The idea of starting St. Agnes School in Clark, NJ started in August of 1962. Rev. Dennis J. Whelan, Pastor of the Parish respectfully submitted a petition for the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Dominic of the Congregation of Sacred Heart in Caldwell, NJ to conduct a parish elementary school. Permission was granted and on August 15, 1963 the Dominican Sisters arrived.

Temporary residence for St. Agnes School was set up at Union Catholic Regional High School in Scotch Plains in September of 1963, with a total enrollment of 157 students in grades 1 through 4. Four classrooms were set aside and bus transportation was provided. The school colors were chosen. Red (maroon) for martyrdom of St. Agnes and White for purity.

Exactly one year later on Sept. 9, 1964, our brand new school building was opened at 342 Madison Hill Road in Clark, NJ. The excitement was building as 224 students were enrolled and a fifth grade was added. The schoolbook fees were $15.00 per pupil and bus transportation was paid for by the parents. Thursday was always a special day when a group of moms from the parish and school came to cook hot dogs for the children, adding a special treat to lunchtime. The following year, the first full cafeteria was in operation with hot meals, salads, sandwiches, desserts and milk. There was no cash register; the money was collected and sorted in bowls at the end of a long table.

Things were moving along nicely by 1965. The first school newspaper was originated; Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops were formed. Fifty boys joined Troop #86 and began fundraising to sponsor camping trips, field trips and a trip to Washington D.C.

Woodcarvings of the patron saints with their names imprinted were in front of each classroom. A wall statue of a boy and girl was mounted in the front hall. The two models were Joan Jaworski and Robert Suszko, students who were in the first graduating class of 1968.  The statue is still there today.

Grades 6, 7 and 8 were all added in 1967, and in June of 1968, we graduated the original 4th grade class from 1963. Frank Gelormini, a parent of one of the 7th grade boys, founded the Basketball Team this year. In order to purchase basketballs for the team, Mr. Gelormini collected S & H Green Stamps. The boys supplied their own uniforms and the cheerleaders made theirs. Since there was no gym, permission from the Township of Clark was obtained to use Valley Road School gym for practice and games. The trophies were donated by the coach from 1969 until 1972 and were always presented at the 8th grade communion breakfast. In later years, the Sports Committee was founded and continued this tradition.

In 1972, the convent at 43 Amelia Drive in Clark was sold as a residence and the Sisters went to live at the convent for St. John The Apostle, in Linden. We had 365 students and the tuition was $35.00 for the first child and $10.00 for the second. The average class size was maximum 36 and minimum 20.

Father Miller, one of the Parish Priests, felt the children of St. Agnes were at a disadvantage when it came to competitive sports, so in 1973, with a $125.00 of appropriated funds, the Sport Committee was founded with the motto “DO YOUR BEST.” The all-purpose room became the gym, with the floor marked for a basketball court and fold-up basketball hoops on the ceiling. In 1977, the entire Municipal Council of the Township of Clark adopted Resolution No. 77-69 to honor St. Agnes CYO Basketball Team for outstanding accomplishments and the Girls Softball Team was formed that same year. The cheerleaders were born and achieved second place in cheering and Miss Yell Competition’s. The track team brought in many gold, silver and bronze medals. Mr. Joe Santos became the coach of basketball and stayed coach for 25 years. In 1999, the Sports Committee named the Joseph Santos Sports Scholarship in his honor.

In 1980 school uniforms were maroon, white and gray. The school “Year Book” began and the school received excellent evaluations by the Archdiocesan Office Evaluation Team.

In 1982, Implementation of the recommendations from the Evaluation Team was started.

• A new office, using wasted space in the hallway was constructed.

• A separate nurse’s room was created.

• A library was planned and completed some years later.

• Monthly newsletter and calendars were published.

• Algebra programs for qualified 8th grade students were put into operation.

• The use of computers was stressed in varying degrees for both classroom and offices.

• Teaching specialty topics were put in place.

Book fees at this time were $30 per child and tuition was $400 first and $700 for second child.  If you choose not to work Bingo, tuition was $700 first and $1,300 for second child.

The Kindergarten class started with 15 children in 1991, and in 1995 our beloved Sister Claire Ouimet M.P.F. of the Religious Teachers Filippini, became our Principal. Sister Claire has brought our school into the new millennium with a very strong academic program and up-to-date technology to integrate computing skills into its core curriculum.

St. Agnes started with 4 rented classrooms and has grown to 8 classrooms in our building and two mobile unit classrooms. We have grades Pre-K through 8th grade and an after school care program. Today there is a gym and a very diversified multi-active sports program, as well as scouting for boys and girls. The faculty is experienced, certified, and fully accredited. The students who have graduated from St. Agnes School have become exceptional people in our society. The formative years learning at St. Agnes School truly makes it-----“A WONDERFUL PLACE TO BE.”

In 2002 St. Agnes Students kicked off their 40th Anniversary with a student and faculty celebration. The festivities began with a special children’s Mass celebrated by Rev. Msgr. James Choma. The Glee Club performed and the hand bells, recently donated to St. Agnes Church, were used for the very first time to ring in this wonderful occasion. Afterward, the children were entertained by the “Stringman” a professional yo-yo performance artist who delighted the audience with his skillful demonstration that combined unbelievable yo-yo tricks against a backdrop of music, action, comedy, and history. Everyone dined under colorful balloons and enjoyed a free hot dog lunch. The day concluded with the singing of “Happy Anniversary” and a cake cutting ceremony led by Monsignor Choma, Pastor, Sister Claire Ouimet, and Mrs. Helen Shaffer, First Grade Teacher. All of the students enjoyed cake and they were presented with a 40th Anniversary commemorative yo-yo as a special token of a truly memorable day.

St. Agnes observed its 40th anniversary on Saturday, November 29th beginning with a special 5:30 PM Mass. Alumni, neighbors, parishioners and special guests enjoyed a cocktail reception and a “Walk Down Memory Lane”  following the Mass in the parish/school gymnasium.