Sacred Heart School, founded in 1912, is a Child Care, Preschool, Elementary and High School located in East Grand Forks, Minnesota. Sacred Heart gives students the opportunity to choose their own accomplishments and create their own success stories. Along the way, we nurture and embolden them as they grow mentally, physically, and spiritually — forming mind, body, and soul.

Sacred Heart has much gratitude for its parish, alumni, friends and other supporters. Our success is largely due thanks to all the people who have supported it in a variety of ways. Sacred Heart is, indeed, a unique school. Our elementary and high school program has existed financially through the support of primarily a single parish, although the Grand Forks Catholic parishes provide some support for their parish students attending in grades 6-12. Less than ten such school systems exist in the United States! Typically, today you will find Catholic school systems supported by Diocesan structures and multiple parishes.

Through our founding, Sacred Heart was fortunate to have the Benedictine Sisters as its core of teachers. We also have had extraordinary pastors who saw value that Catholic education had for its parishioners as part of the faith community of Sacred Heart. The hardworking lay leadership of the school and parish is a special thing to behold in its
faculty and supporters.

At Sacred Heart, students have the opportunity to lead and to follow — in the classroom, on the field, and in their own neighborhood.  They are encouraged to follow their passion for exploring and developing individual talents and skills. We believe it is the entire experience that matters most. Our students are more than just book-smart. They are whole and well-rounded. Graduates are responsible and ready young adults who are socially aware, world-savvy, and community-minded.

Sacred Heart Church has a special character and it is the school community, in many ways, that makes it so.

Much of our history has been collected and documented thanks to the extraordinary efforts of former principal, teacher, and alum Dave Andrys '75. We would not have such an excellent record had it not been for his efforts! Thank you Dave!

In July 1911, Father William Klinkhammer was appointed pastor. He immediately continued the plan to build Sacred Heart School that was started by Fr. Hogan and the Parish. Construction by the Dinnie Company began in the fall of 1911 and was completed for $25,000. The school opened for students in September of 1912 with Sister M. Hyacinthe as the first principal. The three-story, dark brown building remained on Third Street until the April flood of 1997. The pediment from the original school now hangs in our gymnasium. Frank Wurzbacher, a member of the first eighth grade graduating class, distinctly recalled his pride in having helped to place the Sacred Heart statue in its niche above the porch balcony.

The school at first consisted of grades one through eight.

Sister Josepha first began the high school department, which for a few years consisted of only a two-year course. At that time a high school education was difficult for many students due to the view that it was not a necessity. As a result, many students left school after eighth grade who then most likely worked on family farms, at homes or other family businesses. Many Sacred Heart students would go on to continue their education at East Grand Forks Central High School (Public School).

Msgr. Klinkhammer, also supervised the building of a convent building built in 1919. The top floor of this building was used as a dormitory for country girls for many years and later as classrooms to ease the overcrowded school.

The Sisters of St. Benedict, Villa Scholastica of Duluth, were in charge until 1919, when the community of religious Sisters of Mount St. Benedict was formed in Crookston, MN.

In 1919, Sacred Heart organized its first freshman class. A new grade
was added each year until 1923, when the first senior class of six students graduated from the highschool. 

During the Great Depression (1929-1939), funding the school was very difficult. The saloons and other businesses would contribute a supply of coal for heating both
the school and church during the winter months.

A dying wish

After a long illness, Msgr. Klinkhammer died on September 22, 1947. One of the dying wishes of Monsignor William Klinkhammer was that a new modern school along with a new church building be constructed at Sacred Heart due to the expanding enrollment and the limits of the facilities. 

Charged with this expansion was the fifth pastor, Father Alexander I. Merth, appointed in October 1947 by Bishop Schenk of Crookston. A planning committee was elected, along with a financial committee which started the Klinkhammer Building Fund. Property was purchased in 1948 and, the City Council approved a petition to vacate Bruce Avenue (now Second Avenue Northwest) from Third Street to the alley after the Parish exchanged property south of the convent. 

The old church was moved across the street to make room for construction. The first brick was laid June 1950 for the rectory and the cornerstone of the church in July 1951. The rectory and auditorium were completed in 1951 , the church and the high school in 1952, and the grade school in 1958. Sometime later, an addition to the convent was completed. The entire project met with several delays due to two disastrous floods and shortage of building materials from the outbreak of the Korean War.

The auditorium was built on the site of the old church and was used for the graduation exercises of the class of 1951. On January 7, 1952, grades seven through twelve moved into the new high school building. The new school and church were officially dedicated on Monday, March 31, 1952, by Bishop Francis J. Schenk. By 1952, 409 students had graduated from the high school program and a full high school was maintained all within the original 1912 school building. Enrollment in the high school increased following the transition to the new facility, particularly in the 1950s and early 1960s. The high school population for grades nine through twelve grew from 148 in 1956 to 270 1n 1966. This high school enrollment was 250 students in 1972.

Father Merth, like Klinkhammer, received the title of Monsignor during his pastorate at Sacred Heart and was Diocesan Superintendent of Schools for 12 years. Monsignor
Merth retired in 1972 after serving Sacred Heart for 25 years. 

Sacred Heart completed major remodeling of the church's interior to comply with Vatican II. While this remodeling of the church went on, Mass was held in the school's auditorium.

In the 1980s, Fr. Jerry Rogers started the School Development (now Advancement) Program. Its purpose was to bring financial support to the schools, coordinate  fundraising, public relations, alumni, and student admissions.

Fr. Tim McGee was appointed pastor in July 1990. Accomplishments during Fr. Tim's tenure included a new church sound system, a Parish Centennial was held, the church tower was repaired , the interior of the church was repainted, and the rebuilding of the Parish and school after the Flood Disaster of 1997.

The Flood of 1997

In April of 1997, after the heroic efforts of so many, the town of East Grand Forks was flooded with the muddy brown waters of the Red River. Both cities of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks were complete evacuated for weeks. The Flood had a profound effect upon the physical facilities and the students, faculty, and families. In no way can we describe in a few pages the intense time period leading up to the flood, evacuation, organization and planning, fundraising, and construction.

When the floodwaters receded, Sacred Heart was able to assess the damage done to Sacred Heart. The Church appeared to be about the only building that could be saved. A new heating plant would have to be installed and new electrical system wired for both the Church and the rectory. All new pews would have to be ordered for the Church as the present ones were starting to split due to water damage. What saved the walls of the Church from mold and mildew was the fact that the previous February, the Church had been completely redecorated and the new paint to the walls successfully held out the water from the sheet rock.

Dozens of volunteers from the Parish came together on a cold , wet day the first week of May to reclaim the church and rectory from the damage that the Red River caused. Destroyed items were hauled out to the berm: bloated Gather hymnals heaped together, red kneeler pads forming a campfire-like pile. A crew from Life magazine photographed hard-working , drenched, and muck-covered parishioners.

The elementary and high school buildings, as well as the gymnasium , convent, and the original 1912 school building had to be demolished.

Sacred Heart School existed for two academic years, 1997-1999, at a temporary site near Highway 2. Construction of this bui lding started in June of 1997, and school started the second week of September. Enrollment remained stable even during the disaster recovery. 

Sacred Heart started and completed a capital campaign of $1.5 million headed by Amy Kliniske, the Sacred Heart Development Director, Fr. Tim, the Development Board, and Greg Jeffery. Donations from many, many people and institutions were received from all over the country to help with our recovery.

While Sacred Heart functioned in the temporary building, a new school building was planned and constructed on the old site. 

Four architectural firms were invited to send proposals for architectural-engineering services. HunterGrobe was selected to lead the design team. All parties with interest in Sacred Heart School, especially teachers and staff, were given the opportunity to give input in the layout of this new school. Site work began in September of 1997 after demolishing of the damaged buildings. Site work was completed the spring of 1998. Design proceeded during the fall of 1997 and winter of 1998. The bidding opening of 42
bid packages was held in the spring of 1998, and contracts were signed with successful bidders . The installation of foundations commenced on June 19, 1998. 

September 1999 was the grand opening for the school. Families and visitors to the school were a constant occurrence. Alumni would stop in and be welcomed to the "new" school. With the move into the new school facility, the school opened a state licensed daycare for ages 33 months through age six.

A New Day

In 2013, spurned by a Sacred Heart National Advisory Council gathering of alumni and friends of Sacred Heart, the school launched the New Day Campaign with a simple premise: Great Catholic schools attract families and students. Sacred Heart's supporters invested $6 million in people, programs, and the endowment. As a result, Sacred Heart was able to create a Personalized Education Profile program for all 6-12th students, adopt a new leadership structure, increased faculty compensation through merit pay and funding for advanced degrees, introduced on-campus college level materials through Duel Credit programs with the University of Mary, created a full time marketing and admission position, and formalized a partnership with the other Grand Forks Catholic Schools.

Families noticed the changes. In just five years enrollment jumped and the school was presented with a new problem. To have full enrollment in the upper grades, there must be enough capacity in the current elementary school to move students seamlessly through the system. With the goal of two sections per grade for K-12, with 40-50 per grade level, the school needed more space.

A Good Problem
In response to running out of space to house students, the Seize This Moment Campaign was begun at Sacred Heart. The new school addition construction effort was started in 2018 to create a school addition. Seven new classrooms and a commons area were constructed thanks to the efforts of generous donors, the Sacred Heart Foundation, efforts by administration, and a $2.5 Million dollar matching gift grant provided by the Engelstad Family Foundation.

The new addition opened for use in the fall of 2019. Adding capacity to the elementary school allowed more students to filter into various class offerrings in grades 7-12. In the effort to fill our high school seats the entire school became more cost-efficient and growth in the upper grades has permitted more scheduling options, making the high school experience more attractive.

The campaign also focused efforts on increasing Scholarships & Endowments, additional funding for the People & Programs fund, and adding a Maintenance fund to maintain our existing 20 year old building.

Sacred Heart has offerred a number of sports throughout its history largely through the support of a dedicated Athletic Club. Although their budget has grown greatly over the years, they continue to enthusiastically support the sports program entirely. One of their biggest fundraisers is the Sacred Heart Famous Fish Fries begun in the early 1990's. The fundraiser consists of a Fish dinner on six Friday nights during the Lenten season.