Times Chronicle & Public Spirit
St. Mary Catholic School recognized for excellence
Set on a quiet landscape in Lower Frederick Township, Montgomery County, near historic Schwenksville, you will find the picturesque St. Mary Catholic School.
St. Mary has served the surrounding Perkiomen Valley and beyond for over 60 years. What began as a simple K-8 elementary school has grown into an Educational Center, providing preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds through Agnus Dei Academy, as well as evening Catholic education through P.R.E.P (Parish Religious Education Program).
The parish school has gone through many changes, with the 20212022 school year being no exception. St. Mary opened its doors to in-person learning for the 2021-2022 school year, continuing to navigate the ever-changing recommendations during the pandemic while keeping exceptional education at its helm.
In September 2021, the United States Department of Education announced that St. Mary earned the honor of being a national Blue Ribbon school.
This recognition “affirms the hard work of educators, families and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content,” a media release from the department said.
St. Mary also was named a school of Distinguished Instruction by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The year’s accolades were completed with the reaccreditation from Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
But St. Mary is so much more than titles and honors. It is a community, forged on gospel values, with educating the whole child at its forefront. Agnus Dei Academy teachers and parents partner to inspire 3- and 4-year-old children to grow spiritually, emotionally and academically. Students begin their love of learning with a team of caring and experienced
Catholic educators who have fine-tuned curriculums to prepare children to become successful students, and ultimately, lifelong learners.
Agnus Dei Academy students move on to St. Mary Catholic School for kindergarten through eighth grade. The foundation of elementary education starts with a kindergarten program bolstered by daily religion, reading, writing,
grammar, math, Latin and Spanish classes. Academics are supported by continuous exposure to fine art, music, performing arts, physical education, technology and STEAM.
Students attend Mass regularly while also receiving a comprehensive Catholic education. English Language Arts (ELA) and penmanship are areas of study all K-8 students focus on throughout their day, as
well as math. Honors math is available for the students that seek an accelerated curriculum within the upper school (grades 5-8). Spanish and ecclesiastical Latin are practiced on a daily basis through prayer; students also study conversational Spanish from kindergarten through eighth grade.
In the fine arts department, students express their talents in a variety
of areas while having the opportunity to be showcased, not only throughout the school, but throughout the community as well. As students advance through the grades, fine art merges with technology to present the students with media arts, a course typically only available in high school.
During the 2021-2022 school year, student works were showcased at multiple