Mission Statement

St. Mary's Catholic School is a community of teachers, staff, parents, and parish family joined in partnership to educate our children in Catholic faith and values.Our parish school strives to create an environment of academic excellence built upon Christian spirituality for the children of Mansfield and the surrounding communities. We are committed to giving children the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and develop the skills needed to attain their full potential as individuals, and as informed, responsible, and caring citizens. As a school community, we nurture and encourage our students to serve others as modeled by Christ.
 

Philosophy

The St. Mary's School community is dedicated to fostering the student’s growth emotionally, intellectually, physically, spiritually, and socially. Catholic faith is integrated into the academic curriculum and daily experience. Developing students’ integrity, respect, self-motivation, service, and a love for learning is a priority. We believe in giving children the opportunity to develop the skills and ambition to attain their full potential as individuals, and as informed, responsible, and caring citizens.

The best learning takes place in an atmosphere of respect and acceptance. Each person should respect the rights of another and take one’s responsibilities seriously. Teachers have a vocation to guide and teach. Students have a right to learn and grow. All behavior and language will respect these rights. Jesus said that we should treat others the way we would like to be treated. At St. Mary's Catholic School, we live the Christian way.
 

History

In 1994, in the midst of the parish’s celebration of its centennial, then Bishop of Fall River, Massachusetts, Sean P. O’Malley, OFM Cap, invited the parish to consider opening a parish school. Plans were already being made to expand the existing Parish Center to accommodate a fast-growing religious education program. Then Pastor, Rev. Peter Graziano convened a committee appropriately named COPE (Committee on Parish Expansion) to assist in the modification of the plans to accommodate a school.

COPE, with the help of a statistician from a local college, developed a feasibility study, the results of which showed a tremendous desire for a school. Once COPE finished its work, new Pastor, Rev. George Bellenoit formed three new committees. These committees would focus on 1) fundraising (managing the capital campaign) 2) building (working with the architect/builder to complete a needs assessment), and 3) school planning (planning for opening day). Each committee was distinct and communications between them was critical and ongoing.

The dedication of the Pastor, the work of the committees, and the support of many generous parishioners led to groundbreaking in June 2000. Many individuals, families, and local businesses gave time, talent, and treasure to the building of a beautiful, state of the art facility and to the development of a safe and comfortable environment where students can flourish. Many have been the hands and feet of Christ in serving the mission of the Church at St. Mary. “Go and teach all Nations.” was engraved on the cornerstone of the building. The dedication of the building included participation of adults and children involved in the ministries that gather in the new education center.

St. Mary Catholic School opened its doors wide in a warm welcome for its inaugural year in September 2002. The school adds a new dimension to the parish, and the parish makes this school unique and special.

In 2002-2003, the school opened with seventy-four students in kindergarten through grade four, and a staff of fourteen (five full-time Teachers, five part-time Teachers, three support staff, and one administrator). At this time the school now serves two hundred and fifty students in Preschool through Grade Eight with a total staff of thirty-five.