Small but mighty

Friday, November 20, 2009
(Submitted photo)

St. Mary's Catholic School may be the one of the smallest schools in the Catholic Diocese of Wichita, but the school's latest accomplishment is huge.

St. Mary's, 702 S. Eddy St., is one of three rural diocesan schools that recently received the Governor's Achievement Award for Educational Excellence for scoring in the top five percent of all elementary schools in Kansas on the 2009 Kansas assessments, which St. Mary's students took in April.

"This is awesome," St. Mary's Catholic School Principal Krista Gorman said. "I am so proud of our teachers. We are a small school with limited material resources but we are blessed with great teachers and supprotive parents and parishioners."

The parochial school, which has an enrollment of 68 preschool through 5th grade students, may be small, but it is mighty, as evidenced by its selection for the Governor's Award, a statement from the diocese said.

Gorman said the award is the result of a collaborative effort among several people within the parish.

"We're excited and honored to receive the award," she said. "Our teachers work so hard, and our parents are so involved. It's an award for our entire school ... We're fortunate our kids are well prepared."

The school now has a prestigious award to grace its new facility which opened in April and was blessed and dedicated in June. The new facility contains an elementary school and library but also contains meeting rooms, church offices and an Adoration Chapel where members of the parish volunteer to pray around the clock for the intentions of the church and community.

Due to water damage and termite infestations, the old St. Mary's school building, constructed in 1923, was demolished in June 2008 and teachers, students and staff began classes last fall in temporary mobile classrooms while the new building was being constructed. School personnel, students and parishioners began moving into the new facility in March, and the first classes there took place that month.

With all of the events of the past year or so, Gorman said this recent accomplishment is a "great start" for the school as it begins creating a history in a new facility.

"It (the award) speaks to the fact that your school is not your building, it's what's inside the building ... it's important that we focus on Christ and continue a commitment of excellence," Gorman said.

Students at the school attend regular mass services at the Mary Queen of Angels Church, which is located just south of the new school. The pastor of the parish is Father Darrin May. The history of the Fort Scott school dates back to 1865.

The other recipients of the Governor's Award for Educational Excellence are St. Patrick in Kingman and Holy Cross Catholic School in Hutchinson.

"There are very few, if any, other school districts that had three schools qualify for the Governor's Award," Diocesan Superintendent Bob Voboril said. "This recognition also confirms the qualify of our rural schools."

The Catholic Diocese of Wichita, founded in 1887, covers 25 Kansas counties and is home to more than 120,000 Catholics in 91 parishes.