St. Mary Catholic School, founded in 1928, is a parish school located in Griffith, Indiana serving 300+ students from pre-school to eighth grade. Supported by the St. Mary Church community, the school is one of ten academic institutions administered by the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration of Mishawaka, Indiana.

We are accredited by the State of Indiana with a First Class commission and our policies and practices are approved by the Office of the Superintendent of Schools of the Diocese of Gary, Indiana. We are members of the National Catholic Education Association and the Indiana Non-Public Education Association.

St. Mary Catholic School works in partnership with parents and the church community to offer a challenging educational program well complemented with extracurricular activities. The richness and power of the school's tradition nurtures the growth of each student's mind, body, and spirit.

OUR MISSION:

St Mary Catholic School works in partnership with parents, and exists to help students realize their potential in Jesus Christ. The students are encouraged and supported to grow spiritually, academically, physically and socially through:

• Integration of secular knowledge with the teachings of Jesus Christ.
• Promotion of academic excellence.
• Recognition of, and growth in, a sense of self-worth.
• Treatment of other individuals in a loving and caring environment.

OUR PHILOSOPHY:

St. Mary Catholic School is a community of worship in Christ, open to growth toward fuller humanness through a living faith, hope and love. The goal of this community is to create a Christian environment wherein the child learns to integrate secular knowledge with the life and teaching of Jesus Christ. Achievement of this goal will be best accomplished through mutual warmth and friendliness in an atmosphere of self-awareness and awareness of others.

In order to accomplish this stated purpose of the St. Mary Catholic School community:

• Opportunities for prayer and participation in the Liturgical life of the Church will be many and varied.
• Students will develop with the knowledge and understanding of their Faith through daily participation in religion classes.
• Courtesy and respect for one another will be encouraged by word and example.
• Emphasis will be placed on developing self-disciplined and responsible young people.
• The curriculum will be updated periodically in order to assure the spiritual, intellectual, social and physical growth of each individual.

MORE ABOUT OUR SCHOOL:

Our Motto:

Saint Mary Catholic School's motto of 'Partners in Catholic Education' reminds us that a truly Catholic education is the result of the cooperative effort of the parish community, school staff, parents and students. At St. Mary Catholic School, we understand that a child's moral and spiritual foundation is built first in the home. In partnership with parents, we strive to reinforce and integrate those values in all learning experiences.

Parental Involvement:

Consistent with our emphasis on partnership, St. Mary Catholic School welcomes and encourages parental participation in all school matters. Parents/guardians are welcome to assist in classrooms as helpers, serve on volunteer committees and attend all events. Parent volunteers may serve on the Educational Advisory Board which supports and aids the Pastor and Principal in policy development, finance, recruitment and public relations. A very active parent organization, the St. Mary Home and School Association, sponsors family activities throughout the school year and raises funds for special school projects. The athletic and band associations also offer involvement opportunities. Above all, families are encouraged to attend and actively participate in religious events and service projects.

Faculty and Staff:

The school is staffed by teachers who have both credentials and commitment. All are state licensed, all have over five years teaching experience, and most have a Master's Degree. Support personnel (music, physical education, as well as computer teachers, librarians, and teacher aides) assist and enhance the full-time staff. The average class size is about 20 students.

Special Services:

In addition to the core curriculum and extracurricular enrichment programs, we offer special services such as speech therapy, tutoring, health screening, and academic and psychological testing for learning disabilities. Bus transportation is available as well as a hot lunch program.

Facilities:

Our facilities include:  15 classrooms, a newly remodeled computer lab with Internet access, central library, band-music room, nurses' room and a gymnasium with meeting room and kitchen.