The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, August 22, 2001 St. Mary Classic Education in Small School Setting 0000000000000 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 ~ Strong school family Grade 7 trip to Frances Slocum State Park. Row 1, left to right: Joyce Elston, teacher, Joan Beyer, Kali Humphrey, Jason Ide, John Dane, Kathy Kelchner, naturalist. Row 2 left to right: Caitlin Hanson, Nicole Boback, Katie Hall, Tara Kratz, Stephen Chapasko, Corey Konycki, Sean Flynn, Leah Rother, Gabe Michael, Heather Kratz, Mary Elizabeth Metzo. St. Mary's parish is Byzantine Rite and it also offers Latin Rite religious education programs through its association with nearby St. Stanislaus parish. “We are bi- ritual. Our students are about one third Byzantine Rite and two thirds Latin,” says Sister Janet, who is a member of the Sisters of St. Basil, headquartered in Uniontown near Pittsburgh. Tuition at St. Mary’s is $2000 per year. Students who come from supporting parish split the tuition cost 50/50 with their home parish. “Some parishes don’t have schools at all and others with schools will allow the family to choose where to send their children to school. We have students from 18 parishes at St. Mary's, “says Sister Janet. St. Mary's has a long history of educational service in Wilkes Barre, opening its doors to students in 1929. “We are celebrating our 75th anniversary this year. We buried a time capsule, which will be opened on our 100th anniversary, “says the principal. | b ns Sister Janet welcomes inquiries and tours are available by appointment. “We have a loving, safe and respectful atmosphere here. St. Mary's offers quality education with a religious background. We have busing from all areas. Call us and we'll talk,” sums up the principal. : | St. Mary's School in Wilkes Barre offers a classic curriculum in a personalized small school setting. : “We have 167 children at St. Mary's from Pre-K to 8th grade. Our students come from 18 parishes in the Valley, Dallas and as far away as Gouldsboro. We would love to bring up our enrollment to 200 children,” begins Sister Janet, principal of St. Mary's Tdiiaiuat attention to each student’s unique needs is part of the St. Mary’s School experience. “We seek to instill a love for religion in our students, to live it everyday and to be contributing members of society. Like Jesus, we serve the community, “says Sister Janet. “Our school is in a peaceful setting. We want our students to learn in a safe place. All children are treated equally. With the children wearing uniforms, the externals are not a consideration. We feel what's inside is important. God loves each one of us. I don't feel the children are free to learn without a peaceful environment.” Classes are small at St. Mary’s from six children in the all day kindergarten program to 20 children in the largest grade. Ten teachers are employed at St. Mary's, one for each grade and the kindergarten and pre-school. Specialty teachers are employed to teach the gym, computer and music curriculum. Classrooms are spacious and bright. “We have a new computer lab and computers in each classroom. The classroom machines are networked to each other and to the internet. The children go to the lab to do special projects and group lessons in math and English. We have Compaq Presarios with Pentium II processors,” explains the principal. St. Mary's has a number of sports and extra curricular programs. Boys and girls can participate in basketball and cheerleading beginning in the third grade. “We rent the gym at the Dan Flood School, which is located a couple of blocks away. We plan to convert the present auditorium to a regulation gym this fall, “ says Sister Janet. Other activities include a newspaper club, which publishes editions quarterly, language, and forensics clubs. Student tutoring is a popular option for students in grades 3 to 8, with older students mentoring the younger ones. “The peer tutoring program builds school spirit ant strengthens the overall school family. The teachers give their time to make sure all of the programs are reaching the students,” says Sister Janet. Pinatas created by St. Mary's Language Club. The club has 50 members and learns a new language each month. The students also visit ethnic groups, invite speakers and enjoy lunch at ethnic restaurants. F un Activities Minutes away from Cross Valley Expressway Very low student-teacher ratio Middle States Accredited Full day kindergarten Pre-school program Religious education programs for both Byzantine Catholic and Roman Catholic | Math, Reading and Speech remedial services Before and after school programs On-site athletic facilities Media Center (audio/visual aids) Advanced Math and Reading Classes Newly decorated classrooms State-of-the-art Computer Learning Center Tutoring and Sports Program Voucher Program 522 Madison Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18705 Call today - 570-823-8003
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