What if my child is behind or ahead of most of his / her potential classmates in a certain area?
Our dedicated teachers are committed to understanding and nurturing each child as a whole individual. They are enthusiastic about supporting students who may need extra help with their studies, and new families often find that their children quickly get on track after transferring. Additionally, we have a skilled reading interventionist on staff who is ready to provide extra support for any significant challenges in literacy.
Why do you have uniforms?
In 2010, a study by the University of Houston titled “Dressed for Success: Do School Uniforms Improve Student Behavior, Attendance and Achievement?” revealed that students wearing uniforms tend to exhibit better attendance rates, higher academic performance, and improved behavior. Additional research has indicated that uniforms may also contribute to higher graduation rates and fewer suspensions. Moreover, uniforms simplify morning routines, are generally more cost-effective compared to regular back-to-school shopping (especially if families utilize our giant uniform swap!), and help foster a sense of unity among students.
Students are encouraged to show their individuality through their actions and their schoolwork (especially art!).
Do the students ever wear other clothes?
Throughout the year, the school has “Dress-down days” where students are able to wear regular clothing, often as a reward. On certain special days, students are encouraged to wear pajamas, a sports jersey, or other themed clothes! Stay up to date for these special days.
Can I have my child change into other clothing before leaving to attend non-school events?
Yes. We have many events both at the school and off campus that our students attend in which they need to change prior to leaving the school.
What if we aren’t Catholic?
You are welcome at SMSM! It may make you comfortable to know that around 50% of our students come from non-Catholic households. We teach children of all faiths. Families are not required to be Catholic or attend Mass outside of school.
Students attend mass every Wednesday, and we teach religion as a subject, particularly the Catholic Catechism. This should be considered when deciding if SMSM fits in your vision for your child’s education.
Would my child be shadowing the grade they would enter or their current grade?
During discussion with the principal, it will be determined where a child should shadow. Some families prefer to focus on their child meeting their prospective classmates, and some prefer to see Firsthand their future classroom and teachers. Every family is different and at SMSM, we honor that.
Where do most of the 8th graders continue on to high school?
Some of our 8th-grade graduates choose to pursue their Catholic education at Rice Memorial High School in Burlington, VT. However, most of our students go on to attend their local public high schools, while some explore other private schools or boarding schools. We often get comments that our graduates stand out as exceptional students everywhere they go!
My child has special needs. Can he or she be accommodated?
We do not have a dedicated special education department, so don’t offer specialized education services. However, we can, to some degree, work with children who need certain accommodations. We can accommodate most learning disabilities, ADHD, and some cases of ASD. The best way to know is to meet with the principal, who is highly experienced with special needs children and will be able to determine whether your child can be accommodated.
“Education cannot be neutral. It is either positive or negative; either it enriches or it impoverishes; either it enables a person to grow or it lessens, even corrupts him. The mission of schools is to develop a sense of truth, of what is good and beautiful.”
Pope Francis