China, silver patterns, jewelry – every family has heirlooms they pass down through the generations. My family has passed down the tradition of St. Francis High School. The Chambers/Klebs family has kept the school in business, sending three generations through SFHS over the years.

Even though the school has kept the same name it does not mean it has remained the same over the years. For starters when my grandmother Sandy Chambers graduated from St. Francis High (in 67’) the school not only looked but behaved differently. The high school was
actually in a different location.

“The High school was K-12 when I went and was where the middle school sits now,” said Chambers.

Throughout the years, portions of the school, which is now the middle school, were torn down and remodeled. Some of those classrooms still remain. For example, the technical education and home economics classrooms are in the very same hallways where Chambers spent her final high school days.

The new high school was built on Bridge Street where it now resides and the former K-12 school now holds 6 – 8 grades. As the population grew, other elementary schools (SFE, East Bethel, and Cedar Creek) were constructed.

Other traditions have changed as well.

“The seniors didn’t get out of school earlier than anyone else,” said Chambers.

Even after she graduated, Chambers remained an active member of ISD 15, serving as a nutrition specialist. She also raised three children who graduated from SFHS who all stayed in the area after graduation.

My mom, Stacy had similarities and difference in her schooling. At the junior high, she remembers being required to take home economics and sewing.

Seniors gained more privileges as well.

“We got one senior exemption day at the end of the year,” said Stacy (Chambers) Klebs.

When Stacy was in high school, her mom worked at the school as well. Stacy remembers what lunches used to be like.

“There was main line, salad bar and ala cart line,” said Stacy. “The hamburgers were actually made on flame broilers like Burger King.”

After her graduation she went out, got a job, and started working. While she was doing this she fell in love with, and married another SFHS graduate.

My father, David Klebs, a 92 graduate, was friends with Scott Chambers, Stacy’s brother, but they didn’t start dating until after she graduated.

After they were married they had my sister and I who are going through SFHS. Looking back, they all have fond memories of SFHS. They had similar feelings about having kids go to “their” school.

“It would have been fine for my kids to graduate from a different school, but if you stop to think about it, it is kind of cool that we have three generations in the same school,” said Stacy. “It just shows that family is important to us and it is nice to stay in the same area.”