In June 1953, Bishop Peter L. Ireton established Saint Michael Parish and named Father Thomas P. Scannell as the first pastor. Father was a firm believer in Catholic education. He believed that the proper education of the parish’s children was of prime importance. As early as January 1954, Father Scannell was in contact with Mother Marie Alma, Mother General of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary petitioning for sisters to staff Saint Michael School.
By July 1954, three hundred forty-four students had enrolled for Kindergarten through grade six. In August, five sisters arrived to staff the school. Lay teachers were hired to staff the remaining grades.
During the years following 1959, various bishops divided the parish into several new parishes. With the enrollment in these parishes, the enrollment of Saint Michael began to decrease but the school still flourished. The school year 1962-63 saw the opening of the senior school building. In June of 2016, the Sisters Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary closed the convent at Saint Michael School.
The students in Saint Michael School come from many diverse backgrounds and many different languages are spoken in the home. Saint Michael School faculty and staff have continued to adjust to the needs of the children, providing for the academic and moral education.
The legacy of our founding pastor lives on in the spirit of our school. Msgr. Scannell always told the children they were a child of God. We recall each day the words of Msgr. Scannell, “Jesus, help me to remember that I am a child of God.”
