Thank you for supporting the 37th Annual Big Money Raffle drawing! We raised $93,250!

Your support ensures St. Mary’s Springs Academy can continue to provide a whole student education, spiritually, academically and emotionally to every student who seeks a Catholic education.

Thank you!

Big Money Raffle Committee

(Valerie Everson, Kelly Baker, Jenny Baker, and Sasha Smith)

"Rachel's Challenge" Coming to The Ledge

As part of this year’s Catholic Schools Week, St. Mary’s Springs Academy will welcome Rachel’s Challenge to stimulate academic achievement and social-emotional learning by focusing on the connections a between students, faculty and staff.

Using the remarkable story of Rachel Scott, the first victim of the Columbine High School tragedy, Rachel’s Challenge awakens individual hope and purpose, which in turn promotes safer, more connected school communities. A Rachel’s Challenge staff member will share Rachel’s story with the entire SMSA school community on Thursday, February 2^nd.

Dr. Robert Marzano, respected education researcher and author states, “Rachel’s Challenge is the most powerful intervention I have seen in 40 years of working in education.” Rachel’s story unlocks the desire for change. Then, its programs come alongside the existing efforts of the school to sustain a culture where harassment, violence and self-harm are reduced; where teachers are free to teach and students are empowered to learn.

An independent study conducted by Multi-Dimensional Education, LLC, a nationally recognized educational program evaluator, found that, “Schools implementing Rachel’s Challenge with fidelity achieved statistically significant gains in community engagement, faculty/student relationships, leadership potential, and school climate; along with a reduction in bullying behavior.”

Using age-appropriate programming for K-12, Rachel’s Challenge schools have reported up to 84% reductions in disciplinary referrals. As many as 150 suicides are averted annually, as reported by students themselves. In a pre-and post-attitudinal survey of 9,881 students from socioeconomically and demographically diverse schools across the US and Canada, respondents reported a 282% increase in the number of students feeling safe at school after participating in Rachel Challenge.

In just over two decades of social-emotional and mental health training, Rachel’s Challenge has reached over 30 million students, educators, and community members. Rachel’s Challenge continues to work hard to turn the ideals of kindness and compassion into actionable strategies that help promote a safe and productive learning environment.

Please watch your E-mail for more specific information about how students in Grades K-4, 5-6, and 7-12 will experience Rachel’s Challenge on February 2^nd. Contact Mr. Stamatakos, Mrs. McCarthy, or Mrs. Desiderio in St. Mary’s Springs Academy’s Pupil Services Office with any questions about Rachel’s Challenge.

Walgreens Scrip is Back!

The wait is over! Walgreen's $25 and $100 physical gift cards are back in stock! Thank you for your patience.