In the early 1950’s there was no
Catholic High School between the Missouri River and St. Joseph.
Parishioners in five parishes in the “northland” felt
the need for students in their parish elementary schools to continue
their Catholic education through the secondary level. Bishop LeBlond,
the bishop of the St. Joseph Diocese, supported the idea. However,
as always with Catholic education, money would need to be raised
for a high school.
Through the leadership and determined efforts of four men, Frank
Tiedtka, Robert Henehan, Francis Brand and George Stark, the dream
was pursued. Going to the faithful parishioners of the five Northland
parishes proved to be the solution to the problem. They set up
the fund raising drive for a three-year pledge period and were
able to raise the $500,000 needed to fund the first and only Catholic
High School in the Northland- St. Pius X High School.
J.E. Dunn Construction Company was awarded the contract to build
the new school. In the spring of 1956, Bishop John P. Cody, Bishop
of the newly joined Kansas City/St. Joseph Diocese broke ground
for the new building. Having begun the year in St. Michael’s
grade school (now known as St. Gabriel’s), students moved
into the new building in the second semester of the 1956/57 school
years and the school was officially dedicated in April of 1957.
The school held about 425 students. In 1962, due to the large
number of students and the need for additional classroom space,
the new three-story “science wing” was added, thus
making room for 539 students.
Nearly fifty years later, St. Pius X High School still dares to
be different. We are still the only Catholic High School north
of the river. In 1997 we embarked on our first ever Capital Campaign.
The $4.2 million raised in the campaign helped us update our classrooms,
media center, chemistry lab, technology, commons area and cafeteria/kitchen,
and also add a new atrium entry hall to be used for small gatherings
and events. Still striving to provide our students with the best
educational environment possible, we launched Phase II of our
“Education for Life” campaign in August. The scope
of work for this campaign and updating classrooms in our three-story
wing (including our new biology lab), constructing a new student
activity center (that will connect to our current gymnasium with
a stage that will open on either side with dressing rooms and
stage lighting), a practice gymnasium, locker rooms, and wrestling
and weight rooms. With these improvements, St. Pius X will truly
be a state-of-the-art high school facility.
Now, as in the past, each day serves as a reminder that our students
are truly our most precious gifts. Within this place of learning,
what is gained goes beyond academic excellence. At St. Pius X,
those who are our future receive an education for life.
