dedicated and by the 1950s the class size was almost 450 with children coming from Butler and Bloomingdale, West Milford, Cozy Lake, Oak Ridge, Kinnelon, Riverdale and Pompton Lakes. In 1969, a Parish Center was added on the back of the existing eight-classroom building. In 1987 the Sisters of Charity came to teach at St. Anthony's. The faculty was then as it is now - devoted to providing opportunities to learn the Gospel message.
Saint Anthony School continues to serve as a strong force in Catholic education in the Butler/Bloomingdale area. In 1992 Saint Anthony was granted accreditation from the Middle States Association acknowledging that St. Anthony School has a deep commitment to be a continually enriching faith community dedicated to the growth and development of the whole child. It earned its re-accredition ten years later in 2003. The entire school community aims to develop a solid plan of action as it fosters the holistic growth of its children for their role as Christian citizens of the twenty first century.
