The Mission of Saint Mary's Hall is to:

• Provide excellent academic preparation that results in success at college and in life.

• Promote a wide range of exceptional opportunities in athletics, fine arts and student activities that result in well-rounded students.

• Provide students opportunities that generate enlightened, involved and productive citizens for service and leadership in the school and larger community.

• Reinforce, model and promote ethical behavior and spiritual development resulting in life-long values.

• Offer a safe, friendly, and family oriented environment that results in support for students, families, faculty/staff, and alumni.


Motto

Teach Us Delight In Simple Things.


Core Values

• Courage
• Integrity
• Respect
• Responsibility
• Spirituality
• Tolerance
• Tradition


Philosophy

A Saint Mary's Hall education encourages a lifelong love of learning in an environment of respect, responsibility, compassion and integrity. Our goal is to be among the finest college preparatory schools in the country. To this end, we are dedicated to a continuum of excellence in education, beginning with early childhood learning in our Montessori and Kindergarten programs, continuing through Lower School, Middle School and culminating in our comprehensive college preparatory program in Upper School. Overall, the Saint Mary's Hall program seeks to provide each student with an opportunity to attain his or her personal best. The specific objectives of a Saint Mary's Hall education combine moral and character-building goals with academic, athletic and artistic goals. Our expectation is that each student will:

• Develop an intellectual discipline, which includes skill in the logical process, ability for self-evaluation and interest in lifelong learning.

• Learn and appreciate the value of high ethical standards.

• Understand the political and economic systems of our country, as well as other countries and understand the value of community participation and environmental awareness.

• Participate in athletic programs and gain knowledge and awareness of the value of team-building and lifelong participation in physical fitness.

• Gain knowledge and appreciation of the visual and performing arts and appreciation for cultural diversity.

• Become an educated and ethical contributor to the society in which he or she lives.

• Acquire self-confidence and poise.



Statement of Religious Expression

Saint Mary’s Hall is a school with strong historical ties to the Christian faith, the Episcopal Church and Judeo-Christian values. Our school welcomes and respects students, families, faculty and staff of all religious faiths.

In light of its history, Saint Mary’s Hall maintains many Christian-based traditions, symbols and ceremonies, but does not seek to promote or favor one faith over others. In keeping with longstanding traditions, Saint Mary’s Hall will conduct Christian prayers and use selected readings from the Bible and other religious texts at school ceremonies where prayers and readings are customary or appropriate. Acknowledgement and celebration of Christmas, Easter and major holidays of the faiths represented in our school is an acceptable activity at Saint Mary’s Hall.

The school recognizes and promotes the importance of a strong religious faith and encourages its students and families to be active participants in their faiths. Saint Mary’s Hall believes the guidance, direction and strength derived from religious faith plays a large part in the fulfillment of our school’s mission of producing ethical students with life-long moral and spiritual values. The Saint Mary’s Hall educational experience is enhanced by a community with different religions and cultures. Our school is committed to ensuring that all students’ and families’ religious beliefs are respected.

In recognition of our beliefs regarding the importance of practicing individual faith, the school allows the exercise of religious faith in a manner that is consistent with Saint Mary’s Hall’s standards of citizenship, civil behavior and core values. During free times students may gather for prayer, study of religious texts or for discussion of religious topics. These discussions must be student led and initiated. These activities cannot be used to proselytize other students to join a specific faith or be disrespectful of any other faith. Such gatherings should be promoted through word of mouth and will not be publicly advertised or promoted through written school communications or posters.

A Protestant Chaplain will be employed on the staff of Saint Mary’s Hall and will be available for consultation, support of special needs and individual prayer.

Additionally, religious studies will continue to be an ongoing part of our Upper School curriculum either as a significant portion of a world studies course included in Saint Mary’s Hall graduation requirements or as an independent course required for graduation. This study of the major religions of the world is required in order to support increased awareness of diverse religious perspectives and to promote respect for the beliefs of people of various faith traditions.