Roman Catholic Area Faith Community of 

St. Anastasia & St. Boniface

St. Anastasia School History

On June 12, 1954, Bishop James Byrne blessed the cornerstone of the first Catholic school in Hutchinson. The school was dedicated on August 29, 1954, and the doors were opened for students on September 8, 1954. So a dream came true as the first Catholic school in Hutchinson became a reality. It was, most proud parishioners agreed, a beautiful four-room school, built under the direction of the Rev. Marion Casey and staffed by Benedictine Sisters of St. Joseph, MN. During the first 45 years, numerous Benedictine nuns dedicated service to the parish. An important part of their philosophy, and the philosophy currently in place, is that religious and moral values, for which the school exists, must be interwoven into the curriculum. 

In a few short years, the Glen Street school became inadequate for the needs of the parish. A basement classroom and a classroom in the church sacristy helped alleviate the overcrowding for a short time. Along with the crowded classrooms there was also the problem of lack of a play area. Plans for a new School Building Appeal were formulated in the fall of 1949 by a committee under the guidance of the Rev. John C. Ward, pastor. Groundbreaking of 15 acres of land on Lake Street took place on April 4, 1960. Thus a new school and parish center were built. 

The new school was a “U-shaped” structure with a combination gymnasium –auditorium serving as the church enclosed the center. There were 12 classrooms. For the first ten years, until construction of the present parish duplex in 1970, the north wing of the facility served as home for the Sisters. Also, included in the school building were a cafeteria-kitchen area, principal’s office, library, and several other rooms now used for miscellaneous purposes. 

In the early years of St. Anastasia School, all students were encouraged to attend Mass every morning. Now, there is a school Mass once per week, typically on Thursdays. The students are involved with the Liturgy, with the classes taking turns serving in the various ministry roles. 

With declining enrollment, the top two grades were dropped. The eighth grade was terminated in 1966 and the seventh grade was dropped the next year. In 1981, the Board of Education voted to begin a Kindergarten class. Twenty-three students enrolled in the 1983-84 school year. 

The school is currently staffed by all lay teachers. There are 155 students in grades K-6.