Youth
Christian Education:
St. Mary’s seeks to make a relationship with Christ real and tangible for our children. Through our teachings, we invite the children to develop a solid foundation of Biblical knowledge while encouraging them to share in our parish mission statement: TO KNOW HIM AND TO MAKE HIM KNOWN.
We have an active and lively Sunday school program. We currently have 60 children enrolled in our program representing 40 families. Our average attendance each week is 35
St. Mary’s parents volunteer to assist our children in learning bible stories through a rotation into arts & crafts, cooking, games, music, Bible teaching and movies which together makes for a fun learning environment.
Youth Ministry:
St. Mary’s Youth Ministry is programming for the parish’s young adults and middle school grades six an up. SMY’s direct focus is to serve both institutions and parents’ efforts to prepare our young people for the challenges presented growing up in today’s society. Young Life and Wyld Life youth programs are active in the ministry and accessible on campus. By bringing kids to Christ with fun and engaging activities, the ministry provides youth leadership opportunities as well as a fun and safe environment for fellowship.
Wyld Life Club, Bible studies rotating in parish family homes, event weekends and a vibrant Sunday program are just some other core activities enjoyed by members of SMY.
St. Mary’s Episcopal Day School affectionately known as “SMEDS,” was founded in 1953 by a rector and a dedicated group of parents who saw the need for a church-affiliated school with a strong academic environment. Emphasis was placed on attracting top-level faculty members who combined their teaching skills with a desire to offer individualized attention to each student.
Today St. Mary’s serves more than 400 children in Pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade.
At St. Mary’s, Pre-K through second grade offers a nurturing Christian environment where children are introduced to learning in a developmentally appropriate climate. The faculty strives to educate the whole child with regard to social, emotional, spiritual, physical, and intellectual growth. Creativity, independent learning, and critical thinking skills are fostered through hands-on activities and cooperative learning skills. A stimulating, balanced curriculum promotes motivation, curiosity, and the joy of learning. The program prepares children with a strong skill base in reading, writing, mathematics, social studies, and science.
The accelerated curriculum is designed to challenge students to work at their highest level while preparing them for eventual college success. The language arts program starts with phonics and early reading in Pre-Kindergarten and culminates with instruction in advanced composition, novel study, and grammar in middle school. The math program starts by developing basic arithmetic skills, continuing through to Algebra I Honors in eighth grade. The study of history, geography, and social studies begin early and conclude with a three-semester course of American History, including a trip to our nation’s capital. Experimentation in our modern science labs encourages natural enthusiasm for the subject, preparing students for the study of life sciences, chemistry, and Physical Science I Honors. All students take Spanish in Pre-K through fifth grade. Latin is offered in sixth grade, and high school level Spanish or Latin is taken in seventh and eighth grades. Academic offerings are enhanced by a full complement of enrichment courses, including visual arts, music, physical education, religion, computer science, drama, and public speaking. Activities include participation in team sports, performing arts, chapel services, school organizations, school-wide assemblies, our video production program, field trips, and more creates an exceptionally well-rounded school experience.
The student-faculty ratio at St. Mary’s is 9:1. There are currently 439 students, in classes ranging in size from eight to twenty-four, with an average class size of twenty-two. School faculty and staff include eight administrators, 43 teachers, four administrative assistants, and a registered nurse. Website Link: http://www.smeds.org/
