SALT LAKE CITY — Armando Venegas wasn’t taking much time making the transition from Long Beach, Calif., to Salt Lake City. On July 11 Venegas and his family had been in town less than a month when he’d already moved into his new office at Our Lady of Lourdes School here. "We had been talking about relocating," he told the Intermountain Catholic. "I had visited Salt Lake City before, and I contacted (Holy Cross) Sister Catherine (Kamphaus), superintendent of Catholic schools here, in December. She called me back in January to tell me a principal’s position was opening up here. A month later, I had the job. It was very quick, and I’m very happy about it." Venegas came to Utah with his wife, Elsa, and their four children, all of them under the age of 7, and "future students at Our Lady of Lourdes." The Venegases wanted to move out of the Los Angeles area while the children were still young, he said, and both he and Elsa liked what they saw of Utah. A graduate of Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles with a Masters Degree in Catholic School Administration, and 17 years of teaching and administration in Catholic schools behind him, Venegas’ last position was as principal at St. Maria Goretti School in Long Beach. "Moving is always hectic, but we’re slowing down now, and taking in some of Utah’s beautiful scenery and meeting the people." Venegas said he is thrilled to be principal in a school with such a diverse student population. "The community at Our Lady of Lourdes reminds me of the one at St. Maria Goretti," he said. In his first month here Venegas had become acquainted with the Our Lady of Lourdes Home and School Association and had met with many members of the school board. "I think there is a lot of good will here, and a lot of parental support. I’ve already had a parent who is an electrician come in to fix the lights." Now, he said, he is in the midst of making short-term and long-term plans, assessing the school’s needs and its strengths. "This school has a rich history, and the Catholic community is close here, which is the way it should be." After just two weeks on the job, he’d already gotten to know the names of many of the summer school students. A teacher of English, grammar, and languages, Venegas has studied in Spain and Rome, and speaks 5 languages, including ancient Latin and Greek. "These aren’t languages we teach every day, but they are great introductions to the classic cultures." Venegas has been keeping a close eye on Judge Memorial Catholic High School’s athletic field construction project, and said he is looking forward to working with Judge Memorial’s energetic principal, James Hamburge. "I have a great appreciation for the history and tradition of Judge Memorial," he said. "It’s exciting to be on the same lot and share some facilities. I know many of the Lourdes students go on to Judge Memorial, and it’s important that they already feel welcome there. No one can erase that kind of tradition of welcome. As for Lourdes, Venegas said he intends to maintain the school’s traditions of academic excellence and building up the whole student. "It’s impossible to get a good grasp of a school in just two weeks," he said. "I look forward to the a collaborative relationship with Our Lady of Lourdes Parish. One thing I do know is that we need to build enrollment to ensure the future of this school, and some capital improvements are needed and updating needs to be done here and there." Although seemingly cramped, Lourdes School does have room to grow, Venegas said. "Who’s to say a pre-school has to be on the same site as an elementary school? We have some unused areas that can be maximized. Our Lady of Lourdes School can grow into a greater school. It already has one of the greatest reading programs I’ve ever seen. It prepares students well in math. "I would like to see more arts and music programs, but I’d like to see more arts and humanities in every school. They’re important to the development of the whole person."
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