1. How does SMS maintain its Catholic Identity and what does the  religious            education program consist of? 

    SMS sets a priority of  hiring practicing Catholics as classroom teachers.  All  classroom religion teachers at SMS participate in ongoing Catechist training to maintain their Catechist Certification.  Religion is taught to all students daily.  Each school day is started and ended by student/faculty  led school wide prayer.  All students attend daily Mass at least once per week.  All students attend a monthly school Mass.

     2.  What is the accreditation status of SMS?

The Florida Catholic Conference accredits SMS.  This accreditation body sets standards for all Catholic Schools in the state of Florida and the Diocese of Savannah.  SMS has met FCC standards each year since the school’s initial accreditation in 1998.  During the 2003-2004 school year, SMS (one of three Diocese of Savannah Schools chosen)  began to implement a School Improvement Plan as part of the FCC’s ongoing accreditation process.  During the 2004-2005 school year, SMS was reaccredited by the FCC for another five years.  St. Mary's was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and School (SACS) in 2009 and is presently preparing for reaccreditation by FCC. 

          3.  How do teachers and staff members communicate with SMS parents

      Prior to school opening each year, an information night for all new SMS parents is held to 
     discuss school policies.  All  parents and students are provided with a copy of the current
     SMS parent/student handbook which outlines policies and programs.  This handbook is
     also posted on this website.  At the beginning of the school year a “back to school” night for
     parents is held so that teachers can share student academic and behavioral expectations
     directly with parents.  At the end of the first quarter, each parent is invited to attend a
     conference with their child’s teachers to discuss the child’s academic and spiritual
     progress as well as grades on the  child’s report card.  Kindergarten through sixth grade
     teachers provide a daily homework “hotline” that students and parents can access after  
     school hours.  A mid quarter progress report is issued to all students four times per year
     and a report card issued at the end of each quarter.  Parents are encouraged to schedule
     conferences with their children’s teachers whenever needed.   Teachers also schedule
     conferences with parents  when needed.   Many teachers provide a weekly newsletter
     outlining class activities and alerting parents of upcoming events.  A new online site,
     www.edline.net, is now being used which allows parents to see their students grades as
     well as information from the teachers.  All progress reports are posted online.  Reports
     cards are still sent home at this time.  We are also using School Reach, which is allows us
     to send phone/email messages to all parents within a few minutes.  This is especially
     helpful in case of unscheduled school closings, important information for the parents, etc.

 

         4.  How does SMS keep the school curriculum up to date?

 At SMS teachers are the curriculum.  Teachers use their expertise, experiences, textbooks, resource people, field trips, and curriculum guides to provide the best Catholic education possible.  All teachers are required to be Georgia State certified.  As part of maintaining certification, teachers must earn six graduate hours or ten Staff Development Units (SDU’s) every five years.  SMS is required to submit a staff development plan to the Superintendent of Schools annually.  In addition, all teachers are required to attend a two day Diocese of Savannah Staff Development Training Program.  Curriculum guides outline Diocese of Savannah expectations of skills to be taught and mastered at each grade level in each subject area.  Curriculum Guide revision at the Diocesan level is an ongoing  process within each subject area.   The Math and Science Curriculum Guides were revised during the 2000-2001 school year, the Language Arts Curriculum Guide was revised during the 2001-2002 school year, the Social Studies and Religion Curriculum Guides we revised in 2002-2003, the Math Curriculum was revised in 2007-2008, the Technology/Media Curriculum was revised in the 2008-2009 school year.  Spanish classes are taught to Kindergarten through eighth grades.

  

        5.  What part does technology play in the SMS curriculum?

 SMS has over one hundred fifty networked computers with Internet access in threelabs, thirty classrooms, media center, administrative offices, and cafeteria.  The Norton anti-virus program and the N2H2 88 Filtering program protect all computers.  A part time technician maintains the SMS network, repairs hardware and installs software.   The SMS technology plan includes the acquisition of software, prioritizing the replacement of hardware, and in-service for staff members.  During the 2002-2003 school year, each staff member received fifty hours of IN-TECH technology training.  With the financial backing of an extremely generous donor, all classrooms in grades K - 8 have computers and a Promethian ActivBoard installed by October, 2005.  This technology will provide the students with a new hands-on learning tool.  in 2009, General Dynamic Corp. donated 30 computers and we were able to establish a lab in the media center for students and teachers to use.

 

       6.  What textbooks are used at SMS and is there a plan in place to replace textbooks as they wear out or become outdated?

 The current plan is replace textbooks the year following  the Diocese of Savannah revision of each curriculum area.   For the 2002-2003 school year, new math and science textbooks were purchased.    For the 2005-2006 school year, a new language arts program will be purchased for Kindergarten through eighth grade.

  Subject                  Publisher                               Series

 English                   MacMillan                            Language Arts Today

 Literature               Scott Foresman                 America Reads

 Math                        Prentice Hall                      Math Tools for Success (6, 7, & 8)

 Math                        Harcourt Brace                  Math Advantage (1-5)

 Math                        Houghton Mifflin                 Algebra Book I

 Phonics                  Sadlier                                 Phonics

 Reading                 D. C. Heath                         Heath Reading

 Reading                 Abrams & Co. Inc.              The Land of the Letter People (K)

 Religion                  RCL                                      Faith First (K-6)

 Religion                 Sadlier                                  Faith & Witness (7 & 8)

 Science                 Prentice Hall                        Science Explorer

 Social Studies      MacMillian                            The World Around Us

Vocabulary             Sadlier                                  Vocabulary Workshop

Vocabulary             Educators Publishing           Worldly Wise                                              

 

 

      7.  What is the teacher/student ratio at each grade level?

 Grade Level                Number of Students             Number of Teachers                 Aides  

Kindergarten                                   43                                            3                                          3

First Grade                                      47                                            3                                          1

Second Grade                                53                                            3

Third Grade                                     46                                            3

Fourth Grade                                   55                                            2    

Fifth Grade                                      52                                            2

Sixth Grade                                      49                                            2

Seventh Grade                                42                                             2

Eighth Grade                                   50                                             3

 

An Art teacher, Computer lab teacher, Music teacher,  PE teacher, Media Specialist, Spanish instructor, intermediate lab assistant and an intermediate math/language art teachers complete the teaching staff.  In addition there is a full time Health room assistant on duty.

  

        8.  What is the projected enrollment for future years? 

 There are no plans for expansion of St. Mary on the Hill School because of property limitations.  The maximum number of students per grade level K-8 is sixty or a school total of five hundred forty.  Kindergarten through third grade have three class sections each.  Fourth through sixth grade have two sections each, but have an additional math and language arts  teacher for the department.  Seventh and eighth grades have three class sections each.

 

       9.  What is the current state of the SMS facilities and are their plans for expansion?

       In August of 2002, a five million dollar renovation and building project was completed.  All   classrooms received new windows, lights, ceilings, carpet, HVAC systems, and paint.  A new media center and after school program area was created in the previous St. Joseph’s Convent.  Also, a new state of the art gymnasium and cafeteria was constructed.   An excellent maintenance staff beautifully maintains the facility.   Because of the limitation of land, there are no plans to expand the current physical plant.

 

      10.  What sports activities are available for SMS students?

 Students in grades sixth through eighth who maintain passing grades in all subjects are able to participate in a variety of SMS sports activities.  Activities include boys and girls soccer,  boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls tennis, golf, cheerleading, girls volleyball, and boys baseball.  SMS is a member of the CSRA Private Schools League.   The sports program is funded as part of  the school budget and is subsidized by basketball gate and concession revenue.   Uniforms are provided by SMS with assistance from benefactors and are replaced on an as needed basis.

 

      11.   What extracurricular activities are available for SMS students?

 Extracurricular activities include chorale/drama, sports activities, Safety Patrol, PAGE Academic Team, Junior Beta Club, Student Council, and Science Club..

 

12.  Is there a breakfast/lunch program?

A hot lunch or salad bar is available everyday.  Students may purchase a meal ticket for $13.75 per week up to 4 weeks in advance.  Cash is not accepted for a daily meal, a meal ticket must be purchased.  We participate in the US Government Lunch program and free or reduced cost lunch is provided for those who meet the government's criteria.  We do not have a breakfast program.  Students may also bring their lunch.

 

13.  Is there an after school care program?

     Before school and after school programs are provided for students on regularly scheduled school days.  The Before School program begins at 7:00 am and ends at 7:45 am.  The fee is $3.00 per day for one child or $4.00 for two or more children.  The After School Program begins at dismissal and ends at 6:00 pm.  The students are taken from their classroom to After School by the After School personnel.  They have supervised play on the playground (when weather permits), a snack, and supervised homework and free time.  There are at least 2 adult supervisors at all times.  The After School program is available on a weekly or drop in basis.  Any student who has not been picked up 10 minutes after dismissal will be taken to the After School area.  Students must be signed out with one of the After School teachers by the person picking them up.  Only persons authorized by the parent in writing will be allowed to pick up a student.  The cost  is $45.00 per student per week ($180.00 per month) for regular attendees and $11.00 per student per day for drop ins.  If a student is only in After School for less than one hour, the charge is $5.00.

 

14.  Is there an emergency/disaster plan in place for the school?                                    

      SMS does have plans in place in the event an emergency.  These plans cover a variety of scenarios such as fire, weather, civil disturbance, bomb threat, and hazardous materials release.   The school has a monitored fire alarm notification system in place which automatically notifies the fire department in case of a fire.  Fire drills are held on a monthly basis. Tornado drills are also held twice a year.