Fr. Bob Announces Campus-wide Reimagining

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 16, 2023

Mary’s Making Moves: St. Mary’s Campus Reimagining Set In Motion

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 to be able to center ourselves on Christ each day, and excited that our young people will have more time for prayer in front of our Lord.”