History

Father John Giambastiani, Pastor of Assumption Church in 1920, saw a great need for a parochial school in the five square mile area where about 300 families of Italian descent were living. The present two story school opened in 1920. The sisters of the Order of the Servants of Mary of the American Province were invited to teach at the school which they accepted. They taught grades one through twelve which were all on the first floor of the original building. The gymnasium was on the second floor.

Father John was transferred back to Welby in 1945 and set about securing a school bus. Two trips were made each morning and afternoon.

From 1945 to 1951, Father John also installed a new central heating system, changed the old gym above the school into four classrooms and an office. The lower floor was changed into four classrooms. The high school was on the upper floor and the grade school was on the lower floor. The school at this time had an enrollment of 225 students. The high school closed in 1952.

In April 1950, construction started on a new gym behind the school. The back part of the gym contained a kitchen for the women of the parish to cook their annual spaghetti dinner. Prior to that, the women brought their gas stoves to the classrooms in the school to do the cooking.

A garage was built on the east side of the kitchen to park the school buses and was dedicated on September 18, 1950. In November 1964, the parking garage was converted into the present cafeteria and the kitchen was remodeled.

The last renovation of the school took place in 1978. The gym was painted, a new floor and evaporative cooler were installed, carpet was put in all the classrooms, new lights, a new fire alarm an public address system were installed.

The last of the Servite Sisters who were still teaching also left the school in 1978.