Virtual Tour

St. Mary's High School has been gifted with a strong religious presence of Priests, Brothers, and Sisters throughout its history. The Dominican Sisters of San Rafael have been joined by the Brothers of Mary, the Franciscan Friars, diocesan priests, the Sisters of Charity of The Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales.

Gifted, dedicated lay men and women have contributed to the strengthening of our curriculum. Our talented faculty represents expertise in 10 disciplines, offering over 130 courses in religion, English, social studies, mathematics, physical education, science, computer resources, foreign languages, business and vocational arts, and fine arts. Twenty-seven cocurricular activities and teams in 14 sports provide a variety of ways in which our students can develop their talents.

St. Mary's graduates, numbering over 9,000, are scattered throughout California, 48 additional states, and 13 foreign countries.

Throughout the years of service, the mission of St. Mary's has remained constant even during times of change. Its goal is to develop the whole person spiritually, intellectually, socially, and physically, and to prepare its graduates for whatever they face by giving them the necessary values and skills for their futures.

Statement of Philosophy

St. Mary's High School is committed to the proclamation of the Good News of the Gospel. The school proclaims its Catholic identity by teaching doctrine, building community, and promoting service to others. The school is also a concrete example of the Church's commitment to educate its people.

The school desires to guide its students to achieve a personal relationship with Christ through religious instruction, the Christian atmosphere of the school, and the good example of the staff. Because students live in a world filled with sin and suffering, the school tries constantly to present a Christian and hopeful view of the human condition. Teaching Christian values and Christian morality is one of the main thrusts of the school's educational ministry.

Just as Jesus identified Himself as the vine and His Church as the branches, He calls us to community based on shared faith, hope, and love in the life of the Spirit. "Community is at the heart of Catholic education as a reality to be lived." The role of the school is to create a readiness for growth in community through worship and prayer and through the events of everyday life. Since community grows through personal relationships, it is the responsibility of the family to model in their own relationship the values of Christian community. (To Teach As Jesus Did, National Conference of Catholic Bishops, 1972).

Jesus repeatedly impressed on his audiences the necessity for service. He constantly reached out to others, "I am in your midst as one who serves." As a Christian community, we share beliefs, experiences, ideals and values. Christian community leads us to put aside selfish goals and private interests for the sake of others. Service, then, is the result of hearing the message of hope, of growing in its understanding in community, and of sharing that growth with others.

St. Mary's High School also strives to create within its believing community a learning community and strives for excellence in both areas. "We are concerned with constant and careful attention to cultivating in students the intellectual, creative and aesthetic faculties of the human person; to develop in them the ability to make correct use of their judgment; to promote in them a sense of values; to encourage just attitudes and prudent behavior; to prepare them for higher education and professional life; and to encourage the friendly interchange among students of diverse cultures and backgrounds that will lead to mutual understanding." (Lay Catholics in Schools: Witnesses to Faith)

St. Mary's also believes that additional sources of learning, which exist within a school community are the co-curricular and athletic programs. In these settings, students learn the importance of an education, are held accountable for academics and the reputation of the school, and are helped to succeed personally. Through their participation in co-curricular and athletic pro-grams, students experience positive interaction, support, and healthful living.

Lastly, St. Mary's acknowledges that every person is an individual endowed with great dignity by Almighty God, capable of happiness and success in the world. The staff strives to respect each individual by affirming the value of that individual in the classroom and in extracurricular activities. The staff also treats the students with fairness, and concern by helping them achieve self-discipline, personal, spiritual, and academic growth.

St. Mary's community is blessed with tremendous diversity. Both students and faculty represent varied backgrounds and bring to the community a variety of gifts and talents. It is our responsibility to provide fertile soil so that the gifts and talents of all will be nourished. Within the school environment, we help students to recognize that they are being called to share their gifts and talents with the larger community. St. Paul in his letter to the Corinthians writes that one generation lays a foundation, each succeeding generation builds on it. In our time, we depend on what has gone before, and we contribute to what will be for the future.

Location
The school is located on North El Dorado Street, one mile east of San Joaquin Delta Community College and two miles north of the University of the Pacific.

Type of School
St. Mary's is a Roman Catholic, four year, co-educational comprehensive high school under the direction of the Bishop of the Diocese of Stockton. It is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and by the Western Catholic Education Association.