St. Mary's is dedicated to and provides resources for the support and academic development of each student. St. Mary's administration and faculty realizes life is complicated, and we embrace the responsibility to assist our young women in making meaning of their world.
The TA program is designed to provide each student personal contact with a teacher advisor (TA) throughout her entire four years of high school. Meeting with students at least four times a week in groups of 15-20 (the girls collaborate with the same TA for all four years at St. Mary's), this relationship enables the adult advisor to be available to motivate and support students in academic, co-curricular, and interpersonal arenas. Complementing academic counseling, the TA program is meant to assist students in adjusting to and becoming active members of the St. Mary's community. TA time is used for communicating information, coordinating TA functions, class and social activities, and celebrating special events like birthdays and holidays.
Link Crew is a transition program that welcomes freshmen and transfer students and makes them feel comfortable throughout the first year at St. Mary's. Built on the belief that students can help students succeed, junior and senior Link leaders act as role models to motivate our new comers in their discovery about what it takes to be successful in high school. This program begins with an orientation before school starts. Following the orientation are periodic meetings throughout the first year to discuss pertinent issues. This creates a supportive network of students making real connections with one another.
For students needing advice, counsel, or assistance, St. Mary's has the following resources available: two personal counselors, an academic counselor, a learning center, and campus ministry.
The Learning Center exists to help students improve their study skills and experience academic success. The center realizes this vision by providing academic support through study skills classes, workshops, and individual assistance.
St. Mary’s Academy has two college counselors who work with students and parents on all aspects of the college admissions process. Most of this work takes place during the junior and senior year through individual meetings, classroom presentations, and college nights for parents and students. In addition, over 100 colleges visit the school each year giving juniors and seniors an opportunity to talk directly with college representatives.
The college counselors provide information sessions for students and parents before the junior year. Each year parents of 9th and 10th grade students are invited to attend a college counseling information meeting, and students in these grades will have a college counseling presentation in one of their classes. Students take the PLAN (practice ACT) as a sophomore and the PSAT (practice SAT) as a junior. We find that students and parents often have early questions about the admissions process and their selection of classes and activities. Our general advice is that students should look for activities that they find enjoyable and meaningful and they should select courses that will provide an appropriate level of challenge. We are happy to talk with 9th and 10th grade students and parents about specific questions related to college admissions, course selection, and related issues.
For more details and information on college counseling at St. Mary’s Academy, please see the college counseling page within this website.
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