The mission of St. Mary Elementary School is to promote optimal learning for all students that will enable them to lead responsible, productive, and spiritually-fulfilling lives.St. Mary School includes two buildings. The building used for the primary students in kindergarten through grade 3 was opened in September 1907. The second building, constructed in 1928, initially served as a high school, but with the building of a new Catholic high school in the early 1970’s, this building now holds grades 4-8, as well as the library, computer lab, gymnasium, and cafeteria. There are 19 classroom teachers with an average class ratio of 24:1. Additionally a full-time physical education teacher, librarian, technology coordinator, music teacher, and nurse serve the students. The school also has a speech therapist, Title I reading teacher, and a learning disabilities teacher.Students are given opportunities for spiritual development by attending grade-level and all-school Masses, Reconciliation, Benediction, and Stations of the Cross in addition to regular visits by the pastor to their religion class. Students who attend St. Mary’s are involved in service-oriented projects , locally as well as nationally, throughout the year. Curriculum offerings include Religion, Communication Arts (reading, composition, and English), Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Physical Education, Music (general, band, choir), Library, and Computer Technology.St. Mary’s has an after-school enrichment program, which includes Spanish, Art, and Science, and it has partnerships with Art and Clay on Main Street in Lancaster, the Lancaster Festival Organization, the YMCA, and Fairfield Heritage Association, which provide enrichment opportunities for students and faculty. The computer lab and classrooms are equipped with computers with internet access and students have access to digital cameras, computer projectors, smart boards, and laptops. St. Mary’s is a part of the WeatherBug system and has a weather station and weather camera.
