Then a couple years ago, the diocese was able to purchase the village of Cheney’s abandoned school property, which just happened to be adjacent to the parish. The building was too antiquated for simply moving in and setting up classes, but the parish was one giant step closer to making St. Michael School a reality.
Since then, enthusiasm has multiplied throughout the parish – especially since ground was broken for the new school in June of 2010.
“This school is being built by the whole parish,” Ray stated. “We could not do it without being a family and digging in and making sure we’ve got what we need.”
Of course, she and the School Family Association have had quite a bit of help. They looked to the last school established in the area – North American Martyrs – and their principal, Sister Patricia Heirigs, O.S.B., provided a great deal of advice.
Mrs. Ray also relied on the principals of St. Joseph and St. Peter Schools, Sister Joseph and Sister Mary Michael, C.K. for suggestions and help.
“The biggest challenge for us has been making sure we had everything in place at the time we needed it,” said Ray.
As contractors and volunteers have worked on the building itself, the faculty and staff have been working hard all summer, too. They’ve been housed in the parish rectory all these month, taking care of every last detail.
The school was completed in an incredible nine-month construction period. Parishioner John Klimpel served as personal representative for the parish and NGC (New Generation Construction) Group provided construction management for the project.
The school, which features a Smartboard in every classroom, is possibly one of the most technologically advanced elementary school in the public or private sector.
Ray said she enjoyed the process of assembling a new faculty of teachers who share her philosophy that any student can learn… and who take their roles as Catholic educators seriously.
“Our biggest role is that the children know who Jesus is, and that they can go to Him no matter what,” Ray stated. “Our teachers really reflect that philosophy as well.”
(Story continues below)
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
Some of the more fun aspects of opening a school include things like choosing a mascot, school colors and a logo.
A parishioner who is a U.S. veteran came up with the idea for the mascot: the St. Michael Marauders. The mascot is a nod to Merrill’s Marauders, a famed World War II army unit that earned recognition for its successful missions behind enemy lines.
“We had a lot of ideas come in, but that one was unique and has a real positive connotation,” said Ray.
The logo is a shield flanked by the wings of St. Michael the Archangel, overlayed with a sword running down the middle. And the colors are one of the most popular combinations in Nebraska: red and white.
“Can you believe it?” Ray said with a laugh. “No other parochial school in the city had those colors.”
At press time, things were looking great, even though the new school uniforms still hadn’t shown up. Mrs. Ray had high hopes that photographs from the first day ever of St. Michael School would depict kids dressed up in the crisp new red, white and black outfits.