St. Joseph High School has seen many dramatic changes in recent years.

Between educating young men and women together and moving into a different building, school officials saw the beginning of this academic year as a good time to celebrate.

A building dedication ceremony, blessing and dinner gala will be held in the school’s gym on Saturday, Sept. 8.

High school President David McCreery looks at the event as a celebration of the school’s past and future.

“It’s affirmation of the tremendous progress St. Joseph has made over the past five to six years. We have significantly enhanced our curriculum. We became the first high school in (the) Chicago (area) to become an all laptop and wireless campus,” McCreery said. “We changed our mission to become co-educational and welcomed women for the first time in our 47-year history.”

McCreery said the evening will conclude with the announcement of the capital campaign, “Now is the Time.”

“The purpose is to raise funds for priorities that will help us continue to grow and assist us in making this building an absolute excellent facility so that our students can be served as effective as possible,” he said.

David Purton, director of public relations for the high school, said the event will recognize former students from both Immaculate Heart of Mary and St. Joseph.

“They’re doing a trip down memory lane on film and a recognition of different people who have come through St. Joe’s,” he said.

Although St. Joseph students, faculty and staff transitioned to the former IHM school in January, school officials felt a dedication and blessing was appropriate at the start of this school year.

St. Joseph High School began accepting female students during the 2005-06 school year. The former IHM building was purchased about one year ago and students completed the second semester of last year at that location.