We believe that a formal education consists of a recognized curriculum of study, as well as the development of a well-rounded individual with a strong self-concept, respect for others, a commitment to service, and an abiding love for God.

Mission Statement
Our commitment at St. Mary's School is to the student. We aim to create a learning atmosphere that enables each individual student to develop into an effective human being in both his life now and in eternity. Students' potentials (spiritual, moral, social, intellectual, physical, and emotional) are developed and strengthened through their interaction with people, ideas, and things in the school environment.
We believe that the Christian school is an extension of the Christian home so that the child lives his formative years in a God-centered environment where values are relayed by example as well as by word. Therefore, students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that gives glory to our Lord.

Philosophy
"Since every man (woman) of whatever race, condition, and age, is endowed with the dignity of a person, he (she) has an inalienable right to an education corresponding to his (her) proper destiny and suited to his (her) ancestral heritage." DOCUMENTS OF VATICAN COUNCIL II

The philosophy of Catholic Education, set forth in the Document of Christian Education of Vatican II, is the standard for St. Mary's School in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.

We, at St. Mary's School, believe that our prime educational concern is to offer a Catholic value-oriented education wherein the individual's inherent capacities for self-determination are transformed into habit of action, feeling, and thought. It is our purpose to create a healthy learning atmosphere wherein the individual may develop into an effective human being, for to be human is to search for life's meaning which is intimately related to the mystery of God most fully revealed in Jesus Christ. We will

• strive to be a supportive faculty and accept each child for his/her uniqueness;
  
• provide relevant learning experiences which encourage self motivation;
  
• establish a definite routine which allows for flexibility;
  
• be aware of the child's physical needs.

Goals
The teachers at St. Mary's School strive to provide a Christian environment where Catholic basic values are taught by example as well as word.

The teachers at St. Mary's School stress student confidence and self-discipline by setting goals that foster creativity, build positive self-images, develop talents and interests, promote independent questioning, and encourage involvement in current issues.

Objectives

• To foster a Christian understanding of each person's responsibilities for one another.
• To develop a Christian understanding toward other cultures, people, and beliefs.
• To instruct each student in the truths of the Catholic faith, develop habits of prayer and worship and an understanding of his/her role in the Pilgrim Church.
• To strive to develop the intellectual powers of each student to his/her maximum.
• To give each student positive recognition.
• To provide each student with choices and responsibilities for his/her own learning activities.
• To provide experiences whereby students may gain insights into themselves.
• To promote physical fitness and encourage habits which build and maintain good health.
• To offer experiences through which each student can develop an appreciation of his/her aesthetic senses. To guide the student toward that spirit of freedom which recognizes self-discipline and personal responsibility.
• To provide opportunities and experiences which emphasize the heritage, the responsibilities, and privileges of American citizenship.
• To provide for richer participation in parish life through educational assemblies, special liturgies, and social activities.
• To develop creativity in thinking, writing, speaking, and the arts, as well as to provide experiences that will acquaint the child with the beauty of our culture as reflected in drama, music, and art.
• To develop an understanding of our modern civilization and a knowledge of the interdependence of all people.
• To assist each individual in acquiring good work habits, thoroughness, accuracy, and cooperation.

Curriculum
INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS: The instructional programs of St. Mary's School include religious education, language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, history, fine arts, and physical education.

DEPARTMENTALIZATION: Departmentalization of subjects for the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grades, will be considered on a yearly basis and the availability of appropriate certification for the teachers of the seventh and eighth grades. The primary grades will be self-contained.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: Holy Mass: Students help prepare and participate actively in the Liturgy for an all school mass on Friday at 8:00 A.M. In addition, paired grade levels will attend mass on alternate Tuesdays or Wednesdays at 8:00 A.M. throughout the school year. Parents are encouraged to attend the children's liturgy.

Kindergarten The children are opened to the discovery of the goodness and beauty of God as reflected in their world and helped to experience this world within the Christian community.

Grade One The children are introduced to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They come to think of God in a personal way as they explore their world, themselves and the family of God.

Grade Two The children begin with a growing awareness of belonging, or loving and being loved, becoming more sensitive to sin, and the need for forgiveness. They are introduced to the principal parts of the Mass, the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, and the partaking of the Eucharist. Children in Grade Two receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist.

Grade Three The children become aware of the beginnings of the Church, the coming of the Holy Spirit, the sense of community, mission, and service which is the Church.

Grade Four The children are helped to grow in Christian moral life and to realize that Christian life is a life of love.

Grade Five The children discover that we celebrate, through the sacraments, what Jesus is doing for us and with us in the community of the Church and to make us one with Him and one another.

Grade Six The children will gain a sense of their roots in the covenant made with Jewish people through the study of the Old Testament.

Grade Seven The students will gain a deeper understanding of our religion, beliefs, and traditions (God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, sacraments, church, morality, Bible, and prayers and precepts.)

Grade Eight The eighth-grade religion curriculum builds and expands on the Grade Seven format. Students in grade eight receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.

LANGUAGE ARTS: The language arts program develops skills in and creates an appreciation for reading, listening, speaking, and writing. Instruction and activities are designed to insure sequential, cumulative, and integrated learning in the subject areas of Reading, English , and Spelling.

MATHEMATICS: The mathematics program encourages learning by stressing everyday uses of mathematics in realistic situations. The students learn how to discover a problem, plan a mathematical solution, solve the problem through computation, and then check for accuracy. Drill and practice are provided to reinforce learning. Pre-Algebra and Algebra I are offered for 7th and 8th grade students.

SCIENCE: The knowledge and skills of the natural sciences will enable the students to better understand themselves, others, the world in which they live, and their Creator. Students learn to apply the scientific method, skill, knowledge and understanding of science in life situations. They also develop habits of careful observation that enables them to plan, execute, and demonstrate meaningful projects.

SOCIAL STUDIES: The social studies curriculum focuses attention on the social, geographic, economic, and political activities in the past, present, and emerging future and its effect on our lifestyle today. Human activities are emphasized in the study of interaction among people, between people and institutions, between people and the earth, and between people and value systems.

MUSIC: Traditional music classes, are offered to all students. All 5th grade students participate in chorus and is offered to all students in grades 6 - 8. Band is offered as an extra-curricular activity for grades 4-8.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION: Students must participate in PE classes. A student may be excused from physical participation in PE with a parent note that is good for PE classes only during the week the note is received. For extended periods of non-participation (more than one week), a doctor's excuse is required. Either note must be turned in to the classroom teacher who will send it to the office for recording and forwarding to the PE teacher.

SPECIAL EDUCATION: St. Mary's School parents may apply for Special Education Services for Edwardsville School District #7 if they live within the boundaries of District #7. Edwardsville School District 7 provides a Speech/Language therapist to eligible students at private/parochial schools within District 7 boundaries. District 7 also provides a Special Education facilitator who provides consultation and in-services to St. Mary's staff.

HEALTH EDUCATION: General health, sex, drug and alcohol education will be incorporated into the science and religion curriculum. Permission forms must be signed in order for students in grades 5 - 8 to participate in sex education classes. Prior to beginning the curriculum, teachers will send a note home announcing the date of classes. Grade Five students participate in the Edwardsville Police Department's DARE program; Grades Kindergarten, Two, and Four participate in an abbreviated DARE program.

LIBRARY: The library of St. Mary's is an integral part of the school. Students are given the opportunity to check out books each week. A charge of a $.25 per week is required for overdue books. If any student has an overdue book, additional books may not be checked out until the book is returned and fines are paid. At the end of the school year, all books must be turned into the library and all fines paid. If books are not returned because they have been lost, a new copy will be purchased and the price of the new copy charged to the parents.

COMPUTER: St. Mary's School has an Internet accessible, networked computer lab. Students will receive computer instruction at least one time per week in the computer lab. Students who wish to use the Internet network must have an Internet Agreement form signed by a parent. Networked classrooms are equipped with a computer and a TV-VCR system to augment the grade level curriculum.