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Things have changed drastically for Silver Spring over the past 75 years. But for St. Michael the Archangel's School at 824 Wayne Ave., being around for 75 years means doing a lot of the same.

"St. Michael's is an example of the commitment and the strong faith of the members of St. Michael's parish," said Patricia A. Weitzel-O'Neill, the superintendent of Catholic schools for the Archdiocese of Washington. "The support to the school and the desire to reach out and serve the community has been passed on from generation to generation."

Tuesday, the first day of school for the 200 or so kindergarten through eighth-grade students at St. Michael's and other archdiocese schools, officially kicked off St. Michael's 75th anniversary. Throughout the year, the school will commemorate its longevity and strong, long-standing relationship with St. Michael the Archangel Church located just down the street at 805 Wayne Ave.

The school opened in 1933 in a two-story manor located on Pershing Drive. When it opened, it had 160 students, primarily the children of St. Michael's parishioners, said Paul Rybczyk, alumni coordinator for St. Michael's and a science and social studies teacher with the school for 31 years. In 1936, construction on the existing school began to increase capacity.

Rybczyk said capacity at the school has increased but the small enrollment that it has maintained is a good example of the family atmosphere the church has long promoted.

"That's one thing I've always found here is people develop a family here and keep very close contact with the school," he said. "There are whole families that belong here and are still connected with the school and parish."

Since the final addition to the school in 1946, Rybczyk said "the major changes have been the paint." Both Rybczyk and Principal Dawn Clemens said there have been talks about expanding the school with a new gymnasium, a media center and outdoor green space for students. The project has no timetable, however, as Clemens and Rybczyk estimate the project would cost between $4 million and $5 million.

Weitzel-O'Neill said the revitalization of downtown Silver Spring has actually helped the small school because many working parents enroll their children there to be closer to them during the day. The demographics at not only St. Michael's but other archdiocese schools have become more diverse and include more non-Catholics as parents look for the perfect education for their children, Weitzel-O'Neill said.

"Like almost every American institution, St. Michael's School has changed over the last 75 years," said Monsenior Eddie Tolentino, the head of the St. Michael's parish, in an e-mail. He said the school's student body represents more than 40 different countries.

"We are today a diverse community that could never have been envisioned by the first members of this parish."

In the school's 75th year, it has a first-year principal in Clemens, who has never worked in a Catholic school system. She said she welcomes the challenge of continuing St. Michael's legacy.

"You have to honor the past and look carefully at where the school needs to go," Clemens said. "To do that you have to look at things that are traditions."

This year, the school will hold events to commemorate its legacy. The school and parish will hold a celebration of the Mass on the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel Sept. 28. On Oct. 12, the school will hold an anniversary Mass and reunion that will last throughout the day and include alumni members of several graduating classes, Rybczyk said.