Then and Now
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The first Catholic school in Shiner was built in 1896 by Scherbohm and Mewes, contractors. The two story French style frame building housed two classrooms, a dining room and kitchen on the first floor, and a residence for the Sisters on the second floor. Named Saint Ludmila's Academy in honor of a Slavic saint, the school opened in February 1897 and was operated by the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament religious order in the state of Texas. The co-educational boarding and day school enrolled fifty-seven students the first year. Courses included German and Czech language; music courses featured piano, guitar, and mandolin. In 1902 two years of high school were added to the elementary grades. In 1916 a new structure was built to meet increased enrollment. In 1928 a four-year high school was incorporated, and the school received the designation of an academy. After 1939, no pupils were accepted as boarders. An elementary school was built in 1951, and a gymnasium, auditorium and cafeteria were added to the campus. In 1963 the Shiner Parish erected St. Paul High School. The educational complex is known as the Shiner Catholic School. (1997)
Shiner Catholic School:
St. Ludmila Elementary and St. Paul High School
In 2002, a Parish Hall was completed adjacent to the parish gym. It serves as a cafeteria for the Catholic School students and, with a seating capacity of approximately 200, is used to accommodate the larger gatherings of various parish and school functions.
In 2012, the Janak Music Center was completed. The building is a state of the art music center that will serve students in grades K-12 beginning in the 2012-2013 school year. This building was made possible through the extreme generosity of the Rita Janak family in memory of Rita's late husband, Leo Janak and the
Dickson-Allen Foundation.