ABOVE: Father Ben Schrantz, parochial vicar for the Baldwinsville churches, engages with the St. Mary’s Academy youth group. Submitted by St. Mary’s Academy.
St. Mary’s Academy responds to NYS Education Department’s new graduation requirements
By Eileen Jevis, staff writer
St. Mary’s Academy recently announced it is taking the school in a new direction.
To prepare the students for an enhanced educational experience and to combat declining enrollment, the school will be working towards becoming both a Montessori and Baccalaureate (IB) accredited school.
Third graders test their homemade boats to see if they will float and if they can sail with the wind (a fan) across the water!
The new learning model is part of St. Mary’s Academy’s three–five-year strategic plan and is in response to the New York State Education Department’s Portrait of a Graduate Program. The initiative is intended to create a shared understanding of the skills and knowledge that New York State public school graduates have mastered. The website states that to earn a high school diploma, a student will have to demonstrate proficiency in each component of the Portrait, meaning they must be critical thinkers, innovative problem solvers, literate across all content areas, culturally competent, socially-emotionally competent, effective communicators, and global citizens.
The Montessori school model combines students from multiple grades and emphasizes project-based and differential learning, individualized attention, and student-paced learning that cultivates collaborative thinking. By creating diverse academic groupings, students will have more flexibility based on their individual learning needs, allowing for both enrichment and support. Each classroom will be supported by a dedicated classroom teacher and a teacher assistant. The existing multi-age specials, lunches, extracurricular activities, and morning meeting and prayer time already foster these positive integrated relationships.
“With the integration of the Montessori method, our classrooms are becoming student-led spaces where curiosity drives instruction,” SMA Principal Cathy Mackey explained. “Flexible seating will create an environment where students feel physically comfortable and mentally engaged.”
Mackey said that students will not only learn about the Word of God but will be empowered to live it out through meaningful service. “Our faith-based, project-driven learning will encourage students to explore how they can personally embody their faith and serve others,” she said.
Associate Superintendent of the Catholic Schools Office, John Ramin, said that New York state adjusted its graduation requirements, so now is the time to adjust the school’s programming to meet those requirements. The strategic planning approach, as well as setting learning targets established through IB’s Primary Years Program (PYP) will help students meet graduation criteria. “Addressing things like classroom dynamics, such as shifting from teacher-led to teacher facilitation, will foster student independence, continue to strengthen and integrate faith and values, and promote creativity, cultural mindedness, and practical life skills,” said Ramin. “It will create better citizens and stronger Catholics.”
Ramin said the Catholic Schools Office and Bishop Douglas J. Lucia are focused on making a Catholic education a strong, meaningful option for years to come.
“We are not just letting things happen, we are actively looking at how we can adapt and strengthen our schools by working collaboratively with St. Mary’s Academy as they work through this transition,” he said. “Like many dioceses throughout the country, we have had some tough challenges. I know that the consolidation of high schools and other school closures have been really hard for a lot of families and communities. It’s clear that the future isn’t about keeping things exactly as they were.”
All SMA students assemble Easter baskets for PEACE, Inc. to distribute to those in need. SMA families donated all the items for the project.
Ramin said there is a strong push to ensure the schools in the Diocese are not only exceptional academically but will help students grow in their faith and as good citizens.
“Initiatives such as the Called by Name program encourage young people to think about vocations with the focus on Catholic social and emotional learning that ties to our Catholic values,” he said. “It’s about providing a well-rounded education that prepares kids for life — not just college.”
“As Jesus reminds us, cast your net out to the other side and you will find something,” added Mackey (John 21:6). “At St. Mary’s Academy, we are thoughtfully and proactively ‘casting our nets’ towards a future where our students are not only academically strong but also compassionate, collaborative, and well-equipped to navigate the changing world, guided by our faith.”
For more information on the strategic plan, contact Principal Cathy Mackey at [email protected].
