MISSION OF ST. MICHAEL’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL
The mission of St. Michael’s Catholic School is to know as Jesus knows, to love as Jesus loves, and to serve as Jesus serves.
HISTORY OF ST. MICHAEL’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL
St. Michael's Catholic School was established in 1877 in a building at the rear of the church. Originally, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word of San Antonio staffed the school; however, in 1884 the Sisters of Mercy from New Orleans began to teach at the school. During the first two decades of the school’s existence, the enrollment ranged between 40 and 85 students annually. The Sisters of Divine Providence of San Antonio replaced the earlier nuns in 1897, and remained for ten years. During that time, enrollment was as high as 110 students.
In 1908, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word of San Antonio returned to St. Michael’s to teach all grades, including high school, in the original building. They stayed until 1916, and usually their number included three academic teachers, a music teacher, and a housekeeper. During this time the school awarded degrees in music and high school certificates. Students also studied German, and some boarded at the school in the sisters’ residence.
In 1909, the church acquired additional property across from the church, and the school was moved to the Old Baker Home on that property. In 1912, the Old Baker Home was moved across McLeod (then Depot Street) to make way for the first permanent school building, a two-story structure with three classrooms and a wide hall on the ground floor and an auditorium with a kitchen on the upper floor. The hall served a number of purposes, and mass was held there during the construction of the present church. The Old Baker Home served exclusively as the convent.
In 1916, the Sisters of Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament of Victoria came to the school. In 1927, St. Michael's Catholic School graduated its last high school student, and in 1929, the high school was closed.
In 1955 a new school building was constructed on the site of the razed Baker House. It was a concrete, brick, and glass structure in that it took its design from the international style pioneered in the first quarter of the century by European and American architects. It had four classrooms, a library, office, and a convent upstairs. The building was doubled in 1966, and all the classrooms were air-conditioned.
In 1953, the first lay teacher was hired, and by 1984 two sisters worked with eight lay teachers and the first lay principal. At this time, the first Kindergarten class was opened. In 1996, the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament ceased leading and teaching at St. Michael’s. Since then, the school’s faculty and staff have been laypersons. In 1999 the school added pre-kindergarten for three and four year olds. In 2002, the school’s Advisory Council submitted a written five-year strategic plan that highlighted future growth and improvements to the school. A Spanish program was also implemented in 2002. In March 2003, the school purchased a 23-passenger school bus with grant funds. Grant funds provided a new playground structure in 2008. All classrooms were wired for Internet access in the summer of 2008. A new roof was added in 2010. Renovations to the library, offices, four classrooms, and the hallway were made in the summer of 2012. Twenty iPads, interactive whiteboards for each classroom, and 14 iMac computers were purchased during the 2012 – 2013 school year. Plans were formulated during the 2013-2014 school year to renovate the gym area, build six additional classrooms and an additional kitchen. Ten additional iPads and 22 additional iMac computers were purchased. In the summer of 2014, the outside doors in the main building were replaced and security doors were added to the front of the building. The newly built gym, cafeteria and Early Childhood classrooms opened in August 2015. Floors in the main building were resurfaced during the summer of 2015. The Administration Office that holds the school secretary and the principal is housed in the main building. A computer lab with additional iPads is housed in the main school building.
The St. Michael’s School Advisory Council developed an updated comprehensive plan for growth and improvement to the school in the fall of 2019.
Today, St. Michael’s Catholic School offers instruction in grades PreK3 through 5th Grades. The school has a lay principal, a faculty of ten, and a support staff of six. The school offers extra-curricular activities that include Sports, Student Council and Choir. All students in 3rd through 5th grades participate in the St. Michael’s Catholic School Children’s Choir that performs at weekly school Masses and once a month for the Sunday Children’s Mass as well as other special performances throughout the year including the Annual Christmas Pageant. Students in 1st through 5th grades participate in Private School Interscholastic Association (PSIA). The school holds a Science Fair that is open to all students. Students participate in the Mass each Wednesday by reading, altar serving, and caring gifts. Each week the students lead the Rosary. During Lent, the students lead the Stations of the Cross. All students are involved in service projects for the community.