FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Eileen Symmons, Director of Communications
July 6, 2023

Elementary School Expands its Programming

Manhasset, NY: St. Mary’s Elementary School has always sought to be responsive to the evolving needs of its students and community at large since its opening in 1926, while always keeping its mission at the center: integrating the truths and traditions of the Catholic faith into the lives of our students and celebrating the uniqueness of each individual by educating the whole child. Over the years, this has meant introducing new classes such as STREAM (science, technology, religion, engineering, art, and math); adopting new curricula such as Teachers College Reading and Writing Program; and of course constantly updating its facilities to maintain a bright and beautiful physical atmosphere, matched only by the joy and happiness which radiates from the teachers and administrators. This summer, again responding to the needs of its students and community, St. Mary’s Elementary will be making moves to expand its programming and update its facilities accordingly. 

With the Middle School, grades 6 through 8, moving out of the Elementary School building and across the parking lot to Immaculata Hall, the Elementary School is already hard at work this summer to renovate and reconfigure its spaces. More classroom space means the Elementary School is able to open a new grade level for 2 year olds: Cherubs. Principal Theresa Kemp officially announced the School’s newest grade-level launch last week. “I am excited to open our doors to our youngest students by offering the Cherubs Program for all two-year-olds. This latest move by St. Mary’s creates the opportunity for parents to immerse their children in a nurturing learning environment that will present participants with an introduction to the Catholic faith, socialization, enriching experiences, and activities.” This groundbreaking addition to the school's already impressive offerings further affirms the administration's goal to provide excellence in education coupled with a support system beyond the classroom.

While traditional classroom spaces are important for whole group instruction, it is equally important that students work collaboratively in groups in part so that their independence and leadership skills can grow from an early age. In order to reinforce this need, some of the newly vacated classroom spaces will become flexible learning spaces with creative resources to support literacy and math instruction. Additionally, PE classes and daily recess already do provide young students with the chance to be physically active and get fresh air during the school day, but the Elementary School also has plans to expand its indoor playroom into a more dedicated play space with equipment for climbing and building when it's not possible to get outdoors. 

Two of the most dramatic updates in the renovations taking place this summer are the addition of a chapel as well as a total overhaul of the library. The former music classroom is set to be converted into the chapel out of a desire to give students more direct access to prayer in the presence of our Lord, again central to the School’s mission. Teachers will be able to regularly bring their classes to the chapel and be more ‘hands-on’ with their religion classes. The library, thanks to fundraising dollars from the Elementary School’s Parent Teacher Organization, will become a more flexible space with soft seating, updated technology, and a living wall. The library will serve as a central location again for teachers to bring their classes for independent study or group learning in addition to a gathering place for parent socials. 

At St. Mary’s Elementary School, every student has the potential to excel and achieve greatness, from two years old and up. Make the move to St. Mary’s Elementary School and learn more about the incomparable Catholic education available by visiting the website. Registration for September 2023 is rolling.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Eileen Symmons, Director of Communications
June 26, 2023

Middle School Advances to Immaculata Hall

Manhasset, NY: Since St. Mary’s Elementary School’s opening in 1926, generations of youth from Manhasset and neighboring communities have benefited from a faith-filled, rigorous, and cheerful Catholic education at 1340 Northern Boulevard, from early childhood all the way through to 8th grade. After graduating from the Elementary School, students had previously moved on to two separate High School buildings, Immaculata and Marist Halls. However, as part of a massive campus-wide reimagining, Fr. Bob has made moves to redesign and repurpose the third floor of Marist Hall so that the entire High School academic operation can take place in Marist, leaving Immaculata Hall open for the Middle School to advance to. 

With four floors of features that are ‘move-in ready,’ including a gymnasium, cafeteria and outdoor patio, auditorium, chorus and band rooms, dance and art studios, along with Biology and Chemistry labs, Immaculata Hall is built for students who are looking to grow in independence at a critical time in their development: middle school. Over the summer, renovations will also take place to add a Chapel, student common area, and literacy resource room, rounding out the first phase of the Middle School’s advancement and move to Immaculata Hall. 

In recent years, both anecdotal evidence and quantitative data have proven that parents desire a middle school experience for their children that is enriching, challenging and mature but also age appropriate and in an intimate setting -  no student is overlooked or left behind. While this has always been true of the St. Mary’s Middle School (grades 6-8), the move to Immaculata Hall and the programming that follows will take a step further in challenging the students to grow in independence and take on more responsibility, ultimately better preparing them for high school and beyond. With strong home-school communication and parent partnership, this incredible opportunity for growth in St. Mary’s Middle School is stirring up a lot of excitement among current Middle School students and their families, as well as Middle School faculty and administration. Principal Theresa Kemp stated, “Having Immaculata Hall dedicated for Middle School will allow us to carry on in a small, familiar setting while also fostering a culture of achievement that is specific to middle school students through positive peer influence, collaborative classrooms, stronger recognition of accomplishments, and age-appropriate celebrations.” 

At St. Mary’s Middle School, every student has the potential to excel and achieve greatness, and part of that is having high expectations for academic and personal development.  Make the move to St. Mary’s Middle School and learn more about the incomparable Catholic education available by calling the Main Office at 516-627-0184. Registration for September 2023 is rolling. 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Eileen Symmons, Director of Communications
June 16, 2023

The Church and Schools of Saint Mary
Announce Campus-wide Reimagining 

Manhasset, NY: Since the Church of Saint Mary was first established in 1853, this faithful community has continued to grow and develop over the years to include St. Mary’s Elementary School in 1926 and High School in 1949. Now, on the eve of the Elementary School’s centennial celebration and the High School’s 75th anniversary, Fr. Bob, the pastor, has announced a massive campus-wide reimagining, setting in motion an innovative set of shifts that will best serve the Schools of St. Mary and shepherd the community into the next chapter of Catholic Education on Long Island. 

The St. Mary’s campus, which boasts three school buildings beyond the Church at 1300 Northern Boulevard, is both a historical and modern-day Manhasset landmark - a beacon resting at the southern end of Plandome Road. Alongside Fr. Bob, Fr. Elias, president of the Schools; school administrators; multiple committees of parents and alumni; and dedicated parishioners have all played a part in identifying these shifts at every level to maximize the impact of a high quality St. Mary’s education in the year 2024 and beyond. 

At the High School level, construction plans are underway to reclaim the third floor of Marist Hall, previously occupied by religious brothers of the Marist Order. Under the one roof, St. Mary’s High School students will benefit from increased unity, security, and academic cohesion.

Additionally, the High School will launch the Catholic Entrepreneurship and Design Experience (CEDE) Program from the Ciocca Center for Principled Entrepreneurship at the Busch Business School of the Catholic University of America. Fr. Elias stated, “At its core, CEDE is an education in discerning desires. As the students come to better understand their motivations – what they want – CEDE also inspires them to think about how they can use their gifts and desires to respond creatively to needs in our society.”

Middle School students will have a new home in Immaculata Hall, formerly the all-girls high school building, where the opportunity for growth is limitless. Middle school students - grades 6, 7 and 8 - will reach their greatest potential and grow in independence while learning in a more mature space with flexible classrooms and common areas for socializing and studying independently. A building and program specifically designed with middle school students in mind will strike the perfect balance for young people at a critical time in their development. Parent partnership, age appropriate celebrations and activities, as well as continued collaboration with St. Mary’s High School and mentorships with elementary school students will assure that middle school students get the most out of their change of address. 

The Elementary School building will be taking full advantage of its newly vacated classrooms in the former middle school wing by transforming classrooms into various resource rooms, dedicated spaces for reading and math application, movement, and other enrichment activities. With the additional classroom space, the Elementary School will also be soft-launching its Cherubs Program in September 2023 which will look to serve infants and toddlers as well as their parents and caregivers with weekly classes before students are ready for Nursery classes at age 3.

Perhaps the most exciting and impactful move is the construction of three chapels on campus - one in each building for the High School, Middle School, and Elementary School. With such easy access to a chapel, students of all ages will be able to deepen their personal relationship with God, know Jesus more intimately, and find prayer becoming a stronger part of their daily lives. When asked about the impact of the new chapels, Fr. Bob said, “We are very excited that our young people will have more time for prayer in the presence of our Lord.”

All campus movement is scheduled to begin as soon as students head off for summer vacation next week. Come September, the Schools of St. Mary will be ready with a fresh face to welcome back its returning students as well as new students and their families who wish to move with them and experience the power of a rigorous, innovative, and cheerful St. Mary’s education, rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ.

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