During the second semester of 1956-1957 school year, the 42 students of St. Pius X High School moved into the building (they began at St. Gabriel School - was then St. Michael’s). The original building contract was awarded to Dunn Construction for $800,000. St. Pius X then consisted of ten rooms, which included home-making rooms, industrial arts shops, a library, administrative offices, faculty rooms, a health and biology room, an audio-visual room, cafeteria and chapel. The gymnasium and auditorium were finished in the winter of ‘57-’58.
It was also the winter of ‘57-’58 that plans for a convent were being drawn up and the parking lot was finished. It wasn’t until the following year that the convent was finished. Then the Sisters joyfully moved in from their temporary home in Riverforest.
The Candy Sale of 1958 provided the students with the money to purchase bleachers for the gym. On September 6, 1962, the 3-story wing was dedicated by Bishop Helmsing, accompanied by 17 priests. It cost $500,000 to construct and St. Pius X’s enrollment was at 539. The first graduating class of St. Pius X was the Class of 1959.
Phase I - An Education for Life In 1997, the St. Pius X School Board developed a Master Plan for the school to renovate and update our facility to be responsive to the needs of Northland students in the 21st century. The first phase of our Master Plan was completed in 2000 with the total renovation of our one-story main school building including a new state-of the art media center, new kitchen and commons area, new atrium entry hall, data drops and computers in every classroom, and renovation of our Chemistry Lab.
Phase II - An Education for Life In 2003, St. Pius X launched Phase II of the Education for Life Campaign. This phase included renovation of our three-story science wing, including new lighting, floors, ceilings, an elevator and two new biology labs. The main gymnasium received new windows, new lighting, an exposed beamed ceiling. The locker room on the main floor was enlarged and converted to a girl’s locker room. The gym entryway was updated with built in trophy cases on both sides, and new handicapped accessible restrooms. A Student Activity Center was constructed on the north side of the gym. This room includes a stage, lighting and sound for our musical productions. It also serves as a multi-purpose room that can be used as a second gym for PE classes and sports. In addition, in this new wing, the basement houses a weight room, wrestling room, and new boys locker rooms. The dedication and blessing of this renovation project was in 2006.
In all, the Education for Life Campaign culminated in 10 million dollars of improvements to the St. Pius X campus.
Improvements between 2006 - 2015 Although there were no major Capital Campaigns during this timeframe, a number of remodeling and renovation projects occurred. These projects included new flooring throughout the hallways on the first floor, renovation of the Library, remodeling of the Armoury (the SPX Spirit Store), as well as updates to the track, concession stand, and field at the SPX Stadium. The redesign of the parking lot in 2015 expanded the number of parking spots and provided a driveway all around the building. In addition, a new roof was installed and the exterior of the building was painted.
Warrior Pride Campaign 2016-2020 In 2017, St. Pius X embarked on a $7 million capital campaign to build a new Athletic Complex and renovate the former convent on campus. The convent is home to our fine arts classrooms, Catholic Radio and a 2nd floor event space. The Athletic Complex is located less than a mile from the school’s main campus and includes a track, baseball field, softball field, tennis courts, and cross country trails. Bishop Johnston presided over a Blessing & Dedication of the Athletic Complex on March 29, 2019. The address of the Athletic Complex is 3700 NE Davidson Rd., Kansas City, MO 64116
In 2019, a generous benefactor gave a lead gift to begin a $3 million renovation of the St. Pius X Stadium. A turf field, new bleachers, a new press box, perimeter fencing and a new parking lot were installed. In addition, a storage barn was constructed and a new building was built that houses team dressing rooms, concession stand, restrooms and an outdoor viewing deck for fans. The St. Pius X Stadium serves as the home field to Football and Boys and Girls Soccer
