Parent Testimonial
Our family feels blessed to have such a wonderful school available to us. It’s everything we need: challenging academics, a tight-knit community, excellent values, a highly dedicated staff—and it’s quite affordable compared to most private schools! Sending our boys here was one of the best decisions we’ve made for them, and we’ve enjoyed watching them mature and thrive there.

The school does a really nice job balancing academic demands with fun events and activities, and many great friendships have been made here. What really stands out is how much the staff cares—notably Principal Alford, who took his own time outside normal school hours to mentor our son through Confirmation and Holy Communion. This genuine dedication shows throughout the entire parish and staff. Our son is very comfortable here, and he impresses us with what he learns and experiences.

-Tom & Julie LaRose

Very Happy Parents

We had made it through covid with my younger son’s education just barely. I had found an on-line Christian school that was absolutely amazing.  The core education was fantastic but with my son being a little slower cognitively he was challenged with not being able to finish an excess of material.  Fortunately he always had good study habits and had gotten decent grades, but the questioned remained “What comes next”? After having so much incredible material offered from the online Academy I wanted my son to continue to get the advanced material he loved.

Looking back at my older son’s public education with a graduation date of 2019, I had to pause…Dealing with my oldest child’s experience in public high school and all the mentality that seemed to be a priority on many teachers’ agenda, the thought of public school made me sick to my stomach.  My husband and I had lost our faith in the ability of our public schools to teach what we want my younger son to learn.  The external chaos seemed to be at the forefront of my oldest child’s education and our family spent 4 years in a combative relationship with him because our core learning values were different than that of school.

So as time rolled on, Covid now behind us, I had not figured out what to do with my younger son’s education… with just weeks before the start of school God put on my heart to call St. Monica St. Michaels School.  So that is exactly what I did.  My husband and I decided we wanted our younger son to be in a school where just the basics were taught…reading, writing, arithmetic, science, history and a language. We wanted no distractions; life is already hard enough for children today, so having a safe place to learn was a key priority for us.

My husband I wanted a school where a bulling was not allowed, where all kids matter, where diversity in culture was shown love and respect. Where kids that have learning disabilities/dyslexia are able to have a learning environment without “woke” preaching clouding a child’s ability to learn and retain. We wanted a school where drugs and alcohol were not allowed and having sexual intercourse was not a student priority.

Well, my husband and I can proudly say that our son has gotten an amazing education…he is almost halfway through his 8^th grade year and has been able to experience an education without distractions. My husband and I have seen none of the negatives that public school seems to be riddled with. Thank God for God directing us to St. Monica St. Michaels. We now have a confident student who loves learning and has been able to take a break from our modern world…he has been able to experience love; acceptance and I believe an advanced education. If you are a parent reading this and want to talk in person about my child’s experience please feel free to reach out to the school.

Student Testimonial
As an eighth grader studying in an American Catholic middle school for the first time, I was nervous, mainly because my English wasn’t very good. From day one, the principal made me feel welcome and supported, always ready to help with any challenges I faced. My teachers have been incredibly caring and understanding. My English teacher has gone above and beyond—not only helping me improve my language skills but also giving me advice on how to grow up. She creates personalized assignments that match my abilities, which has boosted my confidence in studying. My math teacher patiently explains complex concepts and answers my questions, ensuring I never feel left behind.  My music teacher generously lent me a musical instrument, helping me discover my musical potential. The social studies and religion teacher provides me with tailored assignments, making learning accessible and engaging. My classmates are inclusive and friendly, making me feel like a valued part of the community. I love my school!

(His Parent)
Our decision to enroll our son in SMSM is one of the best we’ve made since moving here. The environment is truly nurturing, and the staff prioritize the students’ well-being. When we first joined SMSM last year, we were in the dark, not knowing what to do at all. Mrs. D’Amico gave us great support, taking care of our son academically and mentally. The admin staff are alway kind and helpful. Beyond academics, the school has provided a vibrant community. Joining the basketball and soccer teams has been a wonderful experience for our son, giving him the opportunity to build friendships and enjoy his time. This school creates a space where students can thrive academically, socially, and personally. We’re deeply grateful for the welcoming and supportive environment it offers. It’s a blessing for our son to student here.

Parent Testimonial
It’s hard to summarize all that makes St. Monica St. Michael School such a wonderful experience for our family during this very critical time in our daughter’s life. There is so much that goes into making SMSM so special and we feel so lucky to have found such a wonderful school.  We chose SMSM first because a solid educational curriculum and a safe learning environment are two of our priorities for her.  Between the experiences me and my sister’s had when we went to a very similar Catholic school, my wife and I were very confident that our daughter would benefit from the same at SMSM.  We weren’t wrong! When we attendParents’/Grandparents’ Day we always see the kids working diligently and respectfully of their teachers and fellow classmates while at the same time their individual style and personality are understood and appreciated by all. It’s been 4 years since we started at SMSM and each year we come to appreciate the school more and more. We have become better parents by attending a multitude of school events and learning from the knowledgeable staff and other parents’ experiences. Knowing we have given our daughter the right foundation at SMSM makes us feel very confident that she is gaining skills and experiences that she will carry with her for life — social and emotional intelligence, a strong sense of community, resilience, self-confidence, the ability to speak up and be heard, the ability to work with other children, the skills for conflict resolution, the ability to think creatively, to follow their interests and investigate and solve problems. Yes, we are very happy and blessed that we found and chose SMSM for our daughter as well as for my wife and myself.  Thank you, faculty and staff, at SMSM for all you do!

Eric J. Smith

Alumna Testimonial
My experience at SMSM was life-changing. I was transferring from being bounced around foster homes, different schools, and total chaos. During COVID-19, I was adopted by a new family, and after a year or so, my new parents decided to try SMSM. Miss Rizzo understood what I had gone through as a small child, including the reasons behind some pretty challenging behaviors, and coached me one-on-one in a way no other teacher has ever bothered to do before, and hopefully won’t ever have to do again. Even when I made mistakes, my classmates and teachers were there for me and wanted to see me succeed. After just a little while, I really felt like part of the SMSM family and that helped me succeed and grow. The teachers at my school helped with a lot of things to get my ready for high school. But more importantly, they tried to get each of us ready for life. I will always remember SMSM as the school where everything changed and I went from being a former foster kid to a daughter of God.

(Her parent)
I never considered sending our children to a Catholic school, until we adopted our daughter in 2020. Our local public school was doing their best with her, but there were just too many factors, too many other children with high needs, too much chaos for our daughter to thrive. One night I prayed to God, admittedly unsure of His existence, to help and tell me what to do. “Do you know of any Catholic schools around?” He said as clear as if He were in the room with me. I had no idea, but it turned out that just 15 minutes away from home, was SMSM. I thought about my experience in Catholic school, and remembered fondly how it was a close-knit community with high standards. Looking into it, we decided to give it a try.

My daughter is not exaggerating when she says it was life-changing. All the teachers were willing to stick it out even when things looked pretty bleak. Likewise, the students were compassionate and charitable with my daughter. We soon made the decision to transfer our youngest son as well, and he is also absolutely thriving.

Between my 3 children, aged 16 to 10, I have experience with having kids enrolled in a total of 7 schools. I have communicated with a total of 7 schools worth of teachers, gone to 7 schools worth of events and assemblies, and seen how my children flourish or flounder in a total of 7 different classroom environments. And I can say with absolute confidence that none of the others even hold a candle to our experience at St. Monica-St. Michael’s. 

The support we have recieved as a family has been unmatched, and because of our school’s Catholic values, I feel truly recognized as my children’s first and most important influence– they recognize the importance of family relationships as a part of kids’ education, rather than as an optional, separate thing. 

In two of their previous schools, they both at one time held Individualized Educational Plans and I admit, I was worried about how they might do without one at SMSM, but I had nothing to worry about– they didn’t need it there. The teachers already treat each child like an individual, and like the sign in the teacher’s lounge says, like Jesus is in each child’s face. My children feel both academically challenged and deeply proud of their work, in a way I’ve never seen from another school. Their progress and growth has been exponential in just the short years we’ve been here, and if I had it to do over again, I’d have enrolled them years ago, the first day we could. I urge anyone to do the same, if they are considering it.

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We have been so impressed with the school’s music program and its seamless transition to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The band program, which now offers virtual band lessons, has transformed our dining room into a virtual music classroom each week as our son practices with his teacher via video conferencing. The transition to online lessons has also given us the opportunity to witness the fun yet educational environment Mrs. Poczobut provides to our children. Our son looks forward to his weekly band lessons, and we couldn’t be more thankful for all that St. Monica – St. Michael teachers are doing to continue an exceptional learning experience through this difficult time period.

-Becky and Dan Somaini

We cannot begin to express how amazing St. Monica-St. Micheal School has been for our kinder-age child! The hands-on learning approach with subjects including religion Spanish, and everything in between has our son flourishing day by day! There is amazing communication between parents, teachers, and staff as well! You can also see and feel that the teachers truly care and love their students, as well as being passionate about the individual student’s learning. We are so grateful to have found a school that possesses these important attributes. We love everything about this school as well as being thoroughly pleased with our son’s progress and learning experience! We look forward to the upcoming years with St. Monica-St. Michael School!

-Nick and Priscilla Mulligan

I’ve had the privilege of teaching middle school at U-32 Middle and High School for the past 15 years. I’ve taught kids from many different schools and backgrounds, and I can always tell when I have a student from Saint Monica- Saint Michael School. From their demeanor to their work ethic, they come ready to learn and be positive contributors to our community. St. Monica- Saint Michael’s students are instilled with a strong foundation that prepares them to be successful both in school and life. As a parent of two children who also attend Saint Monica – Saint Michael School, I’ve witnessed firsthand the quality education the school provides. It’s a safe, tightly knit community of people who all have the children’s best interests at heart.

-JB Hilferty

Eusebio started at St. Monica School in preschool when he was 4 years old and graduated 8th grade in June 2017. He entered Spaulding High School for his freshman year and has transitioned very smoothly. Due to the small size of his class from 6th through 8th grade at St. Monica’s, he had very individualized learning opportunities, which he has benefited from. He has enrolled in all honor classes at Spaulding and is doing very well. When Eusebio was in 7th grade, St. Monica-St. Michael’s partnered with Barre City Elementary School to allow students from St. Monica’s to participate in their choice of sports, for Eusebio, that meant Soccer. Eusebio began his first season on the JV team and was asked to play with the Varsity for their last game of the season.

-Cassie Aja

Our daughter attended St.Monica St. Michael School from Kindergarten through 8th grade. We appreciated the closeness and involvement of the students and families that spanned across all the grades. The older students and younger students bonded during mentoring activities in many subjects and during Mass time as “buddies.” All of the students and teachers in the school know each other, which creates a very special atmosphere. The loving environment and education that she received gave her confidence and prepared her for many things outside of the classroom. She played soccer for BYSA from third grade until seventh, when through collaboration with Barre City Elementary School, she played for the Barre Bulldogs. She was chosen to be a Legislative Page for the State House in 8th grade. All of the doorkeepers and Legislators were impressed with her professionalism, friendliness, and work ethic, which I attribute largely to her elementary school teachers and Catholic school education. Our daughter’s transition into high school has been smooth. She was well prepared academically and socially to be successful in this new, much larger school. She is doing well in her Honor’s level classes and playing sports for the high school as well. She is enjoying being able to branch out from the strong roots that she grew at St. Monica-St. Michael Catholic School. We are feeling very Blessed to have had her start there.

Thank you!

-A parent of a happy St. Monica-St. Michael School graduate.

What People Say

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St. Monica- St. Michael School