ST. MARY'S SCHOOL

PHILOSOPHY  

Who We Are

St. Mary’s is a Catholic, parochial, co-educational elementary school-4K through 8th grade-operated by St. Mary’s Parish.  The administration, the faculty, and the students of St. Mary’s School dedicate themselves to the pre-eminent goal of fully knowing, loving and serving the Triune God.  In the practice of daily living, this all-encompassing endeavor results in an educational atmosphere that is richly Christian and specifically Catholic.

MISSION  

Our Purpose of Existence

Inspired by Christ’s words, “I came that they may have life and have it to the full,” St. Mary’s Catholic School dedicates itself to the education of the whole child—spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, and physically—in a nurturing environment permeated by a Christ-centered atmosphere.  Being fully aware of moral challenges posed by our culture, students are directed toward an unending pursuit of God in all that is true, good, and beautiful.

VISION

Accomplish Our Mission

Our vision is to be a Catholic school consisting of a teaching and worshipping community focused on the formation of children in a faith life of living and learning for success now and in eternity.

Because our school is Catholic first and foremost, we

• recognize the inherent dignity of each person as a creature made in the image and likeness of God, all persons should be treated with respect, kindness, compassion, and justice.

• strive to instill in the student that Christ is the source of their strength, the goal of their actions, and the center of their lives.

• encourage Christian truths, values, and virtues within the student who daily faces the challenges and opportunities of our society.

Because we recognize that a Catholic school is both a teaching community and a worshipping community, we

• appreciate and support the relationship the Catholic school has with the greater parish community through service activities, projects, and prayers.

• pray together as a community during Mass and other traditional Catholic worship and devotional services such as adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, receiving the sacraments, and praying the rosary and stations of the cross.

• are sustained by the gospel witness of our teachers, staff, administrators, students and parents.

• foster in students a positive self-image through a spirit of inquiry, discovery, and personal initiative.

• lead the students to a healthy recognition and acceptance of their talents and gifts, and those of others inspiring all to attain their full potential.

Because teaching and learning are the day to day focus of our teachers and students, we

• provide a stimulating, challenging, and integrated curriculum that educates our students by linking faith and culture thus fulfilling the mission of St. Mary’s School.

• actively involve and collaborate among teachers, administrators, parents, and the community; thus sharing the responsibility for student learning.

• actively engage and maintain high expectations for students in the learning process.

• Incorporate a variety of teaching styles and methods to accommodate differences in students’ learning style.