20 DECEMBER 2025 By Michael P. Murphy At first glance, St. Theresa Catholic School looks much like it did when it opened in 1957. But a closer look reveals vital improvements across the campus. It’s all about taking what you have and making it better. The vision for renewal began in 2022, when the school applied for a Shea Homes grant to help fund much-needed improvements. The project was temporarily postponed, but in 2025, St. Theresa was invited to reapply. In March, Shea pledged to cover 65 percent of the project’s total cost: $2.8 million. The remaining balance was met through the generosity of St. Theresa’s families, parishioners, and benefactors. The community rallied together through fundraising initiatives such as Grandparents Day, Buddy Bingo, social media campaigns, and more. The last day of the school year was May 23. The following Tuesday, Knipp Contracting and its trade partners rolled up their sleeves and got to work. “The main focus was the classroom renovations,” Principal Mary Pivonka said. “We updated the flooring and added large magnetic whiteboards. The younger grades got cubbies, and the older kids got lockers.” All 28 classrooms were completely gutted and remodeled to make the rooms more organized and efficient for students and teachers. A new, expanded teacher’s lounge and conference room were added. The science lab, which also serves as an art room, received new, durable epoxy flooring. “We did a complete renovation in the library,” Pivonka said. “The whole room was gutted and replaced with new flooring, all new shelving, and additional storage. We did a lot of practical things. It wasn’t as much cosmetic as it was intentional and organizational.” A year ago, the school received a grant to replace the old swamp coolers in the gymnasium with a new air conditioning system. With the new grant, they were able to upgrade the floor and add more storage for the locker rooms. The stage received new curtains and lighting. The campus exterior now shines with fresh paint, fascia repairs, and a new tile roofing underlayment that protects against moisture and time. The ramada and lunch areas were renewed with eight-foot picnic tables. The preschool fence and block walls were replaced to strengthen safety and aesthetics, while an upgraded intercom and access-control system, along with enhanced camera surveillance, ensure a secure environment. It took a lot of work to get the classrooms cleared out so the construction crew could get to work, then put it all back before the new school year began, but the job was completed by August 6, when St. Theresa’s welcomed teachers to better-organized classrooms and excited studen ts. “I think parents had different – perhaps smaller – expectations of what two months of work would look like, so they were surprised at what was done,” St. Theresa employee Alex Read said. “What Shea did was so impressive, but this was also a testament to our community. Everybody came together to get this done.” When students and staff returned, they found a campus that felt both familiar and transformed – a place that honors its legacy while embracing the future. $2.8M renovation transforms St. Theresa Catholic School The gymnasium received upgraded flooring and more storage for the locker rooms, and the stage received new curtains and lighting. PHOTOS COURTESY OF ST. THERESA CATHOLIC SCHOOL