Our Heritage

The parish of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin was established on the south bank of the St. John’s River in the autumn of 1913. The first Mass was offered in a rented store.

The original Assumption School was constructed at the corner of Gary and Naldo Streets in 1923. This first school was quite small and accommodated 110 students. Classes were taught by the Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Augustine.

In 1948, while Father James Cloonan was pastor of the parish, land was purchased on Atlantic Boulevard. The existing building on the property, which was formerly the Merrill-Stevens Shipyard Administration Building, was converted into a school. This new Assumption School opened in September 1949 with 317 students. It also operated under new leadership provided by the Sisters of St. Dominic from Adrian, Michigan.

In 1954 the Florida State Road Department acquired the property on Gary Street and in 1955 the present Assumption Catholic Church was built on property adjacent to the school. The growth of the parish and school continued and in 1958 the convent was constructed making space available for six additional classrooms.

In 1965 under the leadership of Monsignor Harold Jordan, the fifth through eighth grade classrooms were built along with the Parish Hall. These additional buildings allowed the school to convert the old auditorium into a library and media center.

Monsignor Eugene Kohls became the Pastor in 1977. During his time at Assumption, a new Activity Center was built freeing the Parish Hall for school use. A Pre-school for three and four year olds was implemented and in 1996 the original school building was completely renovated and updated.

Through the leadership of the present pastor, Father Frederick Parke, Assumption Parish continues to grow and the parish is presently constructing a Family Center which will contain a gymnasium, concession facilities, coaches' offices and meeting rooms for parish organizations and activities. In 2006 Father Parke invited four sisters from the Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother, a religious community founded in Spain, to serve the spiritual needs of the community. The Convent is on the second floor of the Pre-school building and the sisters provide spiritual growth for the school and parish community.

The Florida Catholic Conference first accredited Assumption in 1973 as one of the original schools to receive accreditation. The school has maintained this accreditation status up to the present day.

The Assumption faculty and administration has also changed since the school started. In the early years of Assumption from 1923-1969, the principal and teachers were primarily nuns. Sister Patricia Eileen Consier was the last principal nun. Since 1977 the principal has been a lay Catholic. Today the teaching staff and principal are all lay Catholics. All of the teachers and administrators have received Catechetical training and the school continues to maintain a strong Catholic culture. This means that first and foremost Catholic values and morals are encouraged and promoted throughout the school community. Christ is the center of every aspect of education, religious formation, and character development. As part of Assumption’s mission the school strives to ground students in the principles of the Gospel: peace, brotherhood, love, patience, and respect of others. These virtues are practiced and modeled by members of the school community every day.

The history of a living community is continuous – the life processes of growing, adjusting and adapting to new circumstances continue. Assumption is one of the oldest parochial schools in Jacksonville. In the fall of 1973 the school celebrated its Golden Anniversary and in the fall of 1998 celebrated 75 years of continuous service since its conception in 1923.

The Assumption community looks forward to the future knowing that the school has been built on a solid foundation with principles and values that remain unchanged in an ever increasing, changing society.

---

Our Beliefs

• That in partnership with parents, each student’s spiritual, intellectual, social, emotional and physical growth develops in an atmosphere that stresses Gospel values.
• That worship, community, service, self-discipline, and academic excellence must be part of the school’s program and environment.
• That each child is created in the image and likeness of God and therefore they are entitled to learn in a respectful, safe, nurturing, and faith based environment.
• That we must educate our students to respect the dignity of all people.
• That by our example we must offer models of Christian witness to our students and the entire community.
• That continuous life-long learning is essential to the growth and well being of the whole community.
• That in order to develop a true Christian community, Catholic values and morals must be encouraged and promoted throughout the school.
• That as a Catholic Parochial School Community, Christ is the center of every aspect of education, religious formation, growth, development, and character formation.
• That we must prepare our students to examine the implications of moral, social justice, and global issues throughout the world.
• That Assumption Catholic School should be grounded in the principles of the Gospel: peace, brotherhood, love, patience, and respect for others.

---