Scuola elementare Ai nostri caduti

In 1926, amidst post-war hardship, a beacon of hope emerged in Spinea. This beacon was the Scuola elementare Ai nostri caduti. It began not as a school, but as an Asilo Infantile. It was the brainchild of Attilio Merlin, the town’s mayor. He saw the need for childcare and education in a community ravaged by poverty. The Scuola elementare Ai nostri caduti was built on parish land. The construction took a mere three months. It opened its doors in September 1926 during the town’s festival. The Figlie di S. Giuseppe di Mons. Caburlotto nuns from Venice were entrusted with running the Asilo. Suor Albertina Beltrame, the first Superiora, led the nuns. They nurtured the young children enrolled in the Asilo. They also taught embroidery and sewing to older girls. On Sundays, they organized recreational activities. By the 1930s, the Scuola elementare Ai nostri caduti expanded. It had a main hall, two classrooms, a small office, and a refectory. The outdoor toilets were a sign of the times. A large courtyard provided space for play. The nuns resided on the upper floor. Attilio Merlin, the founder, bore much of the financial burden. The community rallied around the Asilo. Funds came from charity events, individual contributions, and paid after-school activities. In 1934, the Scuola elementare Ai nostri caduti’s facade was adorned with four marble statues. These statues represented the Cardinal Virtues: Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, and Temperance. The same year, it was dedicated to the fallen soldiers of World War I. Two statues of cherubs, symbolizing Spring and Summer, were placed at the main gate in 1938. During World War II, the school sheltered displaced families. It remained closed for a year. The Scuola elementare Ai nostri caduti’s popularity continued to grow. A third classroom was built in 1961. Sadly, the founder passed away the same year. A fourth classroom, dedicated to Cav. Cavasin’s daughter Maddalena, was added in 1963. Indoor toilets and a corridor connecting the new classrooms to the main hall completed the renovations. From 1972, a local association managed the school. The Scuola elementare Ai nostri caduti thrived. Furniture, kitchen equipment, a piano, games, and teaching aids were all acquired. This was made possible through tuition fees, donations, and volunteer work. The “Giardino dell’Infanzia” evolved into a Scuola Materna with defined preschool education goals. In the 1980s, it became a hub for youth groups and film screenings. Volunteers from the Figlie di San Giuseppe joined the nuns in their efforts. A mural by local artist Bruno Garlandi was unveiled in 1986, marking the school’s 60th anniversary. A full meal service began in 1988, requiring a lay cook to assist the nuns. Three nuns from the school went on to serve as missionaries: Suor Idangela Dal Ben and Suor Irma Cescon to the Philippines, and Suor Guidalma Zamberlan to Kenya. In 1994, a formal agreement with the municipality secured annual funding for the school. A new kitchen was built in 1995, and the school celebrated Catholic School Day for the first time. The 70th anniversary was celebrated in 1996 with a grand fete and photo exhibition. Extensive renovations to the roof, gutters, stage, and main hall followed in 1998. The Scuola elementare Ai nostri caduti was officially recognized as a “Scuola Paritaria” in 2001. This increased the responsibilities of the management and educators. A revised statute in 2002 introduced new members and longer terms. The parish priest served as the President, and a committee managed daily operations.