School Spotlight: St. Margaret Mary Catholic

For more than 60 years, St. Margaret Mary Catholic School, a Catholic school in Orlando, has been educating and forming students in the Winter Park and surrounding area. We are a welcoming community that seeks to teach the whole child within a foundation of faith.Each morning, the St. Margaret Mary Catholic School community assembles in prayer. Classes begin in prayer, and religion is a formal subject. The school celebrates Mass together once a week.Still, students do more than learn the Catholic faith – they also practice its teachings. Service to others is what sets St. Margaret Mary apart from other schools. All students share their gifts -- from eighth graders teaching their kindergartner buddies how to how to properly celebrate Mass with to sixth graders reaching out to the community by spending time with Head Start preschoolers.In addition, all grade levels support Haitian students by collecting school supplies and raising money through bake sales and other activities. The Coalition for the Homeless is another organization that benefits from the hard work of St. Margaret Mary Catholic School as students collect food, pack lunches every month, and create prayer notes.Their commitment to service earned the student body the 2013 Blessed Mother Teresa Award, a recognition presented annually to two schools in the Diocese of Orlando that demonstrate the compassion and corporal works of mercy exemplified by Blessed Teresa of Kolkata.Students also seamlessly participate in parish activities from altar servers to volunteering at the Fall Festival, the Seniors Advent dinner, and the Spring Tea.Learning is a collaborative exercise with students, teachers, faculty, and families all involved. The school strives to prepare successful students that thrive and contribute in high school. One hundred percent of our graduates complete high school, and in the last five years, our alumni have attended the following colleges and universities: Furman University, Rhodes College, University of Alabama, Notre Dame, Rollins College, St. Mary’s College, Stanford, Clemson, Yale University, Valencia College, West Point, the University of Florida, the University of Virginia, and the University of Central Florida.In the elementary grades, students study language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, religion, and physical education. Their curriculum includes computer sciences, music, art, library and media studies, and Spanish. Technology, collaborative learning, and hands-on activities are infused into instructional practices in both the elementary and middle school.Middle school students study English, mathematics and algebra, natural and physical sciences, social studies, religion, physical education, Spanish, and academic enrichment. In addition, they enroll in an elective course in drawing, drama, musical composition, food and nutrition, or video production.Iowa TestStudents in second to eighth grades take the Iowa Test each spring. This standardized test measures student achievement in the core subjects and helps inform instruction. St. Margaret Mary students consistently rank above the state and national averages. As a result, each year a significant number of the seventh grade students are invited by the DukeTip program to sit for the SAT exam.Student LifeStudent life extends learning outside the classroom. Students are involved in the Robotics Club, Math Club, National Junior Honor, Student Council, Violin, Guitar, Concert Band, Choir, Altar Servers, and a newly founded Fishing Club. A safe and well-structured After Care program is available. Middle school students are also involved in school soccer, basketball, track and field, and volleyball through the Catholic Youth League. Their championship banners are proudly displayed in the gym. Younger students learn team fundamentals in soccer, gymnastics, golf, and flag football clubs.In short, a St. Margaret Mary student is challenged, well rounded, and formed in faith. We welcome your inquiries about our Catholic school in Orlando and the opportunity to tour the school campus. Please call us at 407-644-7537 with questions or to schedule a personal tour. We would love for your child to become a St. Margaret Mary Catholic School Knight!