HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL
The history of Our Lady of the Lake School is inextricably linked to that of the parish church. The
first Mass was celebrated by Father Charles J. O’Reilly in 1888 and two years later a small wooden
church accommodating fifty people of the Sacred Heart Parish was built at the corner of First and
“E” Streets in Lake Oswego. As the population of the city grew (in 1910 the population was 1800)
a house was built which served as a residence and parish hall. In 1936, Father Margraf, a Holy
Cross priest from the University of Portland, became pastor and established a parish school by
starting a summer school program. He was followed by Father Joseph Vanderbeck who continued
the efforts of starting a school, with the support of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary
(SNJM) from Marylhurst, to provide catechetical instruction. The school, which contained four
classrooms, opened September 6, 1938, and was later dedicated in 1942. In 1949 the school was
enlarged; a gymnasium, which served as a location for parish liturgies, and a cafeteria were added.
In 1950, the wooden church and parish house on First Street were sold and additional property was
purchased adjoining the school. In 1951, a rectory was built on this property and the name was
changed to Our Lady of the Lake Church. In 1955, the present church building was erected, along
with another school addition. In that same year the Sisters of the Holy Names enrolled 535
children in the eight classrooms of the school! More classrooms to the school and an adjacent
convent for the teaching sisters were added in 1961. In 1980, a science room was added above the
school garage. In 1983, the Holy Names Sisters completed their service to the parish school and
also moved from the convent, which eventually was transformed, into the Parish Center, housing
offices and meeting rooms for the parish staff. In the fall of 1983, a sister from the order of the
Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) was named principal. Having served until 1985, she is the last
religious to serve in this capacity. The last SNJM to serve on the school faculty was the music
teacher who retired in 1994. In the fall of 2004, a religious from the Adorers of the Holy Cross
ordered was employed to be the junior high religion teacher.
During the late ‘80’s significant school program changes evolved which included the development
of a middle school program with sixth grade becoming a transition year from the intermediate
grades to the current junior high program. In 1987, the kindergarten program was added.
Presently, as an outgrowth of the 1996 Our Lady of the Lake case statement process, the parish and
school are involved in a Master Plan process to determine the possibility of expansion and
renovation of the school and parish office facilities.
Our Lady of the Lake School has been and continues to be fortunate in the dedication, support, and
hard work of both the pastors and teachers who have served the school over the years.