School History

In 1846 the pioneers of our faith built a one-room school house on Dry Ridge Road, one mile northeast of the present site, and engaged a lay teacher to staff it.

In 1860 a story-and-a-half frame building was constructed to serve as a school and teachers' residence.  Two Sisters of Divine Providence came in 1905 but lived here only two months.

In 1906 another school was built which contained two classrooms and a teachers' residence.  This school was also staffed by lay teachers.  The Sisters of Divine Providence returned in 1912 and that order has taught at St. John's since that time.

In 1915 the plan was to build a school and a convent in the matching English Mission style of the old church and present rectory.  The plan was hastened by a fire that destroyed the school in 1922.  The new school was dedicated September 16, 1923.  A new wing was added to the school in 1952.  In 1962 an additional ten classrooms and a library were added.

The 1980's saw large growth in the St. John's School.  The first grade was re-instituted in 1982 and kindergarten classes were added in 1987.  The classrooms in the basement were converted from a chapel in the late 1980's.

The ground-breaking for the Parish Center was on September 21, 1982.   The Parish Center serves as an all purpose building for physical education classes, bingo, sports and after-school activities.

The existing church and convent were razed in the fall of 1995 to construct a larger church to accommodate the growing community.  The dedication of the new church occurred in March 1997.  The new cafeteria underneath the church opened for student and parish use in April.  During the summer of 1997, the renovation of the "old cafeteria" began with an additional classroom completed.   A full-day kindergarten program was added to the school’s academic offerings, and a computer lab was established.  A second classroom was completed during the summer of 1998 in the “old” cafeteria space.

 The Computer Lab and Library were moved to new space created under the church in the summer of 2001. Prep work was also begun for the Junior High classrooms and a Science Lab, which will also be in the space under the church.

 The summer of 2003 brought about the completion of a state-of-the-art Science Lab servicing grades six, seven and eight, and one additional eighth grade classroom. These rooms were constructed under the church, across from the cafeteria.

 A preschool room was constructed out of existing space during the summer of 2005. In addition, during the summer of 2005, ActiveBoards were installed in all grade 3-8 classrooms.

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