On Campus

Welcome to St. Mary’s Academy

Sr. Jennie It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the 2007-08 school year. I hope that you and your family are having a safe, relaxing and enjoyable summer and anticipating the many exciting opportunities that the upcoming school year will present at St. Mary’s Academy. I am enthusiastically awaiting the start of the new school year and beginning our journey together.

The building of our temporary campus on Chef Menteur Blvd is progressing steadily and we are working hard to make the transition to our former campus smooth and seamless. In an effort to ensure that everything is in place for our students, we have adjusted the calendar slightly and moved the first full day of school to after the Labor Day holiday. For your convenience, we have enclosed a listing oftentative dates to remember.

We at St. Mary’s Academy are committed to your child’s educational excellence, promoted through a diverse curriculum, a dedicated and knowledgeable staff, and a school/community partnership. Collaboration, cooperation and open communication between home and school remain the keys to building a strong foundation for a successful school year. We encourage and invite your continual involvement at school which will help to build a positive and successful educational experience for your son or daughter.

Understanding and agreeing to adhere to school rules and policy are also paramount to creating a climate that is conducive to learning and growth. Parents, teachers and administration must work harmoniously together, on one accord, to ensure that students understand clearly the importance of not only following rules but also respect for authority. This includes making sure that all students come to school each and everyday in full uniform, with clean shoes, correct accessories and hair color.

As evidenced from the student interviews held recently, our students both want and need structure and discipline. They also desire consistency and want to be treated equally.

We both value and respect the feedback from our student body and will continue to raise the bar of excellence at our school. Likewise, our expectations for our students will always remain high for we know that their potential is limitless.

A solid elementary education begins with a strong foundation in the core subjects English, Mathematics and Science. The SMA staff is dedicated to making sure that every student is equipped with the skills they need to master their courses. However, we need your assistance also in this process. Please take time to read with your son or daughter every evening, and be sure to ask them if they have homework. Throughout the year, teachers will be sending home regular progress reports and getting in touch with you regarding your child’s progress. We are also pleased to announce that we will be using Edline this year which will enable students and parents to view grades, attendance and homework via private, secure web pages. You are also encouraged to maintain communication with your child’s teacher. Please feel free to call the teacher before or after school hours. If the teacher is not available, just leave a voice mail message, and your message will be returned as soon as possible.

Working together as a team, we can make this school year one of the best yet. We are privileged to count you among our Maryite family and look forward to seeing you on opening day.

May God continue to bless you richly.

Sr. Jennie Jones, SSF
Principal