Then and Now: Aspinwall Catholic grade school celebrates 100 years in the borough

A lot has changed since St. Scholastica elementary school was established along the tree-lined streets of Aspinwall in 1925 – most notably, the name.

But the school, now called Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy, remains true to its mission of providing a solid Catholic foundation for area youth.

“Our commitment to providing an excellent, faith-based education remains stronger than ever,” Principal Mark Grgurich said. “We are incredibly proud of how far we’ve come, and the investment in our students — both academically and spiritually — is at the heart of everything we do.”

The town’s only school prospered for decades in the early 1900s at the corner of Third and Maple streets, expanding twice to add additional grade levels and a new building.

Founded by the Millvale Franciscan Sisters for Catholic students in grades one through six, St. Scholastica School enjoyed such immediate success that it expanded in 1926 with grade seven and the following year to accommodate grade eight.

Three decades later, continued growth mandated another expansion. In 1959, an addition was built at the corner of Third Street and Brilliant Avenue and eventually, a kindergarten program joined the offerings.

In 1985, a new building was constructed on the site of the original school.

Students came from several area Catholic churches, including St. Edward in Blawnox, St. John Cantius, Madonna of Jerusalem and St. Mary in Sharpsburg, St. Joseph in O’Hara and St. Scholastica in Aspinwall.

In 1997, the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh approved a request by those parishes in the Fox Chapel Area School District to create a regional elementary school with a more representative name.

It became Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy — known locally as CDTCA.

Grgurich joined the school in 2014, arriving with 28 years of experience in the diocese.

Enrollment at the school continued to thrive, bucking a trend of dwindling class sizes at other Catholic schools.

There were 140 students when Grgurich joined the school 11 years ago. Numbers have climbed to about 166.

Among the most notable improvements in recent years was the addition of a full-day pre-K program that Grgurich said has allowed younger children to “experience the nurturing environment of Catholic education early on, setting the stage for their future academic success.”

The preschool program is for 3- and 4-year olds.

CDTCA has also kept an eye on technology and future-world learning, integrating Smartboards, Chromebooks and tablets into the curriculum.

Marketing Manager Katie Lovett said the school greatly enhanced its science curriculum with the addition of a hands-on, interactive FabLab for STEM-oriented learning.

“The science lab allows students to engage in creative, inquiry-based projects that make science come alive,” she said. “With the focus on STEM fields in education, CDTCA’s science lab is comparable to other middle school environments where our students graduate ready for the high school science curriculum.”

The physical space of the school has undergone other significant improvements too. The building was updated to ensure a safe and modern environment for students, faculty and staff. That includes a security system with cameras, new floors, classroom and exterior doors, upgraded playground, modernized gym with bleachers and cafeteria tables.

Lovett said beyond academics, the school offers athletics and extracurriculars to cater to a wide range of interests that include chess, architecture and science. Newer sports include track and field, and cheer.

In 2017, CDTCA joined four others to form the North Hills Regional Catholic Elementary School.

Last year, CDTCA transitioned to the Pittsburgh East Regional Catholic Elementary Schools to further enhance opportunities by uniting under a broader regional system, Lovett said.

“As we look to the future, we will continue to embrace new opportunities for growth and innovation, ensuring our students are prepared for a bright future while remaining grounded in their faith,” Grgurich said.