What is Lent?

Lent is a 40 day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. It's a period of preparation to celebrate the Lord's Resurrection at Easter. During Lent, we seek the Lord in prayer by reading Sacred Scripture; we serve by giving alms; and we practice self-control through fasting. We are called not only to abstain from luxuries during Lent, but to a true inner conversion of heart as we seek to follow Christ's will more faithfully. We recall the waters of baptism in which we were also baptized into Christ's death, died to sin and evil, and began new life in Christ.

Learn more about the season of Lent and find resources on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving--the pillars of Lent--at the USCCB website HERE.

600 Veirs Mill Rd., Rockville, MD 20852

Phone (301) 762-4179

Fax (301) 762-9550

Website

Confession Times

St. Mary's offers confessions in the Main Church on Saturdays from 1 to 2 pm and Wednesdays from 5 to 6 pm and by appointment. To make an appointment, please call the rectory (office hours from 9 to 4).

A parish penance service with 4 to 5 priests present to hear confessions will be held on Tuesday, April 4th, at 7 pm in the main church.

How to Go to Confession (Resources from the Archdiocese of Washington)

600 Veirs Mill Rd., Rockville, MD 20852

Phone (301) 762-4179

Fax (301) 762-9550

Website

Brené Brown Leaves the Audience SPEECHLESS | One of the Best Motivationa...

Casandra Brené Brown is an American professor, lecturer, author, and podcast host. Brown is known in particular for her research on shame, vulnerability, and leadership, and for her widely viewed TEDx talk in 2010. Brené has saved the lives of many through her work.

600 Veirs Mill Rd., Rockville, MD 20852

Phone (301) 762-4179

Fax (301) 762-9550

Website

School Advisory Board

The St. Mary's School Advisory Board (SAB) provides advice and assistance to the St. Mary's School Principal and Pastor leadership team in the governance of the school.  If you are interested or know someone who has talents to lend to our great school, please email sab@smsrockville.org to find out how you can help.  The SAB meets once per month.  Committees, which may be comprised of both SAB members and non-SAB members, may meet more frequently as necessary.

600 Veirs Mill Rd., Rockville, MD 20852

Phone (301) 762-4179

Fax (301) 762-9550

Website

Our Blue Ribbon Award

On November 16, 2011 we celebrated our National Blue Ribbon Award. It was a wonderful day that started with a special Mass of Thanksgiving. We were privileged to have our Pastor, Monsignor Amey, our Assistant Pastor, Fr. Charles, as well as Fr. Val and retired Reverend,  Fr.  Downs. Our guest of honor was Sister Carol Rigali, OSF, former principal of the school and now Provincial of the United States Province of the School Sisters of St. Francis. After Mass, the entire community gathered in the school’s auditorium for a special award presentation from a Department of Education representative. The event also included special remarks from Monsignor Amey, Sister Carol, student representatives from every class, and 6th Grade teacher Mr. DiGiovanni. Our eighth graders performed a special song dedicated to our Blue Ribbon accomplishment. 

Ms. Debby Kennedy, Principal, proudly addressed the school with these words: “we have made history for Catholic Education!  There are 135,000 schools in the United States and only 315 of them were recognized this year as Blue Ribbon Schools.  Of the 10 schools in Maryland, 4 of them were Archdiocese of Washington Catholic Schools.  That puts St. Mary’s School in the 97th percentile nationwide.  That is amazing!”

We are very proud to announce that St. Mary's has been recognized as a U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.  This is such an honor because although there are 33,000 private schools in the nation, only 49 private schools are recognized. 

St. Mary's has reached this accomplishment through their dedicated faculty and staff, their hard-working students and their ever-supportive parent community. Together, we bring academic excellence in a loving, faith-filled community to our children everyday.

600 Veirs Mill Rd., Rockville, MD 20852

Phone (301) 762-4179

Fax (301) 762-9550

Website

The surprisingly dramatic role of nutrition in mental health | Julia Ruc...

NOTE FROM TED: Please consult with a mental health professional and do not look to this talk for medical advice as the intersection of mental health and nutrition is still an emerging field of study. We've flagged this talk for falling outside TEDx's curatorial guidelines because it oversimplifies interpretations of legitimate studies. TEDx events are independently organized by volunteers.

600 Veirs Mill Rd., Rockville, MD 20852

Phone (301) 762-4179

Fax (301) 762-9550

Website

Accreditation

St. Mary's School and all Archdiocese of Washington Schools are AdvancEd Accredited Schools. The Archdiocese of Washington maintains system wide accreditation having met the requirements established by the AdvandEd Accreditation Commission and the Board of Trustees through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement. This distinction is the result of extensive self-study, ongoing evaluation, and continual striving for academic excellence.

600 Veirs Mill Rd., Rockville, MD 20852

Phone (301) 762-4179

Fax (301) 762-9550

Website

Academics : Seventh and Eighth Grades

Our curriculum focuses on the development of the whole child. Departmentalization begins in the fourth grade and continues through eighth grade.

Classes are taught in a loving, supportive, Christian environment. There is a strong emphasis on faith development, and Catholic identity is visible throughout the school. Students are encouraged to learn about and practice the Catholic faith and to live this faith through community service and outreach programs.

Teachers use formal and informal assessments at all grade levels. Scantron Performance Standardized Assessment is used from Kindergarten through Eighth grade and is administered in at the beginning of the year, mid year, and at the end of the year..

Writing portfolios are integrated into the language arts curriculum at all grade levels, allowing students to monitor their progress in writing each year.

Seventh and Eighth Grades

Religion:

The religion program is a two-year preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation. It is based on the doctrines of the Catholic Church as found in Scripture and Tradition. There is an emphasis on the Ten Commandments and the Creed. The students are led to understand how to make moral choices based on the Catholic faith and to establish a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Students attend school Mass one day a week. They participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation during Advent and Lent.

Language Arts:

The language arts curriculum is an integrated program of literature, grammar, vocabulary, and writing. The students write poems, personal narratives, short stories, and persuasive letters to add to their writing portfolios.

Mathematics:

Math instruction is designed to develop techniques and strategies to integrate math into daily life. The students learn and use formulae and algebraic expressions. They are introduced to the use of graphing calculators and computer spreadsheets. There are grade-level and accelerated classes.

Science:

The science program is designed to teach students to understand the universe around them. They develop problem solving strategies and effective methods of rational thinking. The focus in seventh grade is life science -- biology and human health, and in eighth grade physical science -- chemistry and physics.

Social Studies:

The social studies program focuses on history, civics, current events and geography. The students learn how to write a research paper.

600 Veirs Mill Rd., Rockville, MD 20852

Phone (301) 762-4179

Fax (301) 762-9550

Website

Thank You Bishop Dorsonville | Gracias Obispo Dorsonville

Thank you Bishop Dorsonville from The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington

Gracias a Obispo Dorsonville desde El Arquidiócesis Católica Romana de Washington

600 Veirs Mill Rd., Rockville, MD 20852

Phone (301) 762-4179

Fax (301) 762-9550

Website

Academics : Fifth and Sixth Grades

Our curriculum focuses on the development of the whole child. Departmentalization begins in the fourth grade and continues through eighth grade.

Classes are taught in a loving, supportive, Christian environment. There is a strong emphasis on faith development, and Catholic identity is visible throughout the school. Students are encouraged to learn about and practice the Catholic faith and to live this faith through community service and outreach programs.

Teachers use formal and informal assessments at all grade levels. Scantron Performance Standardized Assessment is used from Kindergarten through Eighth grade and is administered in at the beginning of the year, mid year, and at the end of the year..

Writing portfolios are integrated into the language arts curriculum at all grade levels, allowing students to monitor their progress in writing each year.

Fifth and Sixth Grades

Religion: In the middle grades, the religion curriculum emphasizes Catholic teaching through a foundation in the Mass and Old and New Testaments with support from The Catechism of the Catholic Church. Students attend mass weekly with the parish community. They participate in school-wide masses and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Students continue to memorize Catholic prayers. The Family Life program is introduced at this level.

Language Arts: The language arts program is a literature-based program with a focus on vocabulary development and reading comprehension. Grammar, spelling, and mechanics are an integral part of the writing program. The students continue to maintain the portfolio begun in kindergarten.

Mathematics: The math curriculum stresses operations with fractions and decimals. As students progress they learn pre-algebraic concepts.

Science: Science instruction builds on concepts and techniques introduced in the earlier grades. The scientific process is used for student hands-on investigations. The students are taught critical reading strategies which apply to more technical material.

Social Studies: Social studies programs include topics of history, civics, current events and geography with a strong emphasis on appreciation and respect for the various cultures that comprise the world population.

600 Veirs Mill Rd., Rockville, MD 20852

Phone (301) 762-4179

Fax (301) 762-9550

Website

Academics : Second Through Fourth Grades

Saint Mary's School offers a curriculum of academic and enrichment programs at every grade level. Additional teachers are employed to provide academic support as well as to teach Spanish, art, music, physical education, computer technology, and library skills.

Second Through Fourth Grades

The religion curriculum emphasizes the growth of students' Catholic Identity. The Catechism of the Catholic Church is the basis for Catholic teaching. The students participate in a weekly Mass, special liturgical services, and charitable outreach programs. The students are prepared for and receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist, in the second grade. There is an emphasis on memorization of Catholic prayers.

Language arts instruction is a literature-based reading program with a focus on phonics, vocabulary building, and reading comprehension. The students continue to build their writing portfolio with original, creative, and factual writing. English grammar and usage rules are taught through the writing process.

Math instruction makes use of manipulatives and technology for conceptual learning and the development of problem-solving skills. Students acquire skills in addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, measurement, and geometry, probability, and statistics.

Science instruction uses investigation through a hands-on approach to develop critical thinking skills. Each grade has topics appropriate to that level. Students investigate topics such as the solar system, light and sound, the human body, and health.

The social studies curriculum assists students in becoming responsible citizens. The students learn about their community, state, and country. There is a strong emphasis on geography skills and history. Students learn to respect cultural differences.

600 Veirs Mill Rd., Rockville, MD 20852

Phone (301) 762-4179

Fax (301) 762-9550

Website