At a Glance
SMA At a Glance
Mission and History
Maryland Charter
Strategic Planning
A Quick Look at St. Mary of the Angels School
Student-to-Faculty Ratio:
Early Childhood 10:1 / Primary School 20:1 / Middle School 20:1
Student Body
3-year-old Preschool – 8th Grade, with a total of 240 students.
Accreditation & Affiliation
National School of Character, AdvancEd, Archdiocese of Chicago, State of Illinois Board of Education.
Core Values
We are Kind, We are Respectful, We are Responsible, We make Smart Choices!
School Motto
Children Don’t Join SMA… Families Do!
Faculty
St. Mary of the Angels School has 28 men & women on staff. All classroom teachers are certified. SMA supports our teachers’ and staff’s ongoing professional development and facilitates the pursuit of advanced degrees.
School Colors
Navy & White / Athletic Team Name: Jaguars
Uniforms
All students, Preschool through 8th Grade, are required to wear uniforms. Our current uniform supplier is Dennis Uniform. Throughout the year, there are designated out-of-uniform days for the students to enjoy.
School Hours
Our school office is open daily from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and the school day is 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Before School Care
Early morning care begins at 7 am for an additional charge.
After School Care
St. Mary of the Angels School offers an after-school academic, athletic, and social program for an additional charge for all children from preschool through 8th grade. After-school care ends at 6 p.m.
Lunch Program
An optional lunch program, provided by the Food Service Program (FSP), is available for all students from Preschool through 8th Grade. Snacks for Preschool through 1st Grade are arranged within the individual classrooms.
Financial Aid
Each year, SMA awards need-based scholarships. Approximately 25% of our student body receives financial aid. Students must be accepted to apply for financial aid.
High School Admission
The High School Placement Process begins in 6th Grade, with a weekly class – Pathways To High School. This class focuses on Growth Mindset, note-taking skills, and placement test-taking strategies and provides information on admissions procedures and requirements for high schools throughout Chicago and the surrounding area. There is also an annual High School Night where students can meet with the admissions teams of some of the most selective high schools throughout the city.
Mission and History
Our Mission
To receive each child as unique gift, collaborating with parents to cultivate the intellectual, moral and spiritual talents of each child, enabling the child to direct his emotions as a respectful son or daughter, a generous and loyal friend and a responsible high school student who has the courage to live his Catholic faith among peers in service to God, family and country.
We achieve this by
An education approach based on the Maryland Charter; A challenging academic curriculum enriched by extracurricular activites; Seminars and classes that inspire parents to exemplify the character they seek for their children; A safe and secure environment, under the Virgin Mary’s protection, in which good moral habits and Christian virtues are exemplified.
Our Aim
That our students be:
- Today’s good citizens in the family, community and Church and;
- Tomorrow’s good spouse-parents, friend-leaders and saint-apostles.
History
On February 15, 1900 four Sisters of the Congregation of the Resurrection opened St. Mary of the Angels School with an enrollment of 425 students. Throughout the past century, St. Mary of the Angels School has seen enrollment rise and fall, and the neighborhood and city of Chicago change drastically. All of this time, our building has stood tall and strong, weathering risks of closure, overflowing classrooms, threats of demolition and more. Almost 10 years ago, the fate of St. Mary of the Angels School was in question once again. With an enrollment of only 112 students, and in a state of financial crisis, the Archdiocese and the administration of St. Mary of the Angels School put their faith in the leadership of a new principal, Ms. Elizabeth Dolack. Ms. Dolack inherited a mission: to boost enrollment and save our school from closure. Under her guidance and leadership, St. Mary of the Angels School grew over 200% in only 4 years. In 2013-2014, SMA had the highest enrollment increase of all schools throughout the Archdiocese of Chicago. Not only has St. Mary of the Angels School been saved from near closure, but it has grown into one of the strongest, most vibrant and sought out schools of the West Town neighborhoods.
Maryland Charter
Inspired by John Paul II’s teaching on the person, St. Mary of the Angels School has developed a practical and philosophical approach to education that prepares young people to be good American citizens and Catholic faithful. This creates a culture of freedom and respect that motivates young people to take initiative and to be creative in the use of their talents. Our Whole-Family/ Whole-Person Philosophy: As partners, St. Mary of the Angels School reinforces parents’ efforts to guide the intellectual, emotional and spiritual growth of their children into strong and confident adults. It’s Impact on Curriculum: The Maryland Charter augments the standardized curriculum with primary sources and classic works of literature to foster love of our Catholic identity and American heritage, while valuing other religions and cultures.
Strategic Planning
The growth of St. Mary of the Angels School, from 96 students to over 290 for the 2023-24 school year, has taken our school from the brink of closure and allowed us to begin setting our sights on sustainability and continued growth for the years to come. In collaboration with the School Advisory Board and the School Administration, St. Mary of the Angels School has created a strategic plan to bring our school into the future. With a commitment to excellence, we are determined to provide the best environment for learning, teaching & growing.
The strategic vision focuses on the needs of our students and their experience. Our areas of focus include Curriculum, Technology, and facilities.
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