Our Story
-
St. Anthony of Padua School is a Roman Catholic school affiliated with the parish of St. Anthony of Padua and Diocese of Cleveland, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade from Parma and surrounding neighborhoods. Our school community is comprised of 155 families with 212 students currently enrolled for the 2020-2021 school year. As a member of the Diocese of Cleveland, St. Anthony of Padua is an accredited non-public school with the Department of Education and the Ohio Catholic School Accreditation Association.
Founded in 1959, St. Anthony of Padua Parish was established as part of the Franciscan Province of the Sacred Heart serving thousands of families in the Parma and Seven Hills area. Construction of the gym/temporary church began in 1960. During the church and school construction, students of St. Anthony of Padua Parish attended classes at St. Francis de Sales School. In August 1961, construction was complete, and the school’s inaugural year consisted of 15 classrooms and 826 students. Over the next three decades, Sisters of Saint Joseph and Sisters of the Resurrection joined the staff to help oversee the school. In 1985, a new church was constructed, and the temporary church in the school was converted to a gym. In 1993, the Franciscans turned over administration of the parish and school to the Diocese of Cleveland. As a result of the Franciscans' departure, the Diocese of Cleveland nominated Fr. Dale Staysniak to assume pastoral care, where he continues to serve as pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish and School.
As a school community rich in history and tradition, we strive to celebrate our Catholic identity daily, building lifelong foundational values in accordance with the messages found in the Gospels. Evidence of our Catholic identity is intertwined into every aspect of the learning environment, continually fostering our school mission and service to others.
In addition to providing a school environment rich in Catholic identity, St. Anthony of Padua strives to provide an educational experience promoting academic excellence that instills a love of learning and prepares our students for the next chapter in their educational journey. As the world of education continues to evolve, we vow to continually reflect upon on our practices to ensure we are providing instruction and curriculum aligned with high expectations, rigor, and 21st century learning.
As our students grow spiritually and develop academically, we believe student success requires an approach that fosters strong partnerships between the school, parish, and community. We provide opportunities for families to become actively engaged in the education and faith development of their child and/or children. As a school community, we continually participate in outreach programs that strengthen our relationships with local community members and organizations that align with our mission.
With 60 years of existence, the founding principles of our school remain present in each of our students, and we hope to continue the tradition of academic excellence and discipleship for generations to come.