Principal’s Message for September 9, 2019

I had a new 4^th grade student stop in to my office on Tuesday, September 17^th, waiting for the day to begin.  I was meeting with Assistant Principal Dennis Poracky and Guidance Counselor Katie Anderson regarding the progress of new students thus far.  What happened next is exactly why I love being the principal at Saint Mary School.   Since we were discussing new students anyway, I asked Mia what she thought of being at Saint Mary School.  Well, her response, as the commercial states, was “priceless”.

Mia flashed a huge smile and began to tell us all the things she likes about being a Saint!  They included the making a few new friends, coming to work with her father (Mia’s father teaches at SMS), how much she likes her classroom teacher, the cafeteria food is really good, etc.  She then proceeded to tell us that she wants to be a pediatric cardiologist when she grows up.  All the adults in the room looked at each other with an inquisitive look at this pronouncement.  “Why do you want to be a pediatric cardiologist?”  I asked Mia.  She then went on to explain that she was born in China and had to have open heart surgery not long after she was born.  She expressed her desire to help children like herself when she got older.  

So, in order to help make her dreams come true, we have been steadily upgrading our science program here at SMS.  We have a relatively new science lab (built by the SMS Dad’s Club), a new middle school integrated science curriculum where the students will learn about all facets of science in grades 6-8, an Information Commons (almost finished) where students can do research, work on projects and perform STREAM activities, a garden where younger students will learn to grow vegetables and taste different foods while providing fresh produce to soup kitchens, and a new “Go Green” Club where students will learn about conservation and the environment. 

We here at SMS can’t take credit for Mia’s altruistic nature, nor her desire to help others.  However, she fits in beautifully!  It does the heart good to see a young girl so intent on improving the lives of others who’ve suffered greatly.  Her whole demeanor spoke to her sincere concern for other children suffering from the same ailment.  Upon further discussion, her reason for wanting to help these people came from a beautiful place of pure innocence.  It was truly a blessing to start my day with this simple interaction.  It reminded me that, sometimes, from the mouths of babes, come the greatest lessons.  This is a simple, but clear example, of how we need to look at things sometimes.  After all, we are called to have a “childlike faith” and come to the Lord as children!  

Please continue to pray for our school, its staff, students and families, and our clergy as we strive to provide an education that is unapologetically Catholic, family centered, caring to others and respectful to all. Please check our website, Facebook page and the Church bulletin for updates and upcoming events that you can enjoy with us.

God bless,

Craig Palmer
Principal