We encourage all students, including our military familes, to be involved in all that our school has to offer
Academics
New students are tested for Reading and Math to determine the best educational setting for their academic learning levels. Students in grades 7 are able to take Algebra I High School credit class or pre-Algebra and to begin Spanish I High School credit class. Students in grades 8 are able to take the following high school credit classes: Algebra I or Geometry, Spanish I or Latin I, and GeoScience.
Saint Mary Star of the Sea School incorporates the Consensus Curriculum established by the Diocese of Richmond. This curriculum can be found electronically on the Diocese of Richmond website
All students are required to take religion, language arts, math, science, and social studies. Enrichment classes include technology/library, art, music, PE/health, foreign language, and marine science (included in the science classes).
Student Accommodation Plans
If your military child has an IEP or is in need of one, the school special needs coordinator works with the family to provide guidance on working with the teachers to determine a Student Accommodation Plan or with the local public school system to begin a Child Study. Support services are listed on the report card in the event a student is placed on a Student Accommodation Plan and has been given accommodations for school work. This plan is determined after a Child Study is conducted through the public school system or if an IEP already exists. It is designed by the special needs team after assessing the results and meeting with the principal, teacher, parents and student. The plan is implemented during the course of the school year according to the learning needs of the student.
Clubs and Organizations
Clubs and organizations present the students with multiple opportunities to become intellectually, morally, spiritually, and physically involved in activities which greatly enhance the building of a community spirit in the school. Clubs include:
- National Junior Honor Society
- Virtue Club
- Marine Science Club
- Little Flowers Club(girls)
- Sentinels Club
- Spanish Club
- Chess Club
- Altar Servers
Community Service
Students who are members of the National Junior Honor Society serve the community in a variety of ways such as preparing and serving lunch to the needy at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Newport News. Middle school students partner with St. Kateri Tekakwitha Church in Yorktown to sponsor students at a Catholic school in Haiti. All students participate in the Lenten Rice Bowl collections and Thanksgiving food drive for the sick poor at the Little Sisters of the Poor Home for the Elderly in Richmond. In addition, each class determines a service outreach project for the year.
