History of Guardian Angels Catholic School

In the autumn of 1990, a concerned group of parents from North Pinellas County approached Bishop Favalora requesting that the Diocese of St. Petersburg consider providing Catholic education for their children. After meeting with the pastors of four parishes, All Saints in Clearwater, St. Ignatius in Tarpon Springs, St. Luke the Evangelist in Palm Harbor and St. Michael the Archangel in Clearwater, the Bishop announced that Guardian Angels Primary School would open on St. Michael's parish grounds in August 1991. St. Michael's would serve as a temporary site for the school until a new site could be found and a permanent school built. Reverend James Russo was named the first school pastor.

Guardian Angel's Primary School opened its doors to 35 kindergarten and first grade children in August 1991. Sister Jean Marie Dick was sent by the Sisters of Notre Dame of Chardon, Ohio at the request of Father Russo to serve as the first school principal. Sister Jean Marie was joined by two lay teachers and a school secretary.

In 1992, as a result of overwhelming interest evidenced by a dramatic increase in applications received from parents, the Diocese decided that Guardian Angels would expand from a primary school to a complete elementary school with grades kindergarten through eight. A capital campaign throughout the four parishes was begun to help finance this project. In the fall of 1995 Guardian Angels Catholic School opened its new school on Evans Road in Dunedin. A plaque and individual nameplates hang throughout the building to recognize donors who contributed various amounts to the building of the school.

In 1998, the second phase of construction was completed with the addition of a middle school building.