First Grade – Essential Employee Appreciation

St. Mary’s Academy First Grade students created a bulletin board in honor of “essential workers”.

In addition, all students were encouraged to dress as an “essential worker” in honor of those who have served during the pandemic, as we celebrated vocations during National Catholic Schools Week.

During NCSW, each year, one day is dedicated to Celebrating Vocations.

St. Mary’s Academy’s theme for this day in 2021 was “Committing to Lifelong Service”.

My ten years spent at St. Mary’s Academy was the foundation of my academic excellence and leadership skills. Some of my favorite memories are the times spent in family groups, both as a younger member and later as a family leader. These experiences made St. Mary’s feel like one large family taking care of each other. Every teacher pushed me to learn more and grow beyond what I once thought I was capable of. These skills carried me right into high school where I successfully completed advanced placement and upper-division classes. I look forward to using all that I have learned in my Catholic education as I head to college as an Elementary Education major.

– Spencer Coburn, SMA Graduate 2017

I am currently a student at Witman College. While attending St. Mary’s, I consistently felt challenged in my schoolwork. Not only was the classwork challenging, but the teacher-to-student ratio was lower than that of the public school, which allowed for more personalized assistance in the classroom. Once I started my freshman year in high school, I realized that the high school classes I was taking were easier than those at St. Mary’s. This prompted me to enroll in honors and AP classes in order to maintain the level of education that was provided to me by St. Mary’s. In turn, taking these upper-level classes helped to prepare me for college.

– Sofia Blair, SMA Graduate 2016

St. Mary’s helped me to grow from a shy pre-k student into a confident 8th grader who was both academically and emotionally ready for high school. The teachers and staff are so compassionate and work to tailor the curriculum to the needs of each student. St. Mary’s provided me with the tools to succeed in high school, and beyond.

– Katie Burns, SMA Graduate 2012