St. Mary's School (Connecticut)
Encyclopedia
St. Mary's School is Catholic elementary school
located in Simsbury, Connecticut
, USA. It is the only Catholic school for grades K-8 in the Farmington Valley
.
St. Mary's School is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges
(the last reaccreditation was in 2008) and the Connecticut State Department of Education.
On September 23, 1957, St. Mary School opened to 98 children enrolled in grades 1–3. The opening had been delayed for two weeks to allow for completion of the building. Classes were held from 8:30 to 12:30 for several weeks so that further construction could be completed. Archbishop Henry J. O’Brien dedicated the school and blessed the cornerstone on November 30, 1957. He was assisted by the Pastor, Father John Weldon and the Assistant Pastor Father Theodore Raczynski.
In its first year, the school was staffed by four Felician Sisters
: Sister Mary Florentine, Superior and Principal; Sister Mary Gabriel, Sister Mary Martha and Sister Mary Eymard. The Felician Sisters continued to serve St. Mary School for the next twenty years until June of 1977. The school’s first lay principal, Elizabeth Molloy of Somers, was appointed in 1977.
Fourth grade was added in 1958 and planning for a second unit of the school, to house grades 5 through 8 began immediately. In the fall of 1959 the fifth grade was added. By September of 1962, the school had added three additional grades, completing the eight grades that were part of the original goal. In 1964, the enrollment reached 350 students. The first eighth grade class of 34 students graduated on June 13, 1963. In 1983, Kindergarten was added to the school’s program. In 1991, nursery school programs for 3 and 4 year olds were added and in 1994, a Pre-Kindergarten program for older 4 year olds and young fives was established.
In 1985, the Parish Center was completed. This project added a large community room used by both the parish and the school to the school’s facility and also provided new offices, a classroom, a faculty room, a library, a religious education office, and a small meeting room. The changing needs of the school and parish resulted in additional renovations in 1995. Minor renovations were designed to make more efficient use of the physical space added in 1985.
Additional renovations to the library and science laboratory were completed in the summer of 2010, followed by a grand opening on August 30.
curriculum standards, consistent with the State of Connecticut standards, are followed for the teaching of all secular subject areas. St. Mary School offers studies in the following major subjects:
Fall sports: cross country, field hockey, soccer, baseball clinic, golf, rugby
Winter sports: basketball, cheerleading
Spring sports: gymnastics, jump rope, running, volleyball
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
located in Simsbury, Connecticut
Simsbury, Connecticut
Simsbury is a suburban town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 23,234 at the 2000 census. The town was incorporated as Connecticut's twenty-first town in May 1670.-Early history:...
, USA. It is the only Catholic school for grades K-8 in the Farmington Valley
Farmington Valley
The Farmington Valley is located west of Hartford, Connecticut in Hartford and Litchfield Counties. It is defined by the Farmington River, which runs through it....
.
St. Mary's School is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges
New England Association of Schools and Colleges
The New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. is the U.S. regional accreditation association providing educational accreditation for all levels of education, from pre-kindergarten to the doctoral level, in the six-state New England region. It also provides accreditation for some...
(the last reaccreditation was in 2008) and the Connecticut State Department of Education.
History
St. Mary School was built as a result of a need for Catholic education in the Farmington Valley. This need was recognized by the Pastor at that time, Father John Weldon.On September 23, 1957, St. Mary School opened to 98 children enrolled in grades 1–3. The opening had been delayed for two weeks to allow for completion of the building. Classes were held from 8:30 to 12:30 for several weeks so that further construction could be completed. Archbishop Henry J. O’Brien dedicated the school and blessed the cornerstone on November 30, 1957. He was assisted by the Pastor, Father John Weldon and the Assistant Pastor Father Theodore Raczynski.
In its first year, the school was staffed by four Felician Sisters
Felician Sisters
The Sisters of St. Felix of Cantalice, or Felician Sisters, are one branch of the Third Order of St. Francis. The active-contemplative order was founded in Warsaw, Poland, in 1855, by Sophia Truszkowska, and named for a shrine of St. Felix, a 16th century Franciscan saint especially devoted to...
: Sister Mary Florentine, Superior and Principal; Sister Mary Gabriel, Sister Mary Martha and Sister Mary Eymard. The Felician Sisters continued to serve St. Mary School for the next twenty years until June of 1977. The school’s first lay principal, Elizabeth Molloy of Somers, was appointed in 1977.
Fourth grade was added in 1958 and planning for a second unit of the school, to house grades 5 through 8 began immediately. In the fall of 1959 the fifth grade was added. By September of 1962, the school had added three additional grades, completing the eight grades that were part of the original goal. In 1964, the enrollment reached 350 students. The first eighth grade class of 34 students graduated on June 13, 1963. In 1983, Kindergarten was added to the school’s program. In 1991, nursery school programs for 3 and 4 year olds were added and in 1994, a Pre-Kindergarten program for older 4 year olds and young fives was established.
In 1985, the Parish Center was completed. This project added a large community room used by both the parish and the school to the school’s facility and also provided new offices, a classroom, a faculty room, a library, a religious education office, and a small meeting room. The changing needs of the school and parish resulted in additional renovations in 1995. Minor renovations were designed to make more efficient use of the physical space added in 1985.
Additional renovations to the library and science laboratory were completed in the summer of 2010, followed by a grand opening on August 30.
Curriculum
The diocesanRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford is a particular church of the Latin Rite in Hartford, Litchfield and New Haven counties in Connecticut. The archdiocese includes about 700,000 Catholics, more than 500 priests, 216 parishes and almost 300 deacons. This is roughly one-half the population of...
curriculum standards, consistent with the State of Connecticut standards, are followed for the teaching of all secular subject areas. St. Mary School offers studies in the following major subjects:
Religion
Catholic doctrine and tradition, Bible study, social justice, preparation for the reception of the Sacraments of Reconciliation, and Eucharist. Liturgical services are held each month for the entire school community.Language arts
Reading, English, spelling, vocabulary, composition, library skills, appreciation of literature.Handwriting
Students in grades 4 through 8 are expected to submit all handwritten work in cursive or manuscript using the Zaner-Bloser handwriting method.Computer literacy
Word processing, database, spreadsheets, web design, integration with curricular subjects.Arts
The arts are an integral part of the curriculum at the school, with choices including music, visual arts, performing arts, and band. Some groups perform regularly both on and off campus.Athletics
It is the philosophy of St. Mary School to be committed to providing relevant educational, fitness-based sport activities in its athletic program. St. Mary’s offers a wide variety of sports for students during the school year.Fall sports: cross country, field hockey, soccer, baseball clinic, golf, rugby
Winter sports: basketball, cheerleading
Spring sports: gymnastics, jump rope, running, volleyball