St. Edward Nativity News Release Final 6.2.2020v2

St. Edward Parish Welcomes Seattle Nativity School to its Campus

Ensures continuation of strong Catholic education for under-served students

Seattle, WA June 3, 2020 – Today, St. Edward Parish and Seattle Nativity School announce plans to relocate the school from its current location at Our Lady of Mt. Virgin parish to the parish campus at St. Edward this summer. Seattle Nativity School is a Catholic, Jesuit, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) middle school. In its new location, Nativity will continue its tuition-free education and graduate support program which provides guidance and support for students through their high school and college years and into their first job placement.

“This is a new chapter for Seattle Nativity School with great benefits to our entire school community,” said Father Jeffrey McDougall, S.J., the president of Seattle Nativity School since 2014. “The move to St. Edward Parish campus improves the classroom environment for students and gives us the opportunity for future expansion to serve more students, which is central to our strategic plan.”

Established in 1906, St. Edward parish is located in Seattle’s Rainier Valley neighborhood and serves more than 600 parish households. Its parish school recently merged with the parish school at St. Paul parish in Rainier Beach to strengthen both schools and the parish community. This move provided Nativity with the opportunity to bring its vibrant Catholic school community on to the St. Edward campus.

“We’re so pleased to welcome Seattle Nativity School to our campus,” said Father Scott Connolly, who has been pastor at St. Edward since last July. “It’s a blessing that the timing worked out so well and we’re able to use our building to support Catholic education for under-served students in south Seattle.”

Seattle Nativity School will move into its new location this summer, with the goal of opening classes onsite in the Fall.

About Seattle Nativity School
Our Mission: Seattle Nativity School is a Catholic, Jesuit, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) middle school seeking to break the cycle of poverty through an education that nourishes souls and ignites leaders for love and service.

A co-educational institution serving 12-15 students per class size, students receive instruction through a rigorous curriculum which prepares them for a successful secondary educational experience. Its mission is aligned with Catholic identity standards and the Jesuit charism of cura personalis, care for the whole person. Admission is open to low-income students of all faith backgrounds. To learn more, please visit www.seattlenativity.org.

About St. Edward Parish & School
Established in 1906, St. Edward parish is located in Seattle’s Rainier Valley neighborhood and serves more than 600 parish households. To learn more, please visit www.stedwardparish.net

In 1911, St. Edward pastor Fr. Quigely asked Bishop O’Dea to send teaching sisters to staff a proposed parish school.  The sisters of the Third Order of St. Dominic, later known as the Tacoma Dominicans, responded with four sisters, and St. Edward School opened to 144 students on September 10, 1911.

Since that time, St. Edward School has been a beacon to existing, newly relocated, and immigrant families in the Rainier Valley.  Some families are often newly arrived to the United States.  St. Edward School has a rich history of assisting families in adjusting to life in the United States and at the same time ensuring that students excel academically, and grow physically, morally, and spiritually. This fall St. Edward School will be merging with St. Paul Parish School in the Skyway neighborhood.