St. Marys Continuation School

St. Mary's is a wonderful school! I have been a St. Mary's parent since 2013. I have 2 children currently in St. Mary's and my oldest child has already graduated from St. Mary's. This has been a truly wonderful experience. The school has been awarded a Blue Ribbon and has high academic standards. I thoroughly researched public and private schools in the area before choosing St. Mary's for my children and it has consistently exceeded my every expectation. The academic standards are advanced, however they are able to challenge and prepare children from all levels from academically advanced as well as those who have come from less challenging schools. The warm and caring environment teaches the children to truly embrace each other's differences and gives the children a sense of confidence. The parents, teachers, and students each share a strong sense of St. Mary's community. In addition to the many clubs and activities offered, there are many wonderful family events offered such as Family Movie Night, Family Math Night, St. Nicolas Festival, International Night, Grandparent's Day, Family lunch and family dances. Children in the younger grades are paired up with older kids as their "Big Buddies" for church masses and some activities. All the kids from various grades get along very well. The welcoming environment has brought me a lot of joy volunteering many hours and days in the school. The school also has a commendable art program as well as excellent music and PE instruction.

I can`t thanks enough all St Mary`s community and the way they handle the school. I have currently 4 kids there and I LOVE IT! Love the waybthe teach my kids, that I don`t have to be meating a new teacher very often (I like consistency and like experience) love that my kids love it and even when we can`t really cover costs in full, they found a way to help us and so far have work great! There is many chances to volunteer and Mrs Eisel love to see new parents involved in all the activities we have during the year for them to feel welcome too! If you`re looking for a school please don`t look any longer.

As a long- time parishioner at St. Mary's church in Rockville, I was very excited to send our eldest child to St. Mary's school in the fall of 2015. The school has exceeded all of our expectations in just a few short months. What we love about St. Mary's, in no particular order: 1. Parent involvement Parents are encouraged to be an active part of the school community and made to feel valued. Parents are expected to volunteer, participate, and partner with the teachers. As a result, there is a sense of camaraderie among the parents, as well as with the teachers. 2. Sense of community Both the school staff and parents feel a sense of responsibility for all of the students, and everyone has a common goal of making the children feel safe and cared for while holding students to a high standard, academically and behaviorally. There are many fun and educational school-wide activities that bring the student body together in the evenings and on the weekends. In addition, the school supports the community at large through fundraising, donations, and volunteering. 3. Teachers The teachers at St. Mary's are clearly dedicated, motivated individuals who really want to make a difference in the lives of children. You often see the teachers at school after hours, participating in school events, and they seem to get great joy from being a part of St. Mary's. Students don't just come to school to learn to read and write. Their personalities and moral development are nurtured by the teachers, and children learn to be respectful, confident, empathetic, and caring. The student body is culturally diverse. 4. Academics Children are challenged appropriately; teachers are able to meet the children at their level and help them progress to the next. There is a variety of specials throughout the week, such as music, art, PE, technology, Spanish, and guidance. The school utilizes technology where appropriate to reinforce the classrooms lessons at home. There is a variety of afterschool clubs and sports, as well as field trips.

I really love the school. Teachers try their best to challenge the kids in terms of academy to bring their best out. I would rate 5 out of 5.

What a wonderful school! I have had two children graduate and go onto successful high school experiences as well as one currently in 7th grade. The sense of community is unmatched even among neighboring private schools. My children consider the faculty, staff and parents at St. Mary's school to be family. It is a safe, nurturing, academically and spiritually fulfilling learning environment.

My family suffered financial hardship for 2012 and was ready to pull the kids out of ST. M, Ms. Eisel, the pricipal, told us not to. Ms. Eisel along with the whole St. Marys community found a way for my kids to stay and we will be returning for 2013/14. The whole St. Marys community is very supportive of each other. I thank all of them from the botom of my heart.

Very familiar environment, personalized attention is given to the kids. AApart from good academics, a number of extracurricular activities are oferred such as Robotics, Scouts, Arts, Dance, Drama, Scratch club, etc.

Excellent parent community with supportive teachers, pastor and priests that help to form a truly well-rounded student

Truly a warm, caring community. The students are well-behaved and kind to others. The Responsive Classroom curriculum is phenomenal and fosters this caring environment.