Lower School Academics and Arts
St. Mary’s Academy’s Lower School is a co-educational program beginning with Early Learning (Preschool and Prekindergarten) and continuing through Grade 5. St. Mary’s Academy Lower School students develop strong foundations with a rigorous, sequenced curriculum in a highly supportive and collaborative environment. They benefit from small classes, individualized attention, and positive interactions with our master teachers, learning specialists, and teaching assistants. Learning is hands-on and project-based, sparking passions and deeper connections to the world.
Service Learning
St. Mary’s Academy is a service learning school, grounded in the Loretto mission of “meeting our neighbors in their human needs and aspirations.” For our students, service isn’t a requirement, it’s a calling for life to be an agent of change. Each month, a grade level sponsors an organization for community service. Students participate by raising donations of materials, food and funds, and they travel to other classrooms presenting why they have chosen this organization.
Learn more about service learning
Loretto Leaders
Students in Grades 4 and 5 can apply to be Loretto Leaders who model our Loretto School Values of faith, community, justice, and respect. Loretto Leaders serve for one semester at a time, and meet monthly monthly with our assistant principal and other adult leaders to study the history of Loretto, lead a community service project, and support school events. It’s another way that SMA cultivates leadership among our youngest students.
Wellness
SMA focuses on developing the whole child. We support our students physically, socially, and emotionally, because we know that secure, confident, and healthy students will approach life with a strong sense of purpose and integrity. SMA boasts a dedicated team of two counselors catering to students from Preschool to Grade 8, ensuring comprehensive support for their emotional and academic growth. Additionally, we prioritize the well-being of our students with a full-time school nurse, providing expert care and attention to their health needs.
Learn more about our wellness initiatives
Portrait of a graduate
Our Portrait of a Graduate statements, by school division, identify who we are as a school and define our expectations with respect to the experiences we create for students to realize the outcomes.
Clubs and Activities
Our clubs foster creativity, teamwork, leadership, and personal growth, providing a platform for students to explore their hobbies, cultivate new talents, and connect with like-minded peers. Whether it's delving into STEAM projects, participating in community service initiatives, immersing in the arts, or engaging in academic pursuits, our diverse range of activities empowers students to embark on exciting journeys beyond the classroom.
Learn more about our wellness initiatives
“We just wanted to send a warm thank you for all you have done for our daughter this first half of her Kindergarten year. We can’t believe how fast she has learned so much. Additionally, what you are doing to create such a warm, inclusive, and fun classroom culture is exactly what we were looking for in a school for our daughter. You obviously put all of this and more into making sure our kids have a safe and happy learning environment to go to each and every day.”
Parent of a Kindergarten Student
By the Numbers
1
Teaching assistant per grade
17
Average class size
9
Monthly school-wide service projects
10
Teams compete in Destination Imagination