Dear Families and Friends of Cathedral School,

It is with great joy and heartfelt gratitude that I welcome you to Cathedral School, where we are excitedly preparing to celebrate 125 years of Catholic education in April of 2026! Since our founding in 1901, Cathedral has been a place where faith, learning, and community come together—and today, that tradition is alive and thriving.

As we honor our past, we also celebrate the many ways Cathedral School has grown and evolved. Visitors are always welcome to stop by and see firsthand the changes that have taken place over the years—and the ways we’re bringing the old back to life. For example, the second floor hallway has been lovingly restored, with the old tile removed to reveal and refinish the original hardwood floors—a beautiful nod to our school’s rich history.

At the same time, Cathedral has fully embraced the future. We’ve replaced the old slate chalkboards with whiteboards and interactive projectors in every classroom, and each student has access to a personal computer or tablet, ensuring that our children are equipped with the tools they need to succeed in today’s digital world.

From our Outdoor Classroom to upgraded security and new air conditioning in every room, we continue to make improvements to support our students’ well-being. Our improved drop-off and pick-up system on Isadore Street now allows for a smooth, safe dismissal in under 10 minutes!

The creation of the St. Joseph Catholic Academy has strengthened ties among all Catholic schools in St. Joseph. Through this collaboration, we’re working together on unified curriculum programs, team-building across faculties, and stronger vertical alignment from Pre-K through high school. Our students are also benefiting from more athletic opportunities, including archery, pickleball, cheerleading, football, basketball, volleyball, track, cross country and soon, softball. We are also excited to be developing a robotics program to enrich our STEM offerings.

Thanks to the MO Scholarship program and the Bright Futures Fund, Cathedral has welcomed students from around the world—countries such as Ukraine, Eritrea, Mexico, Cuba, Kenya, and Vietnam are represented by our student population—creating a diverse, vibrant learning environment that enriches us all. These scholarships are also helping many of our own parish families continue their Catholic education journey. We encourage families and community members to support this effort by purchasing Missouri state tax credits through Bright Futures Fund, helping us carry the mission forward—maybe even another 125 years.

Through all the changes, some things remain joyfully the same. We still sing our beloved school song, “Hail Cathedral” by Tom Smith, and we still hold dear our guiding phrase:
“Cathedral School, Where Faith and Friendship Rule!”

Thank you for being part of our journey—past, present, and future. Whether you’re a current family, alum, future student, or a friend of Cathedral, you are always welcome here.

With gratitude and hope,
Kent McEnaney
Principal
Cathedral School