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Over 100 Years of History |
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| David City, Nebraska, is a small rural community nestled in the center of Butler County. It was here that a people of faith settled and started the parish of St. Mary's in 1878. | ||||||||||
It was with great faith that the first parishioners decided to start a school. In August of 1899 the doors of St. Mary's Grade School opened for the first time. The first school was built on the corner of Fifth and I. The school had two classrooms, a music room and a convent for the sisters. Ninety-five pupils enrolled for the first academic year. Four Sisters of Loretto, from Nerinx, Kentucky staffed the school for 16 years. In 1909 the school building was moved to 6th and J, to make room for the new church. Later and annex was constructed that provided additional classrooms on the first floor and a parish hall on the second floor.
Fr. William A Murphy, pastor of St. Mary's from 1933-1952, expressed his desire to have his young parishioners benefit from a Catholic secondary education. With his transfer to St. Francis, Center, in 1952, this task was handed over to Msgr. Alphonse Lisko. The section of the old school building in which the Sisters has been living, was converted into facilities for beginning the high school program for the ninth grade class in the fall of 1953. The twenty-six freshman students began classes on August 31, 1953. The Adorers of the Blood of Christ from Wichita, Kansas staffed the school. |
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| On August 29, 1954 the new St. Mary's High School was blessed. The next day 57 students registered for the ninth and tenth grades. Twenty-five students completed their four year program on May 26, 1957. The High School remained in operation for 8 years until Aquinas High School was built. In 1961 the Grade School took over the use of the building. | ||||||||||
| St. Mary's Grade School continued to grow and soon it became apparent that more space was needed. In 1974 a music room, kitchen, gym, storage area and an Adult Meeting Room were added. The addition was built onto the south entrance of the school.
On Sept. 17 1990, the Council of Administration at Aquinas Middle School-High School, the Parish Council of St. Mary's School and the Pastors of the David City Deanery held a joint meeting to discuss the future of Catholic Education in the three county area. It was the unanimous decision of each of these groups that Aquinas and St. Mary's should be merged into one school system. With the merger also came the addition of a library, office space, a teachers workroom, a Kindergarten room, and renovation of several rooms. Today St. Mary's School offers quality education to a student body of over 200 students, Pre-K to Fifth Grade. Administration of the school is under Fr. Brian Conner, Superintendent and Mrs. JoAnn Havlovic, Principal. Twenty-four faculty and staff members work together to create a Christ-centered atmosphere of learning |
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Educating Children for 108 years Webmaster fpytlik@esu7.org |
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