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Welcome Back to School!
The Alumni Association was formed to keep past students, families, and friends informed on current activities and class reunions. On this Web site are the class rosters and the submitted e-mail addresses of the graduating students of Pius X High School and St. Matthias High School. Classmates will now be able to get in contact with one another more easily for reunions and other events. The buttons above will lead you to news, class rosters, reunions, a search engine for names and phrases, and a feedback page to keep your contact information up to date, or add/correct your e-mail address. Enjoy your visit and your fond memories of high school, and we hope to see you back to this site often. School History: The First Ten YearsIn the year 1954, America launched the world's first nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Nautilus, and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles launched Pius X High School. † Monsignor (then Father) Joseph Sharpe (RIP 1999) was the first principal. † Mr. James O'Connor (RIP 1974) was the head basketball coach and physiology teacher. The gymnasium and football field were still dreams and all games were played at South Gate High School. Construction on the main building was being completed even as school opened. September 1956, the Warriors proudly occupied the new west (girl's) wing—finished in 1955. 1956 TIARA pages featured the new cafeteria and gymnasium. The 1957 TIARA took its theme from the stage; the producer (Fr. Sharp), the cast (Pius X students), the directors (40 sisters and 30 priests) and new sets (the stands, gymnasium and Faculty dining room). The Class of '60 donated gridiron lights and scoreboard to the football field. Father Sharpe became Archdiocesan Superintendent of Schools in 1961 and vice-principal † Father Charles Cranham (RIP 1974) became the school's second principal. In 1964, Father Cranham took up his new position as principal of St. Paul's High School in Santa Fe Springs and Father (now Monsignor) George J. Parnassus (currently the retired pastor of St. Victor Church, North Hollywood, CA) became the third principal of Pius X High School in the Fall of that year. Shortly afterwards, the most exciting news of all filtered out of the main office of Pius X High School and through the student body. Construction would soon start on a new east wing addition to the high school.
The Model Schools Project: 1969-1975Pius X entered into the most revolutionary concept of modern teaching--the Model Schools Project. All of the school's departments are kept up to date on new teaching breakthroughs, which enables students to profit from the latest in educational methods. The content of educational materials are now broken down into three distinct sections; that which is basic, that which is desirable, that which is enriching. Pius began an innovation in education called "non-gradedness." This places a student in a class where his or her present achievement is the deciding factor. His success or difficulty throughout the year will enable his or her teachers to place him or her in a phase according to the student's learning capacity. Emphasis is put on progress and learning by the individual, and not a group of thirty or forty students, a "pre-packaging" concept of the past. The student is recognized as being unique, someone with special talents, special weaknesses. The student is able to decide for himself or herself, to a large degree, what subjects he or she wants to learn, where, from whom, and most importantly, why. The student is able, thanks to the utilization of school resources, to enlarge his or her spectrum of learning with greater ease and efficiency, and therefore, benefit more from education. Father James W. Keefe, former principal at Pius X High School from 1967 to 1975, was the innovator and chief planner of the Model Schools Project. He spent 75% of his time at Pius planning for improved instruction, department coordination, and independent study implementation. Transformation: 1995-Present DaySt. Matthias High School was, since 1960, located on Stafford Avenue and Belgrade Street in Huntington Park. In March of 1995, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles announced a school realignment transforming Pius X, a co-educational high school, into a co-institutional high school with St. Matthias, phasing out the Pius X program over a three-year period. About 80% of St. Matthias' all-girls student body of 300 transferred to Pius. This resulted in a larger all-girls high school located on the sprawling 17-acre Pius X campus. Today, St. Matthias is dedicated to educating young women in faith, with the family, for the future. School Namesakes, Alma Maters, and More
Contact Information
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Copyright ©
2004-2008 Ron Zurek - Pius X Class of 1970
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St.
Matthias High School, on the original Pius X High School campus constructed in 1953,
is today a
Catholic archdiocesan high school for young women. A unique family atmosphere permeates all aspects of
school life, and a fundamental focus is placed on the development of a positive
sense of self-worth and individual importance. Students are encouraged to
develop their God-given potential to grow into mature Christian women, ready to
take their place as leaders in service to their church, their community, and the
world.
