Santa Cruz’s Oldest School Celebrates 160 Years

When Holy Cross Catholic School opened its doors on top of the hill overlooking downtown Santa Cruz for the 1862-1864 school year, Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation freeing the slaves, the Union Army was starting to turn the Civil War toward victory and the country celebrated its first Thanksgiving.

Patty Patano has been the school’s principal since 2016. Before that she was head of school at an independent school in Los Angeles. Her favorite part of the job is being part of the lives of her students. “They are smart, funny and examples of what it means to have pure joy,” she says. “Helping them navigate times of conflict and celebrating their achievements and personal growth (i.e. being part of their formation) is a true honor.”

The school has 198 students from preschool to 8th grade, and there are 18 teachers.
We talked to her this month about the school’s mission and rich history.

Growing Up: How has the school changed over the course of 160 years and what did it look like when it was founded?

Patty Patano: Holy Cross was founded in 1862 in a much different time and with much sacrifice. It was established by the Daughters of Charity in the 1862-1863 school year. Seven members of the order journeyed to California from Maryland in 1852, at the request of then-Bishop of Monterey Joseph Alemany. During a harrowing trip at a time when railroads did not yet cross the country, the nuns came by steamer from New York, crossing the Isthmus of Panama atop mules. Two of them didn’t survive the journey. The others established an orphanage as well as a boarding and parish day school in what was then a rural area without paved roads or other amenities. The school was first housed in an adobe and then a wooden building. The current school was built in 1958.

What made Holy Cross successful during that time?

Since 1862 Holy Cross has served as an educational foundation and community for generations of local families. We’ve never wavered from our mission — to educate children and guide their personal development.

How does Holy Cross balance or integrate education with religious beliefs?

For our Catholic parents, a Catholic education is an invitation for their children, not only to grow intellectually, but also to grow closer to God and embrace the gifts and blessings that He has bestowed upon them. For our non-Catholic parents, it’s the foundation of respect and level of care and attention within our school community that matches their expectations for their children.
So students don’t have to be Catholic to attend?

We are a proud Catholic school that understands and embraces the richness of a diverse community. About 30 percent of our students are of another faith or have no formal faith tradition. However, every student, whether Catholic or not, feels a deep sense of belonging and welcome at Holy Cross School. We value the importance of learning from one another and encourage all students to share their faith experiences.

Describe the 160th anniversary celebrations. How have you prepared?

We are excited for our 160th anniversary this year. During the last week of January, we observed Catholic Schools Week, an annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. We celebrated with a school Mass, Open House and other activities for students, families, parishioners and community members. There were daily themes and we honored a variety of individuals. Parents got donuts and community members who have made their vocation in the Church were honored.

Have the recent storms affected learning at all?

Honestly, since the onset of the pandemic, our students and faculty have developed significant resilience and flexibility. We didn’t skip a beat and nimbly pivoted so that our students’ learning continued without interruption. Student learning and academic progress has steadily continued, even during the recent devastating storms.

The school has absorbed, I believe, 50 students. Can you go into that?

This year the school’s enrollment grew by about 25 percent, due largely in part to the closure of a local Catholic school last year. It is a sad day when we have to close a Catholic school, and it hurts all of Catholic education when that happens. For families who wanted to continue in Catholic education, Holy Cross School was there to provide them with a school home for their children.

A long time ago there was a history of violence from the Catholic church towards natives. How has Holy Cross moved past and condemned that?

The Church condemns the evils of violence – whether delivered through word, system, institution, or deed. As a school Holy Cross is called to actively work for justice through means that honor the good of our community, and human dignity, especially that of Indigenous peoples.

How would a student benefit from attending Holy Cross as opposed to a public school?

Parents in Santa Cruz County are fortunate to have many fine school choices, public and private, when seeking a school home for their children. At Holy Cross we place a high importance on smaller class sizes which enable us to meet each student where they are as individuals and help them to reach their own highest potential. With this flexibility we provide specific support when needed and accelerate the academics of students to facilitate their academic growth.

What are some of the school’s fundamental beliefs for helping kids develop into good people?
As a Catholic school, we have established schoolwide learning expectations, known as SLEs, which support the way we teach and support our students. Basically, we strive for our graduates to become responsible citizens, to develop a love for lifelong learning and to model their words and actions as a child of God.

Every class from preschool to eighth grade supports a local organization which teaches the children to think beyond themselves. They learn that even a young person can make a difference in and impact the lives of others. We set the bar high for our students when it comes to their words and actions, and they always exceed our expectations. With parents as partners, we are proud to be part of the formation of our students into good and respectful people.

Has there been a change in attitude or attendance over time as non-religious beliefs have become more widespread?

We believe the school’s mission to provide academic excellence with values of a lifetime, resonates with everyone regardless of religious beliefs, and our parent community agrees. One parent recently commented that diversity is key at Holy Cross. Whether your family is Catholic, secular or of another faith, it’s the school’s emphasis on global citizenship, respect and care for others, and doing the right thing that are beautiful goals for us all.