City of Axtell, Kansas Webpage
City of Axtell, Kansas Webpage
The children from the Axtell community will attend school in Axtell and Summerfield. Grades K through 6 attend the education center at Summerfield while students grades 7 through 12 attend the Axtell education center.
Axtell's first public school was built in 1873 at a cost of $750, the size being 20 feet by 30 feet; the teacher was Jon Watson.
The first class of Axtell High School graduated in 1888. The graduates were Maggie Axtell (McCall), Mame Brawner (Rabe), Stella Conable (Rundle) and Jennie Whitbeck . No students graduated in 1889, but since 1890, Axtell Public School has had graduates!
The present two-story building was built as a WPA project and was completed in February of 1943 at an estimated cost of $100,000. The district's cost was $38,000.
In 1965 the state consolidated Kansas schools. Axtell joined with Bern and Summerfield to become Unified School District #488. The district purchased the former office of dentist, Dr. Seth Hanna, Axtell, to house the administrative office and began official operation July 1, 1966. (Currently, Axtell Public School serves students grades seven through 12.)
The academic and individual accomplishments of the students of Axtell Public School would require a book by itself as would providing a list of all the teachers who walked the hallways of this institution. We are proud of all of them.
| Name | Position |
| Mr. Todd Leonard | Principal |
| Stacey Buessing | 5th-6th Grade Teacher |
| Susan Etelamaki | 3rd-4th Grade Teacher |
| Marla Porting | 1st-2nd Grade Teacher |
| Carole Hasenkamp | Principal's Assistant |
| Marvin & Diane Tate | Custodians |
St. Michael's School officially began in the fall of 1889. The parish to house the first school rented a building. In 1890, six acres of land was purchased from Mrs. Catherine Murray for a new church, school and rectory.
In 1894 St. Michael's School closed because of declining numbers. It remained closed until 1913 when construction began on a new school. The basement was begun and completed, but due to poor harvests the rest of the building was not completed until 1917. An Axtell contractor, E. R. Pollock, was contracted in 1917 to finish the school. On August 30, 1917, the new school building was dedicated and on September 3, school began with 50 students. The final cost of the school building was $15,807.81. The school offered education for students in grades one through eight. The first graduates of St. Michael's School were Virgie Montgomery and Catherine Ryan.
In 1919 a high school program started. It remained in use until 1941 with the last graduation being held May 25, 1941. Graduates were Crescentia Haug, Donald Deters, Maxine Vossen, Mary Louise Lake, and Leo Broxterman.
On October 12, 1960, a new school building was dedicated. The last eighth
grade graduates from the 1917 school building were Linda Alfers, James
Shaughnessy, Beverley Stueve, James Strathman, Gary Koch, Robert Hawkins,
Bill Brinker, Mark Stueve, Gerald Coffey and Donna Kiesling.
In 1986 the school discontinued the seventh and eighth grades and continues to the present with grades one through six. In 1987 the old roof was replaced by the Knights of Columbus and men of the parish and in 1988 they tore down the old convent.
On October 8, 1989, a centennial celebration of St. Michael's School was held. Tribute was given to all past pastors, religious, parents, students, parishioners and friends who have helped support the school over the last 100 years.
In 1993 the Knights of Columbus and men of the parish to improve the building's energy efficiency installed new windows and doors in the school.
In 1999, the heating system was replaced and air-conditioning was added to the school. Some of those responsible were: Dave Ronnebaum, Larry Ronnebaum, Arlie Haug, Carl Koch, Mike Ronnebaum, Roger Koch and some others belonging to the Knights of Columbus. A major clean-up was accomplished several times by the women of the parish. We thank all.
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