Montville - With generous support from a 1972 alumna, Saint Bernard School announced an ambitious plan Thursday night to raise as much as $3 million over five years to fund building renovations and technology upgrades at the Norwich Diocesan school for grades six to 12.

The Saint Bernard community has set a fundraising goal of $200,000 annually over the life of the five-year campaign and received a commitment from the diocese to match up to $200,000 each year during that time. Additionally, graduate Maureen Donohue Hendricks, Class of 1972, through the John and Maureen Hendricks Charitable Foundation, has pledged to match 50 percent each of whatever the school raises and the diocese donates over the campaign.

At Thursday evening's announcement at the Uncasville school, Bishop Michael J. Cote presented the Diocese of Norwich's first installment of $200,000, and Dana Williams, Saint Bernard's director of advancement, said the school has already raised $65,000 in its inaugural year of the challenge, which runs through June 30, 2015.

The goal of the campaign, said Saint Bernard interim Headmaster Donald Macrino, is to invest $600,000 annually through 2020.

Macrino said "the incredibly generous gift from Maureen Donohue Hendricks" comes "at the perfect time." Her husband, John Hendricks, is founder and recently retired chairman of Discovery Communications, which owns the Discovery Channel, TLC and Animal Planet networks. When he stepped down in May, Hendricks said he planned to focus on a new enterprise called the Curiosity Project.

Saint Bernard recently completed a successful accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, and the Hendricks challenge and diocesan support will enable the school to upgrade its facility and technology and "continue the tradition of excellence," Macrino said.

The renovations will proceed as the funds come in with a focus on refurbishing public spaces, classrooms, science laboratories, restrooms and modernizing technology.

"The bones are very good but the building is dated," Macrino said of the Uncasville school that was built to house 700 students in 1967.

Initially, the Uncasville St. Bernard campus was opened as an all-boys high school, but in the fall of 1972, St. Bernard Girls High School in New London and Notre Dame High School in Norwich (also for girls) both closed and merged with the boys' school as one new St. Bernard High School.

In 1997, middle school grades were added and in 2006 the name was changed to Saint Bernard School.

Bishop Cote said when he arrived in the diocese 11 years ago, there were rumors that the school would be sold or closed.

"I never want to see it closed," said Bishop Cote, after telling the large crowd of students, parents, alumni and past and present Saint Bernard staff gathered in the school's lobby that he's proud to say he is a product of Catholic schools himself.

Macrino, a retired Waterford High School principal and graduate of New London High School, has been serving as Saint Bernard's interim headmaster since July. He's enthusiastic about the fundraising effort and planned improvements and said Saint Bernard provides a classical education of strong liberal arts with a focus on literature and literacy.

"We have examined where we are and where we need to go, and believe there is still a strong niche for us in southeastern Connecticut," he said.

The school did experience a decline in enrollment over about a 15-year period, Macrino said, but the numbers have stabilized now and the school continues to focus on providing a quality education.

"We hope this $3 million will prime the pump and once the community sees that Saint Bernard School is here to stay, and that it's still the same great school it was, that they will support us," he said.

"If people are just the least bit curious, I wish they would come up and visit us," he added.

A Xaverian Brothers Sponsored School, Saint Bernard recently completed the 10-year accreditation with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. That process, which recommended the building and technology upgrades, led to development of the five-year strategic plan and three-pronged plan to fund it.

While alumna Maureen Donohue Hendricks did not attend Thursday's festivities, her sister, Patty Donohue McNamara, Class of 1974, one of four Donohue siblings to graduate from Saint Bernard and where their mother once worked in the cafeteria, read a letter from her sister, who lives out of state.

"Saint Bernard has had a profound impact on my life," she said in part. "This is where the foundation for my higher education was laid and it was a foundation that served me exceedingly well throughout my life."

Williams, the advancement director, said last year Maureen Hendricks visited the school and while on a tour, made the offer of the challenge after seeing the need for modernization of the building.

There were cheers and applause when the announcement was made and a red carpet arrival of alumni, teachers and former staff. The overflow crowd filled the school's foyer and was enthusiastic about the fundraising and planned improvements.

Macrino said he is confidant there will be enthusiasm among the Saint Bernard alumni to support the campaign and therefore secure the diocesan and Hendricks pledges.

"This is a unique community here," he said. "The alumni have a passionate love for the place."

Of the 55 graduating seniors last year, 11 were children of alumni parents, school staff said.

Currently, Saint Bernard is home to about 350 students in grades six to 12. Annual tuition for high school students is $11,700, with a $500 discount for families who are active participants in diocesan parishes. Middle school tuition is $6,750.

According to the school, 36 percent of students receive financial aid and this school year more than $450,000 was awarded in financial support.

The school is open to non-Catholics and has 47 international students who live with host families in the community. There is no plan to increase the number of international students, school officials said.

a.baldelli@theday.com

Twitter: @annbaldelli