Catholic Schools Week:
January 26 - February 1st.
January 26 - February 1st.
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Our Story
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Regina History -
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The History of ReginaThe year is 1950. There are 4 Catholic Churches in Iowa City including St. Mary’s, St. Patrick’s, St. Wenceslaus, and St. Thomas Moore. There are 2 Catholic schools including St. Mary’s School, and St. Patrick’s School. Both schools teach Kindergarten through the 12th Grade. Both schools are suffering from dilapidation and overcrowding. Neither school is able to keep up with the educational standards of the public schools, and the educational requirements of our young Catholic men and women of the community. There are an estimated 1750 Catholic children in the community, but a capacity for only 821 students in the combined St. Mary’s and St. Patrick’s Schools.
Fig.1 - St. Patrick’s High School Fig. 2 - St. Mary’s High School
Fig. 3 - Overcrowded classroom at St. Mary’s Fig. 4 - Gymnasium at St. Mary’s
The Most Reverend Ralph L. Hayes, bishop of the Davenport Diocese, gathers together the priests of the Iowa City Catholic Churches to formulate a plan to create a new Catholic High School that would serve the entire Catholic community. This single high school would unite all of parishes of Iowa City and nearby communities. The school would be named Iowa City Central Catholic High School. The seed was planted and plans were started to make this dream a reality.
The first order of business was to decide on a location. In 1954, a 105 acre piece of property, located at the northwest corner of First Avenue and Highway 1 (Rochester Avenue), was purchased for the price of
$50,000 from the Langenberg family.
Fig. 5 - Bishop Ralph L. Hayes Fig. 6 - Aerial view of the Langenberg property
In May of 1956, more than 300 members of The Knights of Columbus began a survey of Catholics within the city and surrounding communities to determine the number of prospective students for the parochial school system. This is the first concerted effort in more than 10 years to gain a comprehensive survey of Catholics in the area that are served by the four local churches.
Shortly thereafter, Lawson Associates was selected to conduct a fundraising campaign to raise $900,000 to build the new school. With Bishop Hayes as the Honorary Chairman, Dr. George Scanlon and C. Urban Kelly as Co-General Chairman, lead a committee of people from all of the parishes to manage the capital campaign within the community. Parish Chairmen for the capital campaign included D.R. Davidson from St. Mary’s, Frank Boyd from St. Patrick’s, John Swaner from St. Wenceslaus, and John Ostdick from St.
Thomas Moore. It was decided to change the name of the new school from Iowa City Central Catholic High School to Regina High School. Regina, one of Mary’s titles, translates to Queen of Heaven, which in Latin is “Regina Coeli”. In commenting on the drive, Rev. Raymond J. Pacha, pastor of St. Patrick’s parish and executive secretary for the campaign, stated, “Never before have I witnessed such enthusiasm among a group of Catholics. They know this campaign has to be a success to give their sons, daughters, and all Catholic youth their rightful heritage – the opportunity of receiving an education based on the philosophy of our faith. They cannot, they will not fail.” The Architect firm of Smith, Voorhees, Jensen, Silletto and Associates was hired to create the floor plan for the school, which was revealed to the public in September, 1956. Excitement within the community was growing.
Fig. 7 - Architects drawing of Regina High School
As mentioned in his sermon on Sunday, October 7th, 1956, Rev. P. J. O’Reilly states, “Catholic Action thrusts upon all of us a tremendous responsibility. It places upon us—all Catholics in this world—the responsibility of spreading Catholicism so that it embraces everyone throughout the universe. No single one of us can do this job alone. Nor can it be accomplished by the collective efforts of every Catholic family in Iowa City. However, it can be accomplished by the spreading of Catholic education among all nations of the world.”
A spiritual kickoff meeting was held in the Iowa City High School auditorium. The bells of all four parishes were rung at 2pm on Sunday, October 21, 1956 to signal the beginning of the meeting. There were multiple speakers, including diocese chancellor, Msgr. Maurice Dingman as the guest speaker, and music provided by the combined St. Mary’s and St. Patrick’s Choirs. 158 Team Captains lead 969 men who volunteered to solicit funds of any wage earning and income receiving Catholics in the area over a 24 hour period. Reverend Pacha, gave final instructions to the solicitors, and the volunteers were sent out as the organ played “Onward Christian Soldiers”. The fund drive had begun.
Fig. 8 - Attendance at the Spiritual Kickoff Meeting
Fig. 9 - Spiritual Kickoff meeting agenda
On Monday evening, only 24 hours after the kickoff meeting was held, members of the drive gathered again in the Iowa City High School auditorium to announce their results. Workers reported their contributions and pledges to the team captains who then reported to the vice chairman. The vice chairman then reported the results to people in the auditorium. It was said that the scene resembled a political convention with placards of the various vice chairmen and parishes on the floor and on the stage. When all of the contributions and pledges were tallied, more than $858,000 had been gathered from approximately 1,972 people. Adjusting for inflation, this equates to greater than $8 million by 2019 standards that was raised in just 24 hours!
Fig. 10 - Speaker addressing fund drive volunteers Fig. 11 - Fund Drive Results being tallied
By November 2, 1956, with the help of a charitable contribution from Rt. Rev. Msgr. P.J. O’Reilly, the campaign had achieved its goal of $900,000. As stated by Rev. Pacha, “I sincerely thank all the people who have sacrificed in the effort to meet the goals and the cooperation of all parishes. It is the first time that all Catholics in Iowa City have ever gotten together for any project. It shows what can be done in a united effort to help the Catholic children of our community.” Msgr. J. D. Conway, the pastor of St. Thomas Moore, recognized that Regina High School will be a truly memorialized school due to the fact that 130 memorials totaling $248,200 have been reserved to help fund the building.With funding secured, Bishop Hayes gave the approval to begin construction in a letter stating congratulations and praise to the community for the hard work and efforts to make this project successful. With his approval, the grading contract was awarded to R. B. Burch, Inc. and grading for the new school started on the following day, November 26, 1956.
Fig. 12 - Grading of Regina property begins Fig. 13 - Construction is started
Fig. 14 – Building Foundations
Foundations were laid in the spring of 1957 as weather conditions permitted and building the structure of the high school began at a furious pace. There was much work to be done in a short period of time. The spring of 1958 saw the final class of seniors graduate from St. Patrick’s and St. Mary’s High Schools as the construction of Regina neared completion. In the fall of 1958, the doors of Regina Catholic High School were finally opened. 295 students in grades 9 through 12 started classes under a faculty that included 4 priests, 8 Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and 6 lay teachers. A new era had begun!
Fig. 15 - Regina School in 1959
Fig. 15a Fr Pacha Blessing the Nun’s car
Fig. 16 – Timeline for the creation of Regina High School
Though Regina High School was now in session, Catholic education for grades K-8 continued classes at St. Mary’s and St. Patrick’s grade schools. In 1968, St. Mary’s School, located on the corner of Clinton and Jefferson St. ended its teaching ministries and the students transferred to St. Patrick’s School, which was renamed Iowa City Catholic Grade School. In the fall of 1969, 7th and 8th Grade students joined the ranks of the high school students at Regina High School, which was renamed to Regina Jr/Sr High School.
Fig. 17 – Regina Timeline in First 10 Years
Due to dilapidation of the Iowa City Catholic Grade School, and in an effort to consolidate all Iowa City Catholic Education into one facility, construction began on an elementary education center on the Regina Jr/Sr High School Campus. The Regina Elementary School opened in 1987 to Kindergarten through 6th grade students, while Religious Education classes began being held on campus for public school students. In 1989, Preschool education opportunities started for up to 25 three and four year olds in two classrooms affectionately known as the Bear and Bunny rooms.
Fig. 18 – Regina Timeline 1969-1994
Fig. 19 – Regina Timeline 1995-2010
Fig. 20 – Regina Timeline 2010-2019
Fig. 21 Aerial view of Regina Catholic Education Center Campus in 1954
Fig. 21 Aerial View of the Regina Catholic Education Center Campus in 2023
Fig. 22 –Entrance Regina Athletics Indoor Training Facility
Figures 23 Regina Athletics Indoor Training Facility
Fig. 24 – Regina Events Center Entrance
Campaigns & Improvements
Over the course of the next 35 years, there has been continual change to the school, including multiple improvements to the facility, the educational tools and methodologies, and the athletic facilities.
1992: “Mission of Necessity” Campaign raised $2.75 million for High School renovations and the addition of five classrooms.
2004: “Fueling the Fire of Faith” Capital Campaign raised over $5 million which provided a two-story addition that included a new kitchen/cafeteria, science labs, restrooms, seven jr./sr. high school classrooms, four elementary rooms, and a multi-purpose room.
2007: The high school fine arts wing was remodeled.
2016: “Pride in our Past; Building our Future” Multi-year Capital Campaign Kicked off, Chaired by Matt Pacha & Jason Dumont, eventually raising over $9.1 million, through the generosity of 611 donors.
2017- Locker Rooms remodeled
- New Gym Roof
- Addition of First Avenue exit/entrance
- Athletic Training Facility including indoor turf hitting facility, new weight training facility & equipment, wrestling practice room, and athletic trainer space.
- Security upgrades to facilities
- Parking lots expanded and resurfaced
- Education Wing Opens - The new one-story Education Wing features 11,723 square feet of new construction that added educational capacity at the school with four classrooms and a science lab with flex space for the junior and senior high, built where the old weight room and modular classrooms once stood. Other features include a 2,750 SF lobby/atrium, concession stand, Spirit Store, restrooms, trophy cases and an entrance for extra-curricular activities.
2022- Early Childhood Center Renovation Opens - Building renovation is 9,240 total square feet. New wing includes 2 classrooms, 1 STEM room, 1 Play Zone, 2 restrooms (4 toilets and 4 sinks for classrooms; 1 toilet and 1 sink for staff), and 1 Work Room for staff to utilize for breaks/lesson planning. Remodeled Bunny Room includes a completely remodeled kitchen, new student cubbies, and new carpet and VCT flooring. Classrooms are 1,217 SF each, each classroom includes individual cubbies for students, carpet on one Classrooms, STEM Room, and Bunny Rooms all equipped with smart boards. Added a fire sprinkler system and updated the fire alarm system in the Pre-K wing for added safety. New energy saving light fixtures and lighting controls.
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