Update on Our Wonderful School

09-17-2023Pastor's LetterVery Rev. Richard C. Wilson, VF, Pastor

Dear Friends in Christ,

Visible progress continues to be made at the construction site for our parish school’s new STEM Center! The old concrete foundation was demolished, and site prep has now begun! Besides the visible progress that is taking place, our school administration and staff has been busy building our expanded curriculum that will prepare our students for the technological world of tomorrow.

Saint Mary Help of Christians Catholic School not only offers the important foundational core courses in math, English, science, social studies, and religion that we are known for throughout the community, we also offer many “specials” including Spanish, German, PE, Library, STEAM, Art, and Music. Our graduates can earn up to four high school credits that the area public high schools accept.

To allow students to explore the subjects they are most passionate about, our School has introduced several elective classes at the junior high level including Robotics, Competitive Robotics, Future City, 3D Printing, Coding, Self-Sustaining Gardening, Independent Art, Book Studies, Personal Finance, Calligraphy, Creative Writing, Independent Design, Engineering Design, Research, Recycling, Ted Talks & Podcasts, Health, and Public Speaking.

Looking to the future, as the new building is completed, our School is exploring new curriculum standards in Cybersecurity, AI, and will utilize our new outdoor lab. Lower grade levels are also expanding their curriculums to take advantage of the opportunities that our new space will provide with hands-on learning!

Our initiative to increase enrollment continues with the introduction of monthly Open Houses! Our PTO will host an Open House on Friday, September 29, 2023, from 9 am to 11 am. Please drop by the School; they would love to give you a tour! All members of the parish are invited. Our parish school is a vital ministry of our parish, so please help us spread the news to your friends, family, and neighbors about the great things happening there.

Also, our School’s hard-working PTO Board is planning many exciting easy and fun fundraisers for this year. Funds raised are used to support our teachers and students in ways such as supporting teachers with gifts, raising money for the library, throwing our annual events such as Gingerbread Day, and contributing to the school budget to help keep our tuition down for all families. Please considersupporting our School through their Charleston Wrapping Paper Fundraiser, their monthly restaurant nights, and their SCRIP gift card program. And if you shop at Publix, don’t forget to join Publix Parents, because they share generously with our School.

Our St. Mary’s students set aside time for adoration each week. May we pray and work to support our very special Catholic school.

All the best…in Christ,

Father Wilson