Holy Cross STEM School is the ONLY Catholic STEM school serving Ventura County. When Rev. Patrick J. The first school was designed by Albert C.
We deliver authentic STEM instruction, where students experience real-world learning with a design thinking framework for preschool through 8th-grade lessons. Gorgen and parishioners at San Buenaventura Mission decided in the early 1920s to build a parish school, they successfully persuaded the Holy Cross Order to the Mission by promising to name the school after their congregation. The Holy Cross
Order, a group known for their dedication to education and community service, significantly shaped the school's ethos and curriculum. Martin, the same architect who designed the old Ventura Courthouse, now Ventura City Hall. The demand for a parochial school at San Buenaventura Mission surpassed the expectations of its founders. On the opening day, a staggering 125 students, more than three times the anticipated number, arrived. The six sisters who helped establish the school, committed to their Mission, had to accommodate them in four classrooms. Despite the challenges, the school's tuition was kept at an affordable $1 a month, a clear indication of its adaptability and commitment to its students.
Despite the rapid growth, the school remained steadfast in its commitment to its students. Two classrooms and an auditorium were added in 1925. However, the number of students seeking enrollment continued to outpace available seats. This led to the addition of two classrooms, a library, an office, and a supply room in 1949, a clear testament to the school's unwavering commitment to its students. The Sisters served faithfully until 1995 when an entire lay faculty replaced them. In 2000, the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of the Church, were entrusted with the school's administration. In the latter part of the twentieth century, the school faced various challenges beyond lack of space. In response, the San Buenaventura Mission parish, led by Monsignor Patrick J. O'Brien, established a Planning and Development Committee comprising parishioners, faculty, parish staff, and parents. In June 1994, they engaged the downtown firm of Main Street Architects and Planners to create a conceptual master site plan for the Mission properties. This plan included the design of a new school and an adjoining Multi-Purpose Building to be used by both the school and the parish. The plan also involved the deconstruction of the Convent and the relocation of the two remaining Holy Cross Sisters to the St. Catherine by the Sea convent, a short distance from the Mission. In January 2001, the new three-story school building opened its doors with preschool, kindergarten, and grades 1-8 at the base of the hill behind the Mission. The school also houses the Serra Chapel for Eucharistic Adoration, adult classrooms, a parish/school kitchen, and a large assembly hall used as a school auditorium for large parish gatherings and one Sunday Mass. The assembly room was named after Monsignor Patrick O'Brien, the church pastor for 25 years. This was a fitting tribute to Monsignor O'Brien, who was instrumental in the school's growth and development and whose legacy continues to inspire the school community.
06/11/2026
🎓✨ Congratulations to the Holy Cross STEM School Class of 2026! ✨🎓
Today we celebrated our 8th graders at their Graduation Mass and Ceremony as they officially completed their journey at Holy Cross. We are incredibly proud of all they have accomplished and the young men and women they have become.
As they move on to high school, we pray that they continue to grow in faith, lead with kindness, and use the gifts God has given them to make a difference in the world. While we will miss seeing them on campus, they will always be part of the Holy Cross family.
Congratulations, Class of 2026! Your future is bright, and we can’t wait to see all that you accomplish. 💚💙🎓
06/05/2026
🌈☀️ What a day at Holy Cross STEM School! ☀️🌈
Today we combined two of our favorite traditions, Field Day and the Color Run, and it was an incredible success! Students spent the day competing in games, laughing with friends, and making memories that will last long after the last bell rings.
A special thank you to our 8th graders, who came and ran the Field Day stations for our younger students. Their leadership, energy, and dedication helped make the day a huge success and showed what it means to be a Holy Cross Hawk.
We also want to give a huge shoutout to DJ for keeping the energy high and the fun going throughout the Color Run! 🎶🎧
Thank you to everyone who helped make today possible. What a fantastic way to celebrate the end of another amazing school year! 💚💙
06/04/2026
📚👩💼👨💼 A Day in Charge at Holy Cross! 👨💼👩💼📚
Today our Casino Night auction winners stepped into some very important roles as Principal for the Day and Office Administrator for the Day! 🎉
They spent the day visiting classrooms, helping around campus, enjoying a special lunch, and cooling off with some ice cream. 🍦 They also got a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to keep Holy Cross running smoothly each day.
Of course, no day in administration would be complete without handling a few disciplinary matters… and yes, a couple of detentions may have been written! 😄
Thank you to our amazing students for their hard work, enthusiasm, and leadership today. We loved having your help and seeing Holy Cross through your eyes!
💚💙 CatholicEducation IgniteEmpowerTransform
05/27/2026
This morning we honored our students who participated in the Ventura Water Student Art Contest with a special gift from Ventura Water. We are also excited to celebrate one of our very own student winners whose artwork was selected for the 2027–2028 Watershed Awareness Calendar! 🎨💧👏
We are so proud of all of our students for using their creativity to promote water conservation and care for our environment. 🌎
The contest encouraged students to create original artwork focused on topics such as protecting watersheds, conserving water, caring for oceans and beaches, and more.
05/22/2026
This week our students were off on some amazing adventures! 🌟
On Tuesday Preschool and Pre-K had a wonderful time at Public Works Day at the Ventura County Government Center, learning all about the important people and vehicles that help keep our community running. 🚜🚓🚒
Today our elementary students split up for some exciting field trips:
🦁 Kindergarten–2nd Grade headed north to the Santa Barbara Zoo for a day of animal encounters and hands-on learning.
🔬 3rd–5th Grade traveled south to the Discovery Cube to explore science, engineering, and interactive exhibits.
Learning goes far beyond the classroom at Holy Cross STEM! 💙💛
05/01/2026
A beautiful day for May Crowning 🌸
A cherished tradition that continues to unite our school community each year.
Our 8th graders led with pride in their graduation gowns, while our 2nd graders shined in their First Communion attire. Such a special moment of faith, leadership, and joy.
05/01/2026
Our 4th grade students shared their Mission Projects this week, combining history, creativity, and faith. Each project reflected the beauty and purpose of the California Missions. We are proud of their hard work and dedication!
04/20/2026
🎉 Our 2026 Auction goes LIVE tomorrow at 9:00 AM!
Get a head start and start browsing now 👀
Visit the link in our Linktree to check out the amazing items already listed!
✨ New items will be added throughout the week, so keep checking back, you won’t want to miss out!
Happy bidding and thank you for supporting Holy Cross! 💛
03/27/2026
💡✨ Innovation in action at Holy Cross! ✨💡
Our middle school students took on the C3 Thinker Tank Invention Convention, where they identified real-world problems and designed creative solutions to match. From concept to creation, students showcased their ideas in an exciting Shark Tank-style presentation in front of judges, demonstrating confidence, critical thinking, and ingenuity!
In the afternoon, our younger students had the opportunity to tour the convention, explore the inventions, and ask thoughtful questions, sparking curiosity and inspiration across all grade levels.
🏆 Congratulations to our 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in each grade level, who were recognized during morning prayer!
We are so proud of our students for thinking boldly, solving creatively, and presenting with courage. The future is bright! 🌟
Our preschoolers have been busy little scientists 🐣✨
As part of our life cycles unit, each student “adopted” their very own (pretend) pet chicken! They gave their chickens names and made special promises to take care of them, practicing responsibility and nurturing skills in such a sweet way. 💛
To go along with their learning, students also took on a fun STEM challenge: building a chick house using only toothpicks and jelly beans! 🏗️🐥 It was amazing to see their creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork in action.
Learning + imagination + hands-on fun = the best kind of day in preschool!
06/11/2026
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