The 50th anniversary of St. Mary's School, at 30 Lyndon Ave. in Los Gatos, is being commemorated on May 21.

"It's an opportunity. St. Mary's is a close-knit community within the town of Los Gatos, which is also a close-knit community. This is an opportunity to celebrate 50 years of successful Catholic tradition," Ferrari said. "It's really a one-day event. We're hoping people take the opportunity to come and reconnect."

The day will kick off at 8:30 a.m. with registration and refreshments for a 5K/10K fun run and walk. People of all ages are invited to participate, Ferrari said, and can take it at their own pace since it's just for fun. The walk and run, starting at 9 a.m., begins and ends on the St. Mary's campus, but the course will take participants along the Los Gatos Creek Trail.

An opening ceremony at 11 a.m. at the school features town officials and distinguished alumni. The ceremony will be followed at 11:30 a.m. by Blue and Gold Day activities, featuring games and athletic events for all ages. Ferrari said the competitive tradition started in the 1960s where the classes were divided, half blue and half gold.

"We're going to have myriad of different sporting events between 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. that will include anything from volleyball and basketball for adults to tug of war and age-appropriate games for the younger children," Ferrari said.

The school has an open house at 3 p.m. featuring alumni reunions in the classrooms, a book fair and a student art show. The classrooms will be open all evening. The rooms will be decorated in themes by decade, and alumni are encouraged to visit the classrooms and take a walk down memory lane. Old uniforms and memorabilia will be on display.

In addition, a 50th anniversary yearbook will be available for participants to purchase for $30. The yearbook chronicles the development of the school, and how events like the annual country fair started and when the school gym was built, Ferrari said.

There will be a recognition ceremony at 4 p.m. in the church honoring the Sisters of the Holy Names, past and present faculty and staff. Ferrari said the sisters were instrumental in starting the school, as was Archbishop Mitty, who founded 10 local Catholic schools in 1955. The ceremony will be followed by a 5 p.m. celebratory mass.

The evening culminates in a no-host cocktail party and alumni classroom reunions at 6 p.m., as well as a traditional parish barbecue chicken dinner. Rather than having the meal catered, community members will be doing the cooking. A DJ will also be playing decade-themed music from 7:30 p.m. on into the night.

For more information, a schedule of events and registration information, visit www.stmaryslg.org or call the school office at 408.354.3944.