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History
In 1942 it was determined that a school was needed in the Lakewood area. Seven acres at the corner of Kenwood and Abrams were purchased for $11,500. A riding stable was located on the property which was then open countryside. The site seemed a long distance from the hub of downtown Dallas; the buses literally stopped here as it was the end of the line.
World War II, with its shortage of building materials, intervened and the one-story (a second story was added in 1949) school was not completed and ready for use until September of 1947. Prior to its opening, the school was placed under the patronage of St. Thomas Aquinas and so named. Msgr. Gulczynski served as the founding Pastor.
The 'Sisters of Divine Providence' was the first teaching order at the school. The adjacent convent was ready for occupancy in December 1950. During 1953 the auditorium was remodeled and Mass was celebrated in the unfinished structure. The school served 250 students.
The next major undertaking was in 1971 when the entire school was air conditioned. Prior to this time the only two areas air conditioned were the auditorium and the cafeteria. In 1982 it was deemed necessary to add a new music room and six classrooms. With these additions, some remodeling was also done. Walls were knocked out which resulted in a larger library, a conference room and new offices. This undertaking was completed in February of 1984, four days before Open House. The Middle School Science Lab was completed during the Fall of 1988. In 1993 the basement was converted to second grade classrooms and computer labs were updated. A Lower School Science Lab and gymnasium were completed in 1998.
Spanish instruction was offered to students at the primary level and expanded to the fifth grade level for the 1992-1993 school year and now is offered to all grade levels. The Diocesan middle school mathematics curriculum was modified to include Algebra for eighth grade students. The early childhood program was formally integrated as an officially sanctioned part of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School. A program to meet the needs of atypical learners 'Optimal Match' was added to an already successful program for dyslexic students.
The parish and school growth led to the expansion of the school to two campuses in 2005. Following a successful capital campaign effort by the parish, the First Community Church building and property was purchased and converted to accommodate grades K-2, Primer and Full-Day PK4. The Lower School, the Monsignor John T. Gulczynski Early Childhood Center, opened its doors in Fall of 2005. Today, St. Thomas Aquinas School is home to 781 students, grades PK3-8th grade.
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