Grayslake's St. Gilbert School marks 65 years

St. Gilbert School in Grayslake is heading into the home stretch of a 65th anniversary celebration that'll include an all-alumni reunion in May.

Parent Rick Yatteau is among those who are enthusiastic about St. Gilbert School. He and his wife have a first-grade daughter who attends.

"What I like best about St. Gilbert School is it delivers a quality, 21st century education with Catholic values that teach fairness, honesty and respect among the students," Yatteau said. "My wife and I looked at a number of school options available and chose St. Gilbert because it gave our family the greatest feel in terms of friendliness and inclusiveness."

St. Gilbert Parish was dedicated in 1942, with Mass celebrated in a white-frame building on Route 120, also known as Belvidere Road. Rapid growth led the drive to build a school, according to an official St. Gilbert timeline.

Parishioners were credited with building the school and a convent. St. Gilbert School opened for classes on Sept. 15, 1944.

Various expansion projects have occurred over the years. St. Gilbert now boasts 27 homeroom classes, an art room, library, two computer laboratories, a dedicated music room and a full gymnasium with bleachers and a stage.

In addition, two multipurpose rooms are used by the school when classes are in session. Enrollment is at nearly 700 students with about 50 staff members at St. Gilbert.

To mark the 65th anniversary, a formal ceremony was held Feb. 1 during Catholic Schools Week. The event included a ribbon-cutting at the gym.

Plans call for an all-school reunion May 22. St. Gilbert hosted a kickoff meeting for reunion planning early this month.