The reverend Father Thomas Coleman lifted the first shovel of dirt during the ground-breaking ceremonies for the new $200,000 parochial school here. The school was erected on the corner lot directly across from St. Mary’s Church on West Third Street.

March 9, 1957 – It was the culmination of three years of faith, planning and work.  The commemoration ceremonies during the laying of the cornerstone for Greenville’s new six-room $200,000 parochial school being erected for an enrollment of over 170 students. The rituals were brief but impressive, the Catholic faithful winding their way through the welcoming portals of St. Mary’s Church as the bells tolled prior to the official outdoor ceremonies of dedication.  Then as the town clock struck five, the church was emptied while patrons and friends, laborers and well-wishers congregated several hundred strong, in the brisk spring air to witness the historic dedication, blessing & placing of the cornerstone, bearing the inscription of the year 1957, at the southwest prominence of the rapidly-rising St. Mary’s School.  It was with an impressive solemnity the Father Thomas Coleman, in the presence of visiting dignitaries of the Catholic clergy, Father Leo M. Walsh, pastor of the sacred Heart parish in Dayton, and the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Robert H. Krumholtz, vice rector of Mount St. Mary’s seminary at Norwood, placed the various articles of historic importance and sentiment to the local parish in the stainless steel enclosure that was sealed in the cornerstone for posterity.  “This beautiful rose is from a magnificent bouquet that the children of my parish gave me today my patron saint’s feast day – St. Thomas Aquinas who incidentally is the patron saint of all Catholic Schools,” explained Father Coleman as he tucked each item carefully inside the concrete block.  There was barely enough room what with the commemorative scroll rolled up in its permanent copper tube container, copies of the newspapers as well as last Sunday’s church bulletin and a brochure issued during the fund-raising drive–all recording important events the history and development of the new Greenville parochial school for the benefit of generations many years hence. “I could do better with my left hand,” mused Msgr. Krumholtz, forced to handle the trowel in his right hand during the final ritual of sealing the cornerstone over with concrete while a cold and uncooperative March wind did blow.  It was a significant step in the long historic progress of Greenville city’s parochial school.  (Parochial school is a private school supported by a particular church or parish)

Decorating the front of the building is a base relief of the school’s patron, the Virgin Mary, and the Christ child.  The Christ child represents the model of childhood.  A carved two-way crucifix has been installed in a huge window over the main entrance.  The base relief and the crucifix are the work of Robert C. Koepnick, Dayton sculptor.

The new school building of St. Mary’s Parish, Greenville will be formally dedicated by Archbishop Karl J. Alter at ceremonies on Sunday, April 20, 1958 at 3:30 p.m.  Besides the blessing ceremonies, rosary recitation and Benediction will be held in St. Mary’s Church.  Assisting in the dedication were two sons of the Greenville parish, Rev. Lawrence Blottman, now pastor of St. Charles church at Carthage, a Cincinnati suburb, and Rev. Robert Maher, pastor of St. Mary Help of Christians church, Fairborn.  As Archbishop Alter began the ceremony of blessing the exterior of the school, darkening skies threatened rain.  The downpour came after the blessing of the interior when the processional and parishioners returned to the church to hear the archbishop speak.  Approximately 75 priests from throughout the Cincinnati diocese attended the dedication.

Oct. 27, 2012 St. Mary’s School celebrated its 125th anniversary. To commemorate that event, Dennis M. Schurr, the Archbishop of Cincinnati, visited St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 238 West Third St., across the street from the school, to celebrate Mass at 10 a.m., kicking off a year-long celebration.  Teachers continue to educate the tradition that the Sisters of Charity began so long ago, St. Mary’s School offers a pre-school through eighth grade education.  The school features small class sizes that allow a unique level of individual attention for each student.  Catholic schools are renowned for academic excellence.  Students in Catholic schools consistently score in the top one-third on nationally standardized tests.

In 1948, the property at the southeast corner of West Main and Elm streets was purchased for a new convent for the Sisters, and the old buildings were converted into a school.  This is now the Youth House.  In 1857, under the pastorate of Father Thomas Coleman, the present school was built.  That year it housed 201 students in grade 1-8, this year the school has an enrollment of 83 students in grades k-8 and 36 children in the pre-school program.

Principals who have served the school throughout the years have included Sister Mary Lewine Pluckebaum, Sister Ann Dolores Miller, Sister Renatta Couch, Sister Suzanne Donavan, Sister Virginia Kunz, Sister Joan Clare Stewart, and Sister Mary Alice Haithcoat.  Ms. Carol Hertel retired in the spring of 2009, and Vernon Rosenbeck came that fall and continues as principal.  It is believed that Mr. Rosenbeck is the first male principal of the school.