St. Mary’s Catholic School was opened with seven students on August 26, 1856. The school has operated continuously since that time. It is one of the oldest Catholic Schools in Texas! MISSION STATEMENT – The reason for the existence of St. Mary’s Catholic School is solely based upon the person, words, and presence of Jesus Christ. All our actions are based on and flow from the example and teachings of our Lord and Savior. ACCREDITATION – St. Mary’s Catholic School is accredited by the Texas Catholic Conference Education Department (TCCED); this accreditation is recognized by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). The school is affiliated with the National Catholic Education Association. HISTORY – The school was opened by a lay teacher, Franz Stein, in August 1856. Two other lay teachers, Christian Kraus and William Kelley, also taught in the early years. In September of 1870, the first Sisters of Divine Providence arrived in Fredericksburg. The sisters took charge of the school, and their association with St. Mary’s would continue for the next 109 years. In 1923 the parish opened a new school building, now called the High School Building, and the first two high school graduates received diplomas in 1925. Eventually 1,110 students would graduate in the 50 years of the high school’s existence. The high school was officially closed with summer graduation on July 13, 1975. The present Elementary School Building was completed in 1959. The High School Building was renovated in 1988. Both structures continue to serve the parish and the school. The newest school building, the Murchison-Pahl Gymnasium, opened in the fall of 2005. Since 1979, the school has been staffed by lay teachers. The teachers are all degreed and qualified to teach in Catholic schools. Their dedication and spirit give life to the school program. FACILITIES – The school is blessed with space and top-quality facilities. The three buildings provide: 20 classrooms, 2 computer labs, a science lab, a band hall, a hot-lunch cafeteria, a library with a collection of 8,000 books, administrative offices, a full-size gymnasium with basketball and volleyball courts, a concession stand, and locker rooms. Additionally, the football field is used as playground space during the school day. Also, playscapes and shaded areas are available for the younger students. The football field and the entire play area are enclosed by fence. Click HERE for a campus map All of the classrooms have computers that are connected to a local network and the school has broad-band connection to the internet. All classrooms are linked with an intercom system, and two-way radios are available for emergency communication. SERVICES – Additional services provided by the school include: An Early Bird Program – This free service provides supervision for children dropped off before the normal opening time. At 7:00 a.m. the cafeteria is open to students of all grades; a teacher provides supervision, and cafeteria personnel are present to serve breakfast item. An Extended Day Program – This service provides supervision for children after school dismissal. Students are given a snack, and then are able to complete homework assignments, and are able to play on the playground. There is a fee for this service; parents may sign up for a monthly rate or may pay a drop-in rate. The fees are detailed on the tuition schedule sheet. A Hot-Lunch Cafeteria – The school participates in the federal school lunch program. Free and reduced-price lunches are available if a family meets the income guidelines. Cafeteria menus are published each month in the School News. Students may bring their own lunch if they choose not to eat the cafeteria meal. A Library Program – All students regularly visit the library. The librarian assists students in the selection of books, reads stories to younger students, teaches library skills, coordinates the Accelerated Reader Program, and assesses the reading levels of all students three times a year with the computer-based Star Reading. A Counseling Program – The school employs a licensed child-psychologist who assists students, teachers, and parents in the school setting.
UNIFORMS – Students in 5K-Kindergarten through 8th grade wear school uniforms provided by the Parker Uniform Company in San Antonio. The uniform policy is detailed in the Parent/Student Handbook. GRADING/COMMUNICATION – Report cards are issued every nine weeks with formal parent conferences scheduled for the end of the first nine weeks. Progress notes are distributed in the middle of each nine weeks. Parents are invited to “back to school” night during the first week of school; at that meeting parents meet the teacher and receive information about the class procedures and activities. Parents are encouraged to call the school to make appointments to meet with the teacher as needed. SCHOOL HOURS – The school day begins at 7:55 a.m. and ends at 3:15 p.m. for students in all grades. The school office is open on school days from 7:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The school dismisses at 1:00 p.m. every first Friday of the month for a faculty meeting. DISCIPLINE – St. Mary’s employs a school-wide discipline program to maintain a safe learning environment. Corporal punishment is never used. The focus is on self-discipline, and the school utilizes reward and consequence programs that lead a student to self-discipline. | 
