The Magic of St. Rose School

By Brenda Rayburn

My memories of growing up in Wilmington are filled with the incredible freedom and creativity we shared as children and families. One of my absolute favorite stories to tell my grandkids is about my days at St. Rose School. It was such a small parish, yet we always managed to pack that gym to the rafters, especially when it was time for our famous gym circuses. 

My mom, Loretta Rayburn Lacy, was the creative mastermind who designed and directed the performances. Working alongside our gym teachers, community coaches, and parents, she ensured that almost every single student, regardless of ability, was involved in some way. 

One year, my friend, Betty Van Duyne Frankovich, and I got to dress up as clowns. We weren’t the only ones, but Betty and I really knew how to act up! We even performed a full balance beam routine in our oversized costumes. Our main goal was to make people laugh, which usually meant playing pranks on the older students who were desperately trying to keep their cool. A major highlight was standing directly under the rings and trapeze, mockingly distracting one of the older boys while he tried his best to show off his strength and dexterity. My mom made our costumes by hand, and I’m pretty sure I managed to recycle mine for Halloween for a year or two after. 

Attending a small parochial school in a tiny town was truly amazing. We benefited from small classrooms and wonderfully creative teaching methods. I still vividly remember having a live tarantula and a preserved shark in our science lab. We even got to dissect various animals; an advanced opportunity most other schools couldn’t offer at the time. Right next to that science lab was our lunchroom and thank goodness it didn’t smell like the specimens! We brought our own lunches every day, but once a month, we were treated to a special hot dog lunch complete with brownies, chips, and sometimes even an ice cream sandwich. 

With the nuns and priests always present in the building, we felt deeply cared for and well-nourished with knowledge. Of course, our principal, Sister Estelle Marie, ran an incredibly tight ship. She ruled with a hard wooden ruler and a bar of soap. I happened to be the recipient of both punishments on occasion; to this day, the thought of yellow Dial soap still triggers a phantom taste on my tongue! 

Despite the strict discipline, growing up in our small town and attending St. Rose was idyllic. We started first grade with twenty-three students and graduated with seventeen of those exact same kids. On May Day, we proudly wore our graduation caps and gowns to crown the Virgin Mary. I truly loved where I lived, and I treasure all the wonderful people I was blessed to have in my life.