Billings Catholic Schools by Billings Gazette

From the Desk of Shaun Harrington President, Billings Catholic Schools

‌Dear BCS Families and Community, It is with great pleasure that I welcome you all to the new school year. With the opening of our brand new K8 Saint Francis Catholic School, and the continued success of our students at Billings Central Catholic High School, this promises to be one of the most exciting and successful school years in the long and eventful history of Catholic education in Billings. The promise of a new school year always brings great enthusiasm as we consider new opportunities and possibilities for the success of all of our students. This year, more than any other, marks the beginning of a bright future for Catholic education in Billings for generations of students and families to come. As we move into our beautiful new, state of the art school, and prepare to welcome our students and families to both Saint Francis and Billings Central Catholic High School, we would like to thank the community for the consistent support given to our schools. K8 students and staff members were previously divided into three separate locations, the oldest of which was built in 1918. Conditions were so cramped that extra, windowless rooms became classrooms, and counselors made due with offices that were previously closets. Our students had no air conditioning and no grass to play on, and our schools had no room to grow. In spite of these challenging conditions, our teachers and students found a way to excel, making Catholic education in Billings exceptional by making the most of what they had, and bringing out the best in every child. Our new Saint Francis Catholic School will enable K8 staff members to go even further in meeting the needs of our students. Religion teachers will be able to teach students in their own chapel. Students will experience dedicated science labs and art rooms, and a library with space for books, technology and places for students to read. They will take physical education in their own gymnasium, and engage in athletic competitions on an actual ‘home court’. Music students will play and sing in rooms with state of the art acoustics, and will have storage space for their instruments. Counselors and resource personnel will work from their own offices, with resources available to meet the needs of all students. At recess time, students will run on the grass, and play and climb on playground equipment the likes of which they have never seen. This dream turned reality has been a long time coming, as the ground on which Saint Francis Catholic Schools stands was donated

LARRY MAYER, Gazette Staff‌

Billings Catholic Schools President Shaun Harrington gives teachers a tour of St. Francis Catholic School.

as the home for a new Catholic school 58 years ago. As we embark on a new school year in this amazing new facility for our K8 students, we can honestly say that it has been worth the wait. Students at Billings Central Catholic High School continue to thrive, and our graduates leave school not only prepared academically, but ready and willing to go forth making positive changes in our world. We thank God every day for his blessings. We are grateful beyond words for the commitment and support of our families, staff and students, our local Catholic parishes, priests, and Bishop Michael Warfel and the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings, the Campaign Leadership Team, the Billings Catholic Schools Foundation, all of our donors and supporters, and the entire community of Billings. The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Saint Francis Catholic School will take place on the first day of school, August 23rd, at 8:00 AM. Everyone is welcome to attend. It is because of you that we are able to continue to offer students from preschool to high school an exceptional Catholic education founded on faith, family spirit, and academic excellence. Thank you for your support of Billings Catholic Schools. Mr. Harrington can be reached at sharrington@billingscatholicschools.org.

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Shaun Harrington, President—Billings Catholic Schools Shaun Harrington became president of Billings Catholic Schools in the spring of 2015, returning to his roots in Catholic education. Mr. Harrington was born and raised in Butte, Montana, and attended Catholic school in Butte from kindergarten through 12th grade. He graduated from Butte Central Catholic High School in 1975, and moved to Billings to pursue a degree in Special Education. Mr. Harrington has undergraduate degrees from Montana State University-Billings in Special Education and Elementary Education, with a concentration in reading. He also earned a Master’s Degree in Special Education from Montana State University-Billings, and earned his school administration credentials at Montana State University-Bozeman. He taught Special Education in Billings Public Schools for 12 years, before serving as assistant principal at both Lewis and Clark Middle School and Riverside Middle School for eleven years. He became the Secondary Curriculum Director for Billings Public Schools for two years, before being named principal at Castle Rock. He served as principal at Castle Rock for almost 8 years, and was principal at Riverside for a year and a half. Mr. Harrington spent 34 years with Billings Public Schools. Mr. Harrington is married to his wife Kim, who teaches at Medicine Crow Middle School, and has an identical twin brother.

We Wish You Blessings on the New School.

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Sunday, August 20, 2017

Meet the Principals Principal Jim Stanton‌ Jim Stanton, principal of grades 5-8 at Saint Francis Catholic School, has been an educator his entire life. He graduated from Montana State University-Bozeman in 1988, and spent the next fourteen years teaching at Huntley Project. In 1993, Mr. Stanton earned his master’s degree in school administration. He served as the assistant principal at Billings Central Catholic High School from 2002 to 2005, and since that time, has served as the principal of Saint Francis Upper. Mr. Stanton has also been a head football coach for the past 30 years, and spent 24 years as a head coach, with the last 15 of those years as the head coach for the BCCHS RAMS varsity football program. He also coached girls volleyLARRY MAYER, Gazette Staff‌ ball for several years, and track and field for 20 years. Jim and his wife Karla have four St. Francis principals Deb Hayes and Jim children, all of whom graduated from Bill- Stanton are pictured in the new K8 school. ings Central Catholic High School. nual science fair. We have walked to Mass each week, and to lunch each day at Saint From Principal Jim Stanton‌: Patrick’s. Now our students have a lunch We want to thank everyone in our Cath- room, their own music classroom, and olic community and the community of dedicated science and art rooms. The imBillings who have consistently supported pact this new school will have on our staff our schools throughout the years. Catho- and students is immeasurable. lic education would not exist without your From kindergarten through high school, support. After fifteen years of working it is easy to see the difference Catholic eduat Billings Central and Saint Francis Up- cation makes in our students. After having per, it is hard to believe we are starting the four of my own kids graduate from Central, school year this year in a new facility. Our and seeing our students grow up both in students are beyond blessed to have new school and through athletics, it is easy for classrooms and lockers and a gym of their me to identify the positive impact Catholic own. For the past five years, Saint Francis education has on our students. I look forUpper students have had to get on a bus ev- ward to sharing this new school with stuery day, and ride to Billings Central for PE dents for years to come. Principal Stanton can be reached at and health, art, and music including band, jstanton@billingscatholicschools.org orchestra and choir. For years we have had to pack up all of our science equipment and Please see Principals, Page 5 move it over to Billings Central for our an-

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Billings Catholic Schools

Campaign Leadership Team ‌ ampaign Chair C Rita Turley Campaign Co-Chair Mike Heringer Honorary Chairs Ziggy and Stella Ziegler Team Members Craig Barthel Craig Bartholomew Robert Beers

Amy Cebull Debbie Charles Ernie Dutton Dr. Patrick Cobb Karen Fagg Al Fangsrud Janyce Haider Shaun Harrington Bernie Harrington Jeremy Hauk Bucky Heringer Steve Knudson

Principals From Page 4

Principal Deb Hayes‌ Principal Deb Hayes will take the helm of grades K-4 at Saint Francis Catholic Schools. Mrs. Hayes taught kindergarten through third grades at Elder Grove and Fromberg School for 28 years. She received her master’s degree in educational leadership from Rocky Mountain College in 2013.

Dan Merry Pat Newbury Harold Olson Karen Petermann Joseph Rude Billings Catholic Schools Foundation Board Debbie Charles, Chair Jessica Fehr, Vice Chair Steve Cranston, Secretary/ Treasurer

Mrs. Hayes has been the principal at Saint Francis Primary for the past four years. She and her husband Doug have been married for 37 years, and they have two children and one grandchild.

From Principal Deb Hayes‌: One of the most positive things about Catholic education for me is that I get to combine my passion for education with my Catholic faith. At Saint Francis Catholic School, we can provide a Christian learning environment that promotes academic success, along with incorporating the be-

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Janyce Haider, President Clayton Augustine Mindi Brocopp Bob Brown Dr. Paul Byorth Lynn Caraveau Jeremy Hauk Jared Harris Tim Mascarena Bill Mattix John Newbury Toby O’Rourke

Matt Schafer Rita Turley Dan Williams Brandon Wittman Billings Catholic Schools Board of Directors Ken Frazier, Chair Shaun Harrington, President Dr. Tim Uhl, Superintendent of Montana Catholic Schools Father Steve Zabrocki

liefs and traditions of the Catholic Faith. The teachers at Saint Francis are dedicated to promoting Catholic beliefs and traditions by integrating the religion standards into their academic lessons. Saint Francis students have the opportunity to celebrate their faith by being involved in daily prayer, daily religious education classes, community service projects, school Masses, and Faith Community services throughout the year. I feel very blessed that I am going to be one of the principals at the long-awaited new Saint Francis Catholic School! I am looking forward to ‘reuniting’ with past

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Saint Francis Primary students, and getting to know all of the new students and their families as well. It is so exciting that the staff and the students will be learning and working in such a beautiful, state-ofthe-art, Christian learning environment. I am very grateful that all of our students will have the opportunity to attend mass weekly, and will now have a K-5 religion education teacher. We are going to have a fantastic year at the new Saint Francis Catholic School! Many thanks to all of those who helped transform this dream into a reality. Principal Hayes can be reached at dhayes@billingscatholicschools.org

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What Sets Us Apart at Billings Catholic Schools â&#x20AC;&#x152;A t Billings Catholic Schools, a foundation of faith, family spirit, and academic excellence is what sets us apart. In celebrating our faith, students are allowed to pray at the beginning and the end of every school day, celebrate Mass with their classmates, and develop their own moral character. Catholic Christian values are a component of every aspect of the school day, and students understand the expectation that they respect themselves, their teachers and their fellow classmates. As a result, teachers are afforded the opportunity to teach, and to reach every child as an individual, because they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to spend their time as classroom managers. Small classroom sizes ensure that students donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fall through

the cracks, and that teachers can reach each student as an individual. Students K-12 also have designated, experienced religion teachers. Family spirit abounds throughout Billings Catholic Schools. Parental involvement is encouraged, and many parents spend time in the classrooms and the school volunteering and connecting with students and staff members. Communication and partnership are key aspects of a Catholic school education. Educating a child is a partnership involving the school, the child and the parents, and frequent and open communication is the key to a successful partnership. Students are given the opportunity for community service at every grade level, and through these ac-

tivities, learn about the needs and suffering of others in the community. Students are encouraged at a young age to participate in activities outside the classroom, resulting in well-rounded individuals who can work with others to achieve the best end result, and who are also aware of their own skills and potential. Academic excellence is evident throughout Billings Catholic Schools. BCS is a one to one iPad school at every grade level. The iPad allows access to the most current educational materials for teachers and students, and ensures that students are ahead of the curve in their knowledge of and ability to utilize technology. The iPad allows teachers to provide additional learning materials to students who need a little extra

help, or those who are advanced. Each classroom is equipped with a Promethean Smart Board. Beginning in 3rd grade, students have a designated science teacher, and at fourth grade and higher, all of the teachers are subject specific teachers who teach in their area of greatest strength. All BCS teachers are certified, and many hold advanced degrees. Students grades K-10 take the MAPS test three times a year, which allows teachers to identify specifically which skills the students have mastered, and provide additional resources to students who need more help. At Billings Catholic Schools, students are given the tools and the support needed to meet and exceed expectations, and to reach their own highest potential.

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Student Success and Exciting Changes

at Billings Central Catholic High School

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s we begin a new school year, we celebrate the success of the Class of 2017, and look forward to the unique programs that set Billings Central apart. 2017 was a great year. The 89 students in the graduating class were offered 9.2 million in scholarship dollars for post-secondary education, earned an average ACT test score of 24.0, and maintained a 100% graduation rate. 90% of the graduates participated in one or more Montana High School Association activity, and the class received ten Arts Without Boundaries Outstanding Student Awards. The class performed over 2000 community service hours, and 8 of the graduating seniors earned the rank of Eagle Scout. While we celebrate the success of the past year, we also look forward to what the future holds at Billings Central. Billings Central continues to set itself apart from

Central Class of 2017 89 Graduates 100% Graduation Rate $9.2 Million in College Scholarship Dollars Offered 24.0 Average ACT Score Over 2,000 Community Service Hours 90% of Class in One or More MHSA Activity 10 Arts Without Borders Outstanding Students 8 Eagle Scouts

other schools in many ways. High school students have the opportunity to take any of 16 Honors, Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment classes, including Advanced Placement Computer Science. Beginning computer coding is offered sophomore year, and stu-

dents are able to take AP Computer Science their junior or senior year. Freshmen take Biology or Honors Biology freshman year, allowing them to fill their science requirements with AP Biology, AP Environmental Science, or AP Chemistry. Students can choose between AP Calculus, AP Statistics or Dual Credit College Algebra to finish out their mathematics credits. A fulltime college advising counselor begins working with students their freshman and sophomore years, to ensure they make decisions throughout high school that will result in their college acceptance and scholarship goals being realized. Grading at Billings Central is percentage only, and there is no class ranking of students. Drug testing is a condition of enrollment at Billings Central, and all sophomores, juniors and seniors will take a drug test before begin-

ning school in the fall. All students are then entered the pool, and students are selected at random to drug test during the school year. Billings Central also offers Driver Training during the school day, a new program for the upcoming year unique BC. Outside of the classroom, participation in extra-curricular activities and athletics is highly encouraged, and over 85% of all students participate in one or more Montana High School Association sanctioned activity. Students are required to complete 10 community service hours per semester, but most students commit numerous hours over the required amount. Students attend Mass twice a month, and have the option of attending morning chapel service on the weeks Mass is not offered. Holy Days of Obligation are celebrated, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered twice a year. Students begin and end each

day with prayer, and take a religion course each year. The 2017 Mayfair Special Project enabled Billings Central to begin a much needed, school-wide locker replacement project. The lockers to be replaced are the original lockers, installed in the school when it was built in 1947. Many of the lockers were bent and damaged, and had become non-functioning from years 70 years of student use. New lockers will be installed throughout the school for the 2017-18 school year, and will be framed by new interior paint throughout the building. Fundraising for the locker project is ongoing. Efforts toward the goal of installing an elevator at Billings Central also continue, with the hopes of someday being able to accept and provide services for students with physical disabilities. Fundraising for the elevator project is also ongoing.

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Billings Catholic Schools Christen New Era DR. TIMOTHY UHL Superintendent of Montana Catholic Schools‌

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Skye Hatten Photography‌

illings Catholic Schools consolidated in 1986 as a means to stem a drop in Catholic school enrollment after the closure of Little Flower Parish School in 1986. The decision to consolidate schools was based on a years’ long study conducted by the Diocese, and at the direction of then Bishop Thomas Murphy. The creation of the united school system was based on collaboration between the parish schools, as well as on the formation of a school board consisting of lay people and local priests committed to its success. The Billings Area Catholic Education Trust was formed in 1973, and the BACET trust, along with countless endeavors organized by the Billings Catholic Schools Foundation, are dedicated to raising money to ensure successful achievement of the mission of Billings Catholic Schools.

The newly consolidated school system was organized around five original locations: Fratt Memorial School/ Saint Patrick Patrick Elementary School, Saint Pius Elementary, Holy Rosary Elementary, and Little Flower School, as well as Billings Central Catholic High School. The four parish schools were combined to form Saint Francis Primary, grades K-2, Saint Francis Intermediate, grades 3-5, and Saint Francis Upper, grades 6-8. Over the years, enrollment in the consolidated Billings Catholic Schools system has surpassed the previous enrollment of the four parish schools. Catholic schools across the state of Montana, and across the nation, have seen a decline in number of students and schools since the Billings Catholic Schools system was formed. In Montana, for example, three Catholic schools have closed in the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings. Nationwide, over 2000 Catholic schools have closed since 1990, and total Catholic school

enrollment has dropped by 700,000 students. Through the consolidation of the four parish schools, culminating with the opening of our newly constructed K8 Saint Francis Catholic School, Billings Catholic Schools has demonstrated a new and unique model of success. Catholic schools across the nation can look to Billings Catholic Schools for inspiration and support during this most challenging time for Catholic education. The opening of the new Saint Francis Catholic School has christened a new era for Billings Catholic schools. The passion of Catholic educators in Billings, and the support of our Catholic community and the community of Billings, have come together to guarantee access to an exceptional Catholic education for all students. Congratulations to Billings Catholic Schools on the successful completion of this daunting endeavor, and on ensuring the future of Catholic education in Billings.

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Maintaining Catholic Identity in a Changing World

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ring up the topic of Catholic education with grandparents or parents, and the image of sisters in full habits, or priests and brothers in the classroom and as administrators of the school, is what frequently comes to mind. However, across the country and across Montana, the number of Religious working in Catholic schools has seen a sharp decline. As a result, Catholic educators have taken on the responsibility of maintaining Catholic identity in our schools. In Billings, we are blessed to share in strong partnerships with our local Catholic parishes. Priests and Deacons from all five Catholic parishes, as well as retired priests, serve our schools and our students in countless ways, by celebrating Mass, Feast and Holy Days with our students, coming together to administer the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and simply attending events and interacting with students on

Courtesy Photoâ&#x20AC;&#x152;

Bishop Michael Warfel travels to Billings numerous times each year to support Catholic events throughout the community.

daily basis. Local priests serve on both our BCS School Board and our BCS Foundation Board of Directors. Because children receive the Sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, Confirmation and First Eucharist through their parishes, students are able to build and maintain relationships with their parish community as well as their school com-

munity. Our local parishes also contribute significant financial support to our schools each year. This support enables us to maintain tuition at a rate that is affordable to all families, regardless of financial means. In addition to the partnership maintained with our local Catholic parishes, Billings Catholic Schools has created the Catholic

Culture Committee, a sub-committee of the BCS School Board, the purpose of which is to guide and support Billings Catholic Schools in promoting, modeling and evaluating Catholic identity consistently at every grade level. The committee does this by providing professional development and resources for staff members, to assist them in ensuring that our Catholic identity is not only evident at Mass and during religion class, but that it is also evident in teaching and curriculum, behavior, extra-curricular activities, community service, and all aspects of the school day. Non-Catholic teachers have access to answers about the Catholic faith, and question and answer sessions are held with local priests so that all staff members are able to ask questions. Both Saint Francis and Billings Central are accredited by the Western Catholic Education Association, and the Catholic Culture Committee plays an instru-

mental role in the accreditation process. Billings Catholic Schools also maintain a strong relationship with the Diocese of Great Falls -Billings. Bishop Michael Warfel travels to Billings numerous times each year to celebrate Mass and Commencement, to celebrate the Sacraments, and to support Catholic events throughout the community. Bishop Warfel also takes time from his busy schedule to meet with students to discuss church views on current topics like Pope Francisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; recently published encyclical on the environment. Through Bishop Warful, Montana Superintendent of Catholic Education Dr. Tim Uhl, and all of the Diocesan staff members who offer guidance, travel to Billings, and participate in statewide professional development opportunities, the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings continues to positively impact Billings Catholic Schools.

Congratulations Billings Catholic Schools St. Vincent Healthcare would like to congratulate Billings Catholic Schools on completion of the beautiful new Saint Francis K8 School. We wish you many more years of continued success fostering and preparing the leaders of tomorrow.

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Sunday, August 20, 2017

THE HISTORY of Billings Catholic Schools

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Courtesy Photo‌

Congratulations

BCS!

he Catholic education system first came to Billings in 1911, when St. Patrick’s Elementary School was founded by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth. The school was established in the old Saint Joachim’s church building located at 33rd Street and 1st Avenue. Sister May Louise Madden and Sister Mary Barbara Sammon were the first teachers. They started the year with 48 students, and ended the year with 80 students in grades 1st through 5th. Between 1912 and 1916, the sisters were joined by two more sisters, and were able to expand the school to include grades 6th and 7th, with 135 students attending classes. In 1917, the Kate Fratt Memorial Building was completed with

money left to the school by Kate Fratt, the wife of a pioneer cattleman in the Billings area. The school opened with 170 students from 1st through 8th. Built primarily as an elementary school, Kate Fratt Memorial served the needs of the Catholic community until the 1940’s, when a building boom ensued. The need for a Catholic high school became apparent to Bishop W.J. Condon. Saint Vincent Hospital donated the land for the high school at the corner of Division and 1st Avenue, the former location of the Saint Vincent Hospital and school for children afflicted with polie. With the help of local individuals, and the donation of the land from Saint Vincent

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Hospital, the construction of Billings Central began in 1944. High school students continued to attend school at a building across from Kate Fratt dubbed ‘The Annex’ until the new building was completed. The first high school graduating class actually graduated from Saint Patrick’s, or The Annex, in 1947. Billings Central Catholic High School opened that fall, and the first Billings Central class graduated in the spring of 1948. During the 1950’s, the enrollment of Kate Fratt Memorial School grew to over 700 students. In 1951, Little Flower School opened in order to ease the load of students at Fratt. Little Flower Parish School was followed by the opening of Holy Rosary Parish School in 1952, and by the Saint Pius X Parish School in 1958. Attendance at the five Catholic schools, Billings Central, Fratt Memorial, Little Flower, Holy Rosary and St. Pius X, reached a peak in the 1960’s. Enrollment numbers remained high until that time in part because of the extremely affordable tuition, with the Catholic churches paying for most of the cost of education

Courtesy Photo‌

Students pose for a picture in front of Billings Central Catholic High School in 1947.

Billings Central Catholic High School cornerstone circa 1947.

at that time. Enrollment began to slide in the 1970’s and 1980’s. In May of 1983, Bishop Thomas J. Murphy, facing the potential closure of Billings Catholic grade schools, formed a committee to look at ways to keep the Catholic education system alive in Billings. After years of study, the rec-

Courtesy Photo‌

ommendation of the committee was to form a consolidated system, under one umbrella of governance with a governing school board consisting of lay members of the community and local Catholic priests. Little Flower Parish school, which had already closed, became the site of the new Billings

Catholic Schools Administration Offices, and also housed a child care facility to meet the needs of residents of the south side of Billings. Holy Rosary Parish School was renamed Saint Francis Primary School, and served students in kindergarten through second grade, along with child care and preschool. Saint Pius X Parish School became Saint Francis Intermediate, serving students in 3rd through 5th grades, and Kate Fratt Memorial School became Saint Francis Upper, serving 6th through 8th grade students. Billings Central Catholic

High School continues to serve high school students in grades 9 through 12. In the fall of 2017, Saint Francis Catholic School opened on the campus of Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish, at 2202 Colton Boulevard. This brand new, stateof-the-art facility will serve students in grades K-8. Land for the new school was donated in 1958. The school has the capacity to serve 720 students, and includes a chapel, a library, classrooms including dedicated science, art, and music rooms, a cafeteria, and a gymnasium.

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The History of BACET

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n 1972, it became known that a local philanthropist who supported Billings Central Catholic High School had conversations with individuals closely connected with Billings Catholic Schools. Mr. Philip Fortin was inquiring about his family gifts to the school, and whether or not they were making a difference. In fear of losing future contributions, Mr. Ralph Studer, Sr. began making inquiries into the effective use of contributions made to Billings Central. Billings Central school board members Chairman Archie Vap, brothers Dean and Ralph Studer, and Jim Thelen, continued discussions about creating a savings or endowment fund that would put donor contributions to best use. The board members contacted other members of the Catholic community devoted to

Catholic schools, who could offer expertise in creating a lasting legacy for Billings Catholic Schools. The school board members called upon Charles Heringer, Jr., Joe Keating, and Ruben Day. The group discussed the issue at hand, developing a system of checks and balances, a savings fund, or perhaps pooling donations into an endowment, much like those within collegiate systems. The priority of the group was to create a resource, outside of tuition and parish support, to sustain Catholic education now and into the future. The group continued to meet, defining the priority of the fund: that it should benefit Catholic education for all grade levels at both the schools and in the parishes. As a result, the Billings Area Catholic Education Trust, or BACET,

was formed. This working committee put their ideas down on paper, continually revising their plans at meetings that were held two or three times a month, at the homes of the originating members. The group worked diligently to outline provisions for gifts, subsequent management of funds, and annual distributions to the schools. It was determined that trustees would oversee this fund, in order to remove the task from already over-burdened school board members. The group had their ideas reviewed by an attorney, and then sent the completed trust agreement to the Diocese for approval. After several months’ study, the Diocese sent back a draft version of the group’s constitution and by-laws. Subsequent approval was also granted by the Internal Revenue Service.

The group knew this new and unconventional way to raise funds for Catholic schools would have to be approved and accepted by local Catholic priests and parishioners. They first met with each of the priests individually, and then spoke to the congregations at each of the parishes. After these meetings, the priests gave their collective approval to the creation of the new fund, and Bishop Eldon Schuster gave his approval as well. The first trustees were appointed, and included community leaders who believed strongly in Catholic education. Ralph J. Studer, Sr., William P. Roscoe, Jr., Louis R. Hall, John E. Tenge, and Agnes O’Leary were selected as the first BACET trustees. Charles J. Heringer, Jr. was elected Secretary, and Larry Chouinard was elected Treasurer.

The Billings Area Catholic Education Trust William Roscoe was appointed Chairman. An account for the newly created BACET was opened at Midland National Bank, with the original six contributing $500 each, for an opening deposit of $3,000. The parishes remained in full support of BACET and its endeavors. Because of the insight of the originating members of BACET, the trust is able to contribute hundreds of thousands of dollars to Billings Catholic Schools annually. Billings Catholic Schools would not exist without the passion, hard work and dedication these founding members put forth in order to ensure the future of Catholic education in Billings. Billings Catholic Schools is forever grateful for their contributions, and for the continued contributions from all donors and supporters of BACET.

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Catholic schools move turns up piece of Billings history MIKE KORDENBROCK mkordenbrock@billingsgazette.com‌

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CASEY PAGE, Gazette Staff‌

Billings Catholic Schools President Shaun Harrington holds an eighth-grade report card for Ben Steele from 1933 from Fratt Memorial Parochial School, later St. Francis Upper School.

Billings Catholic Schools

n a set of rusted filing cabinets by the boiler room in the dimly lit basement, the student’s report card was found. In Deportment — or manners — he had held almost all A’s. By the end of the school year the A’s he began with in Christian Doctrine had faded into B’s. There had been struggles in Reading, particularly the second month of the year, when he earned a failing grade. Solid B’s in Arithmetic and Agriculture. There was room for improvement in Penmanship. Spelling, too. For one month, he held an A in Drawing. The rest of the year he earned B’s. He had a solid showing in Civics too — the monthly boxes on the report card filled in B, B, A, C, B, B.

Only three absences on the year. In 2016, as St. Francis Upper Principal Jim Stanton began to take inventory of the troves and troves of old artifacts and items in the nearly 100-year-old Kate Fratt Memorial Parochial School building, he came across an eighth-grade report card for Ben Steele, the famed Billings artist, educator, World War II veteran and survivor of the Bataan Death March. The document provides a look into Steele’s youth and a glimpse into his development as an artist. “I didn’t think he’d had any art (education) at all,” Shirley Steele said of her late husband, who passed away in September 2016. Outside the classroom, however, Ben Steele was able to observe the artist Will James at work with a paintbrush. Shirley Steele said in light of Please see History, Page 14

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History From Page 13

the new information she may have to revise the talks she delivers on the life of her husband. Steele’s turn as a student at the Fratt Memorial Parochial School came in 1932. It was his second go-around with the eighth grade, she said. “When they moved into town from the ranch, which they had to give up because of the drought in the ‘30s and also the ‘29 crash, I think he had to repeat the eighth grade. Because the last year they were on the ranch, he only got to go to school part of the year because the county (Musselshell) couldn’t pay for teachers,” Steele said. “So many of the homesteaders had moved. He had to give up.” Ben Steele was born in 1917. Before the family moved to Billings a teacher had visited Ben and his brother Warren at the family homestead near Roundup. “Warren always said he (Warren) was the second-smartest in the class in the school,” she said. “He was always

telling that joke.” Laughter laces Shirley Steele’s recounting of her husband’s education history. Of his struggles with Language class that year — D, B, C,C, B, B — she said her husband “spoke cowboy for a really long time,” and was always listening to ranch hands talk. For Ben Steele’s struggles in reading class the explanation is much simpler. “He wasn’t much of a reader,” she said. There was no shortage of variety in Steele’s early education. Shirley Steele remembers his complaints about a first grade teacher near Roundup, a nun, who used to rap his knuckles. “But in the fifth and sixth, I think he was a teacher’s pet one of those years,” she said. His nickname was “Bud.” In the second grade, an aunt took over his schooling. “She came over in tears and said there’s something wrong with Bud, he’s not learning,” Steele said. “His mother said ‘Don’t worry about him. He’ll wake up someday and realize he doesn’t know anything.’”

That realization didn’t come until after he dropped out of Billings Senior High School his sophomore year. He finally graduated from Senior at age 22. “He worked on a ranch a couple years to help the family. After he went back his grades were much better. He appreciated being in school,” she said. “And not feeding sheep in 40-below weather. That was a big motivation.” Historical items, some of them destined for the new St. Francis School on Colton Boulevard, abound in the old Fratt Building. In one set of old offices hang black and white portraits, including one of the victorious Fratt School basketball team of 1942 posing with a priest after their victory over the Red Lodge Champs by a score of 25-19. Some items seem to have found new homes during the transition from the old school to the new one. A volleyball net sits in the lost and found bin. A box labeled “Guatemala” sits in an old storage room, filled with ear pads for football helmets. The building also holds its own trove of artistic talent, too. In one of the old coat rooms, a young artist’s drawing of a ballerina lies on the floor, near

a marker, an assortment of pencils, a glue stick and a single black glove. The whiteboard in one classroom bears its last message, an encouragement to try out for the sixth grade talent show. “Let’s show our sixth grade talent!” Whether an artist of Ben Steele’s talent was among those the last students to fill the Fratt building’s halls remains to be seen. But for now, Billings Catholic Schools president Shaun Harrington delights in being able to claim Steele, at least in part, as an alumnus. Until the report card turned up, Harrington said he’d never known Steele had been a student at Fratt Memorial Parochial School. The revelation has given him ammunition in ribbing Billings Public Schools Superintendent Terry Bouck, he said. “I’m friends with Terry,” Harrington said. “We obviously get a huge kick out of it because he (Steele) graduated from Fratt, when the public schools just named a middle school after him,” Harrington said. “I always say ‘Thanks for naming the school after one of ours.’”

Congratulations Billings Catholic Schools and Billings Catholic Schools Foundation on a job WELL DONE! The new Saint Francis K8 School will be a tremendous blessing for our children, teachers, parents and the entire Billings Community now and well into the future! 14

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Billings Catholic Schools

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