Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the current enrollment?
There are 435 students enrolled in grades K-8.
2. Does St. Mary limit classroom size?
Yes. There are three Kindergarten classrooms with a maximum of 20 students each.
Each kindergarten classroom has one teacher and one assistant.
Currently, there are two first grade classrooms with a maximum of 20 students each.
There is one teacher in each first grade classroom and a shared assistant. Grades 2 and 3 have three classrooms each with a maximum of 20 students per classroom. Grades 4 through 6 have two classrooms each with a maximum of 30 students per classroom. A third teacher, an intermediate reading and math teacher for grades 4 through 6, allows smaller class sizes for these core subjects. Grades 7 and 8 have three classrooms each with a maximum of 20 students per classroom.
3. How does St. Mary maintain its Catholic identity?
St. Mary sets a priority of hiring practicing Catholics as classroom teachers.
All classroom religion teachers 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 and attend a monthly all-school Mass.
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4. What does it mean to be a chool that is supported by a stewardship parish?
In 1995, our parish Church implemented a plan of Sacrificial Giving, making St. Mary on the
Hill Catholic Church a stewardship parish. Catholic education is the largest ministry of
this growing and vibrant parish. Our school is blessed with the generous outpouring of
support through parishioners’ time, talent and treasure stewardship way of life.
5. Who accredits St. Mary?
The Florida Catholic Conference (FCC) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) accredit St. Mary.
The FCC sets standards for all Catholic schools in the state of Florida and the Diocese of Savannah.
St. Mary has met FCC standards annually since the school’s initial accreditation in 1998. St. Mary earned its SACS accreditation in 2009 and is presently preparing for SACS reaccreditation as part of a Diocesan-wide process.
6. What curriculum does St. Mary follow?
St. Mary follows Diocese of Savannah curriculum guides. These guides detail expectations of skills to be
taught and mastered at each grade level in each subject area. St. Mary stays current by incorporating updates/changes no later than one year following any Diocese of Savannah curriculum changes.
Although we have curriculum guides, we believe our teachers are the curriculum.
Teachers use their expertise, experiences, textbooks, resource people, field trips, and the curriculum guides to provide the best Catholic education possible for our students.
7. What role does technology play in the curriculum?
St. Mary has over one hundred fifty networked computers with Internet access in four labs, 24 classrooms,
a media center, administrative offices, a religious education office and a cafeteria. The St. Mary technology plan includes the acquisition of software, prioritizing the replacement of hardware, and training for staff and faculty.
With the financial backing of an extremely generous donor, all classrooms in grades K-8 have computers and a Promethean Activboard. In 2009, General Dynamic Corp. donated 30 computers, and we established a lab in the media center for students and teachers to use.
8. How do parents and teachers communicate?
Many opportunities are available for parent-teacher communications. These opportunities include: e-mail, book bag mail, homework hotlines, classroom newsletters, new parent orientations, back-to-school night events, parent-teacher conferences, and progress reports.
We also use: Edline, an on-line resource which allows parents to see their students’ grades and progress reports as
well as information from the teachers; and School Reach, which allows St. Mary to quickly send phone/e-mail messages to all parents.
This is especially helpful in case of unscheduled school closings, important information for parents, etc.
9. Does St. Mary have a Resource Specialists on staff?
Yes. St. Mary has a full-time, highly qualified Reading Resource Specialist who works with students needing extra assistance.
10. Is there an Academic/Extracurricular Program?
Yes. St. Mary is active in and has earned recognition for outstanding performance in academic competitions. These opportunities include the PAGE Academic Bowl, the Future City Competition,
various literacy competitions, etc.
St. Mary Academic Program also includes Science Club and the Junior Beta Club. St. Mary extracurricular activities include Student Council, Chorale/Drama and Safety Patrol.
The academic program opportunities are generally available to students based on grade level and/or academic standing.
Cub, Boy and Girl Scouts are available through St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church.
11. Is there a Sports Program?
Yes. Students in Grades 6-8, who maintain passing grades in all subjects, can participate in a variety of sports. St. Mary is a member of the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) Private Schools League.
The Sports Program includes: boys and girls soccer, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls tennis, golf, cheerleading, girls volleyball, boys baseball, and girls softball.
12. Is there a lunch program?
Yes. We have a full-service cafeteria, and a hot lunch is available everyday. Students may purchase a meal ticket for $17.50 per week (up to 4 weeks in advance). Cash is not accepted for a daily meal; a meal ticket must be purchased. Students who bring their lunch may purchase milk (50 cents) with a milk ticket or cash. We participate in the U.S. Government Lunch program and a free or reduced cost lunch is provided for those who meet the government's criteria. We do not have a breakfast program.
13. Are there before-school and after-school care programs?
Yes. Before-school and after-school programs are provided for students on regularly scheduled school days. Both programs are held on the second floor above the school’s Library/Media Center.
The before-school program is an adult-supervised program that begins at 7:00 am and ends at 7:45 am. The students then proceed to their classrooms to start their school day. The fee is $3.00 per day for one child or $4.00 for two or more children.
The after-school program is an adult-supervised program that begins at dismissal (2:50 pm) and ends at 6:00 pm. After-school personnel take the students from their classrooms to the after-school location. The students have supervised play on the playground (weather permitting), 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 school 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 after-school program 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. What is the current state of St. Mary campus?
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 campus.
15. What is VIRTUS training for school volunteers?
VIRTUS is a program focused on protecting our children. This program is required for any adult who volunteers their time in any Catholic school, including field trips, etc. The VIRTUS program helps participants understand why wrongdoings happen to children and how we can be more aware to protect our children. In addition to VIRTUS, all school volunteers are required to have a background check. VIRTUS training and background checks are also required for all school staff and faculty.
16. What security measures are in place to protect students?
All doors and exterior gates are locked during the school day. All visitors must enter the school through the main entrance. The main entrance is automatic and can only be opened by our receptionist or school administration. Monitored security cameras are in place at major entrance/exit locations.
17. Is there an emergency/disaster plan in place for the school?
Yes. St. Mary does have plans in place in the event of 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 that 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.