IN 1962, NEITHER FASHION Island nor Newport Center had broken ground, the East Bluff neighborhood had just opened for sale and the median single family home price in the county was under $18,000. In the midst of this post war boom, Msgr. William Ralph Harvey, who was not quite sure if there were enough Catholics to support a second parish, established Our Lady Queen of Angels in Newport Beach.
OUR LADY QUEEN OF ANGELS GRADUATING CLASS OF 1976.
As Baby Boomers were beginning to crowd local public schools, it was evident that Queen of Angels needed to add a school to serve the children of the growing Catholic community. Two years after founding the parish, in September 1964, Msgr. Harvey and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet welcomed the first 140 students, grades 1-4, to Our Lady Queen of Angels School.
Over the years, Queen of Angels has grown and seen many changes. More than a decade ago, there was a significant renovation that doubled the school’s size, and it has seen its faculty and staff grow to upwards of 60. Originally there was only one classroom per grade level, now there are two. The school also has a transitional kindergarten (TK) serving 20 older 4-year-olds, as well as a traditional kindergarten. The school now accommodates up to 470 students.
PARENTS VISIT A CLASSROOM CIRCA THE 1960s. PHOTOS COURTESY OF OLQA SCHOOL
MONSIGNOR KERRY P. BEAULIEU (PASTOR OF OLQA FROM 2004-2018) AND FR. STEVE SALLOT (CURRENT PASTOR) ARE PICTURED IN APRIL 2022 WHEN THE SCHOOL OPENED ITS ATHLETICS & ACTIVITIES CENTER. PHOTO COURTESY OF OLQA SCHOOL
Jennifer Lefebvre, director of Advancement and Admissions, coordinated the Sept. 29 event which was the first of its kind for the school. Bishop Thanh Thai Nguyen kicked off the fall festival with prayer and celebrated the parish’s noon Mass.
OUR LADY QUEEN OF ANGELS SCHOOL CELEBRATED ITS 60TH ANNIVERSARY WITH A FALL FESTIVAL HELD ON SEPT. 29. PHOTOS BY EVERETT JOHNSON/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
The special festival was open to all parishioners and school families, attracting more than 800 revelers. Each grade sponsored a booth with parents coordinating the booths and volunteers to decorate and run the activities, according to Lefebvre. The festival was so popular, they sold out of pumpkins, and popular TK Burgers.
Other activities included a pumpkin ring toss, corn hole, face painting, pumpkin decorating, bobbing for Krispy Kreme donuts, quarterback toss free-throw contest, petting zoo and a corn maze. Our Lady Queen of Angels emphasizes a Catholic-focused education with curriculum including religion, math, English, and science. In addition, the school offers technology, art, Spanish and music. The facilities include the Brandon Hauser Broadcast Studio, an 11,000 square-foot athletics and activity center, Makerspace/STEAM lab, science lab and library.
During the festivities Dr. Laura Ismerio, interim principal of the school, expressed gratitude that was shared by everyone in attendance.
“We are extremely blessed by our amazing school community and supportive parents,” she shared. “It’s been an honor to serve and educate our Catholic Community for the past 60 years. With our mission to empower and inspire students through faith, knowledge and service we look forward to many more decades to come.”
Since 2019, the seventh graders have chosen a theme for the coming school year. This year’s theme is: “With God, nothing is impossible.”
Celebrating 60 years of quality Catholic education has been a generational gift of love to the school, parish and community.