The public is invited to attend the St. Mary’s Catholic School Open House on Tuesday, March 11 from 5:30-7 p.m. New student registration begins March 2 for the 2020-2021 school year.
“With every year, St. Mary’s continues to expand and improve the educational opportunities,” said Principal Andrea Harrell. “Come see for yourself how the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) principles are infused daily in every classroom. We will also provide free pizza for the students and a chance to win a $500 tuition credit!”
Serving 3-year-olds through 12th grade students, the school maintains a standard of academic, athletic and spiritual excellence. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI), which are accreditation divisions of AdvancED, the school utilizes the latest smart technology, Google Education and Apple instruction across the curriculum and with all grade levels.
With a 99.99 percent graduation rate, and an average ACT score of 24, graduates are prepared for postsecondary college or careers. Credentialed and certified faculty members provide instruction in a smaller class-size environment that allows for more individualized attention.
The PreK3 and Pre-K program at St. Mary’s is the perfect place for young children to learn social skills, fine and gross motor skills, and basic preschool fundamentals, in a structured, yet fun environment. Through the use of specialized learning centers, field trips, SMART Board interaction, and computers, our preschoolers are introduced to basic STEAM principles throughout their day of ‘playing.’
The tradition of excellence is continued by the student athletes at St. Mary’s. As a member of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association, the school believes that athletics are designed to teach personal discipline and sportsmanship. A wide variety of varsity sports for boys and girls are offered including football, baseball, softball, basketball, track and cross country, tennis, golf, swimming, and weightlifting. A history of winning is a tradition among all sports.
Within the standards of academics and athletics are woven the Gospel teachings of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. Without the formation of goodness, all other standards pale in comparison. The religious formation offered to students of all faiths at St. Mary’s is the basis of all teachings and is imparted throughout the curriculum and the instructional day. Students display these teachings through weekly Mass, daily religion classes and prayer and a devotion of service to others.
“Another good thing about St. Mary’s is the high expectations we set for student behavior,” said Harrell. “Self-discipline is promoted, as well as leadership and moral values. We have very few discipline problems.”
St. Mary’s School has provided Catholic education for Natchitoches and the surrounding area since 1888, when five Sisters of Divine Providence came from San Antonio, Texas to establish a boarding and day academy for girls. Two years later, another high school for boys was established. In 1893, the two schools merged, incorporated as Saint Mary’s Academy. At the beginning of the second year, the new two-story brick Academy located at 212 Rue Touline, had an enrollment of 100 students and a faculty of seven nuns.
The school continued to grow at that location until it had outgrown its space. On February 12, 1967, three hundred and forty-seven students and eight Sisters of Divine Providence moved into the new St. Mary’s School on East 5th Street, where it is presently located.
Pictured: The Marian grotto from the old Academy was moved in 2008 from its location on Rue Touline to the present location of St. Mary’s School on East Fifth Street in Natchitoches.
