We Are
St. Mary's
💙 Father Mike joined Mrs. Esparza and members of our faculty at dismissal today to provide additional love and support to our community in light of today’s tragedy in Minneapolis.
📣 Can’t wait for Fall Sports? Check out this SUMMER SPORTS REPORT: Over the summer, Luke K. was selected to the Huguenot Little Leage Baseball 6/7 Coach Pitch All-Star Team! The Huguenot Green Jets won the 6/7 Bethlehem Invitational Silver Bracket. #MightyMonarchs
📸 SMCS Parent Submission
RSVP NOW ✈️ If you have a student in 8th grade, you don’t want to miss next Tuesday evening’s Info Session detailing plans for an educational tour to France and Spain in Summer 2026! #LinkInBio #IBMYP #GlobalPerspectives
This sweet smile sums up how we feel about our first day back #together 💙
📸 @saracristinphotography
🦁 Nothing beats that First Day Back-To-School kind of morning! Welcome, Mighty Monarchs to the 2025-2026 School Year!! #WeAreSaintMarys @cdr_catholic_schools @richmonddiocese
🍎 Meet the Teacher Day is done and we cannot wait to see you all again tomorrow!! #ReadyToRoar #MightyMonarchs #WeAreSaintMarys
🎨 Just follow the dots to find your favorite Art teacher, Ms. S! #Lead #Learn #Create #Together #WeAreSaintMarys
👟 PLAYGROUND PLAYDATE: It takes a village—and a heavy dose of parent networking—to kick off the new school year on the right foot. Big thanks to these Kindergarten and G2 mamas (and staff members!) who know how to get things done while creating fun moments! #WelcomeBack #MightyMonarchs #ReadyToRoar
📸 Mrs. V, SMCS
Day✌️of Teacher Work Week!
✅ Faculty & Staff Photos
✅ Continued Classroom Prep
✅ Clinic Training & Safety Plan Review
#ReadyToRoar #WeAreSaintMarys @cdr_catholic_schools
🍎 Happy Day 1 of Teacher Work Week to the very best of the best! #WeAreSaintMarys #WelcomeBack #PilgrimsOfHope
These Middle School Readiness campers have taken locker fashion & function to a whole new level! Pro tip—if your student wants to use wallpaper decor, it must be magnetic (not peel and stick). We can’t wait to see all of our Mighty Monarchs soon! #ibmyp #mightymiddleyears @cdr_catholic_schools #readytoroar #wearesaintmarys
🛍️ Today’s used uniform sidewalk sale was a hit thanks to our hard-working PTO volunteers. And there’s still time to visit and make a purchase if you can make it before 10:30am! #readytoroar #pto #community #wearesaintmarys
🎒These mighty middle school Monarchs are getting a head start on organization at Middle School Readiness Camp with Mrs. Hartgrove! #lead #learn #serve #wearesaintmarys
🥂Cheers to the most beloved team of Faculty & Staff who make Saint Mary’s Catholic School feel like home. We were blessed to experience the 2024-2025 school year together! #ROAR #WeAreSaintMarys #Thankful
🍍It’s time for summer adventure! Don’t forget to:
1️⃣ Tag us @saintmarysrva
2️⃣ Bring Flat Monty along for the fun!!
#SummerBreak #MightyMonarchs #WeAreSaintMarys
“They will follow the Lord; He will roar like a lion.” Hosea 11:10 #LeadMeLord #SpiritualTheme #WeAreSaintMarys
🎉 The final day began the same way we started the school year—with smiling teachers forming a cheer line—and a few flamingos and leis thrown in for good measure! #HelloSummer 🦩🌺☀️
📸 Nurse Jones, SMCS
Before the end of our last school mass together we prayed for departing teachers, Mrs. George, Mr. Roberto and Mrs. Olesen. We promise to show our gratitude through our actions this summer! #ThankYou
In his keynote address to the Class of 2025, Christian Largo (SMCS ‘13), reminded them of the importance of being followers, not mere fans, of our faith. He likened their journey to serve God in their lives to that of First Responders—those who live with courage, always at the ready to love and serve others as Christ did. Thank you, Christian! Our grads are indeed ready for deployment! #lead #learn #serve #LoveOneAnother
👋 This is not goodbye; you know where to find us, Mighty Monarch grads! #MonarchsForever
Those smiling faces who transformed the Upper Commons before greeting and serving our graduates’ families were volunteer students and parents from the 7th grade! Let’s show them BIG GRATITUDE in the comments below 💙💙💙 #tradition #gratitude #community #WeAreSaintMarys
🎓 Tonight we watched these Monarchs take their final steps as 8th graders. Next stop, high school! Full album coming soon to our Facebook page… #ClassOf2025
Looking for more JK-G4 Field Day fun? Hop on over to our Facebook page to see an album of 100+ photos from today! #FieldDay #FunDay #ROAR
🎶 Members of our school choir performed today in front of a packed theater at the Kings Dominion Festival of Music where they sang beautiful renditions of Arms of an Oak and Don’t Let the Music Stop! Special thanks to Mrs. Moretti and Joe Lenich for always supporting and encouraging our mighty singers. #MonarchPride
📸 Danielle Moretti, Lisa Sprosty, Mrs. Padden
🇺🇸What better way to learn about the 50 states than to eat your way across the USA? #MonarchTraditions
📸 Mrs. Firment, SMCS
👑 Meet our newly crowned “Reflective” Monarchs for the month of May! #ibLearnerTraits #ROAR #MightyMonarchs
2nd graders read their creative writing stories to JK students today! #lead #learn #read #together
📸 Mrs. Carpenter, SMCS
So proud of these tiny Monarchs! They are READY TO ROAR into first grade 🦁🦁🦁 #WeAreSaintMarys #classof2037
Today’s Field Day was followed by an evening of dinner, prayer and volleyball for members of our 2025 graduating class! #MonarchsForever
📸 Mrs. Vehorn & Mrs. Kirk
📸 Looking for tons of fun G5-G8 Field Day photos? Hop on over to our Facebook page to see the full album of 100+ images and smiles! #linkinbio
🎉 It’s true!! TOMORROW, 5/30 IS A FREE TAG DAY FOR ALL STUDENTS (except 6th grade who will have their FREE TAG DAY on Monday, June 2)! Big thanks to our little Principal-for-the-Day for making this epic decision!! #WeAreSaintMarys #CountdownToSummer #MightyMonarchs
🍨 Raise your hand if you enjoyed making ice cream in G5 Science today! 🙋♂️🙋🏽♀️🙋🏻 #MightyMonarchs
📸 Mrs. Benton, SMCS
🐢 Rainy days call for reptilian visitors! #HandsOnLearning #WeWashedOurHands #Science
📸 Mrs. Turner, SMCS
🗝️ G2 completed a Theology themed escape room! #Lead #Learn #Pray #Together
📸 Mrs. Cosby, SMCS
Today our G4 students traded their classroom for a Field Experience at @dominionenergy in Chesterfield! #Lead #Learn #Serve #WeAreSaintMarys
📸 Mrs. Trout & Mrs. Vehorn
This morning after School Mass we recognized outstanding citizenship, service, academic achievement, sportsmanship and more! We’ll feature a complete recap in this Friday’s Flash. #ComingSoon
🥇📚💥So proud of these Mighty Monarch Readers who participated in today’s Battle of the Books!! Big congrats to our Middle School Students for bringing home the WIN!! #MightyReaders #WeAreSaintMarys
📸 Mrs. Valdepeñas, SMCS
Sunny days call for Literature Circles outside!
📸 Mrs. Carpenter, SMCS
Big thanks to @virginia_state_police for bringing even the fuzziest members of your amazing team to visit our students during recess today! #Lead #Learn #Serve
📸 Mrs. Turner & Mrs. Esparza, SMCS
🏈 Thanks to everyone who made this Flag Football Season Mighty!! #WeAreSaintMarys
📸 Mrs. Heller
🥹 It’s Monday of our last full week together and we aren’t sure whether to laugh or cry at this sweet video of our 8th graders playing with the parachute during PE one last time… #Countdown #MonarchsForever #MakingMemories
📸 Mrs. Robinson, SMCS
They might play for different teams, but they are all Mighty Monarchs!! 💙💙💙
📸 Mrs. Hinchman & Mrs. Heller
🌳 Outdoor math for elementary students and outdoor food truck lunch for middle school! #WeAreSaintMarys
📸 Mrs. Carpenter & Mrs. Kirk
Our community is FULL of super talented superheroes! #FineArts #Lead #Learn #Create #Together
🇺🇸 As we approach 8th grade graduation, leadership roles are being passed down to the next group of Monarch leaders! #FlagDuty #Lead #Learn #Serve
💙 Help us spread the word! We are currently accepting applications for 1st and 6th grade students for the coming school year—which means entry to our highly sought after IB Middle Years Programme for those who successfully complete the admissions process. More info in the Admissions section of our school website! #linkinbio #WeAreSaintMarys @cdr_catholic_schools
⏳💒🌺🎶😎 JK is doing an ABC countdown to summer! Monday was the letter K which meant they took a trip across the hallway to visit Kindergarten!! Tuesday was L so of course they had a Luau! Today is M, so they are listening to music…Will Friday feature a slimy “O” creature mentioned in Father Mike’s homily this morning?! 🐙🐙🐙
📸 Mrs. Villa, SMCS
4th grade completed their Monticello field study today! We are incredibly blessed to live in proximity to so many historic sites that make learning come alive. #Lead #Learn #Serve #WeAreSaintMarys
📸 Mrs. Vehorn & Mrs. Trout, SMCS
Happy, happy Mother’s Day from our ECDC student artists!! 💐💐💐
Sometimes new traditions just happen spontaneously…Introducing the annual 4T vs 3T kickball game: no winner, just fun and a group selfie at the end!
📸 Mrs. Turner, SMCS
Today our tiniest Monarchs got to tour the church with Mrs. Heishman! #lead #learn #pray #together
📸 Mrs. Villa, SMCS
Many thanks to Mr. Jones for visiting with our fourth graders today to teach them about nuclear energy!
📸 Mrs. Trout, SMCS
👑 Congrats to these Mighty “Principled” Monarchs of the Month for April! Principled learners act with integrity and honesty while also taking responsibility for their own actions and the consequences that accompany them. #ibWorldSchool #MonarchPride #WeAreSaintMarys
Students were entranced by the history that unfolded in Rome today as the world welcomed our new Pope! #AveMaria #PilgrimsOfHope #WeAreSaintMarys
🌪️ “Toto, I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” #TheresNoPlaceLikeSMCS 💙💙💙 #TAW2025
📸 Mrs. Hamm, SMCS PTO
👀 We had an early morning delivery…Keep an eye out for details regarding next week’s Spring Book Fair!! #MonarchsRead @scholastic #WeAreSaintMarys
🩺 In addition to being Teacher Appreciation Week, it’s also National Nurses Week! Help us show them some love in the comments below ❤️❤️❤️ #BlessedByTheBest
⛪️ Today was a very special day for students in our elementary school who recently celebrated their First Communion. Affectionately known as “Second Communion” this morning’s mass was a way to officially honor their sharing in the Eucharist! #MonarchMilestone #LeadLearnPray #Together
📸 Mrs. Carpenter & Mrs. Robinson, SMCS
✨ A little stroll through Emerald City and Lollipop Land! #WeAreSaintMarys #PTO #TAW2025
💙💙 Today both our hearts and our goody bags are overflowing with love!!! #TAW #thoughtful #community
🌈 What a start to Teacher Appreciation Week!! Your “yellow brick road” messages for faculty and staff melted our hearts and our spirits were “defying gravity” thanks to the incredible efforts of so many PTO volunteers who spent the weekend decorating doors and hallways and preparing special treats! Our community is Oz-some indeed! #Gratitude #TheresNoPlaceLikeSMCS #WeAreSaintMarys
👶🏽👶🏻👶 In addition to all of today’s exciting activities, another Monarch tradition was revealed: The Great Guess Who? Wall adorned with adorable baby photos of our 2025 grads-to-be!
📸 Mrs. Kirk, SMCS
📸 Looking for photos from today’s Grandparents’ Day and May Crowning celebrations? They will be linked in the Friday Flash (and are also posted on Facebook)! #ComingSoon
📷 Mrs. Slagle, SMCS
#MayCrowning 🌸🌸🌸
💒 Join us in celebrating Mrs. Esparza today in honor of National Principal’s Day! #BlessedByTheBest #MonarchPride #WeAreSaintMarys
PE teacher for the day! #GalaExperience #TeacherFeature #PTO
📸 Mrs. Robinson, SMCS
IB Community Project Presentations ✅ These soon to be grads have achieved yet another huge milestone! #MightyMonarchs #IBmyp #MonarchPride
📸 Mrs. Kirk, SMCS
🚌🐦⁉️ Did the Pigeon get to Drive the Bus? You will have to ask a tiny Monarch! #FieldStudy #MoWillems #WeAreSaintMarys
📸 Mrs. Villa, SMCS
#Repost @richmonddiocese 🕊️
・・・
Though we mourn the passing of Pope Francis, we celebrate his life of service and his reminder that Christ walks among us in our journey as Christian people.
Let us reflect on his wisdom when he said: “We are not alone; we do not walk alone.”
Monty had a blast tagging along with some of his favorite Monarchs on their Easter vacation adventures! #MightyMonarchs #WeAreSaintMarys #FlatMonty
The countdown to graduation continues and we are feeling all the feels! 😢 #MonarchsForever
Third graders distributed handmade Easter lilies after school mass this morning! #Tradition #HolyWeek @cdr_catholic_schools
📸 Mrs. Turner, SMCS
✝️💐 Our school and parish community honored Mrs. Southworth at Mass today ahead of her rite of initiation celebration weekend! #HappyEaster
🦦 Field Study at @maymont_rva #lead #learn #play #together
📸 Mrs. Carpenter, SMCS
On Monday, students participated in a Lenten Retreat and Eucharistic Adoration as a means of entering Holy Week in prayerful reflection. #HolyWeek @cdr_catholic_schools
🥍 Even outside school, Monarchs “stick” together! #ReadyToRoar
📸 Mrs. Carpenter, SMCS
8th grade IB Community Projects are making an impact! These students hosted a donation based dog wash event with proceeds benefiting the @henricohumane society! #IBmyp #WeAreSaintMarys
📸 Mrs. Kirk, SMCS
👑👑👑 If you thought you saw a pride of Monarchs volunteering at the Monument Avenue 10K this past weekend, you did! #lead #learn #serve
📸 Mrs. Willis & Mrs. Bumgarner
PTO partnered with our teachers to do some really fun, new Teacher Features this year! Thank you to everyone who bid—these smiles say it all!! #WeAreSaintMarys
📸 Mrs. Hamm, SMCS PTO
✈️🌕🚀🏎️🏁 From the time the plane wheels left the ground in Richmond, it was clear that our HERC team bound for the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama would make its mark. Their experience was the culmination of months of hard work which was recognized by the competition’s Organizing Committee at the event’s Awards Evening when the entire audience applauded St. Mary’s history-making participation as the first Middle School in the world to be selected to participate in HERC’s RC Division! #MonarchPride #STEM #WatchThisSpace
📸 Mrs. Vehorn & Mrs. Dahl
👟 The track team had a great meet on Wednesday at the Benedictine Schools of Richmond. The highlight of the meet was the 4 x 100 relay team of Blake B, Andy G, Nick B, and Ben L taking home a resounding victory. Blake B, an 8th grader also finished in the top 3 finish in the 100 and 200. Track team members will be back in action in early May! #GoBigBlue #MightyMonarchs
📸 Mrs. Caulder & Mr. Schaefer
🍌 Want to hear something bananas? One week from now we will all be on Easter Break!! (In other related news, yesterday’s after school Banana Split & Movie Party was a blast!) #PTO #GalaExperience #priceless
🪪 Class of ‘21 grads—Are they smarter than a 3rd grader? Mrs. Olesen shares her prediction as they go for their much coveted “multiplication licenses!” #MonarchMilestones
🚀 ALABAMA BOUND: Seventeen middle school students plus parents and accompanying faculty members were given a special blessing today at school mass as the group prepares to travel to NASA’s HERC program competition at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville! #STEM #ShootForTheMoon #ibmyp
📸 Mrs. Robinson & Mrs. Byrd
🦜 One of our new feathered friends stopped to chat about World Language with Madame/Señora Lee after visiting with our Elementary school this morning!
🍎 It’s National Assistant Principal’s Week so today we recognized Mrs. Dahl and our little AP for the day, Scarlett S.! #BlessedByTheBest @cdr_catholic_schools #GalaExperience #WeAreSaintMarys
🏐 Despite some serious student hustle, our Faculty & Staff team was victorious in yesterday’s Volleyball fundraiser! #SeriousFun #WeAreSaintMarys
📸 Mrs. Dahl, SMCS
🐣 Another eggcellent day together! #WeAreSaintMarys
📸 Mrs. Villa, SMCS
For one day only, our teacher privilege winners got to dress like a teacher and enjoy their own “lounge” snacks! #GalaExperience #PTO #PricelessMemories
☔️🌷🌷🌷 What else do April showers bring?? PEEPS!
📸 Mrs. Southworth, SMCS
🎓 So proud of 8th grader, Sydney D., (pictured left) who was recently awarded the 2025 Debbie Robson Merit Scholarship to attend The Steward School for high school. This scholarship honors Debbie Robson, associate head of school for community advancement and a beloved member of The Steward School community who died in 2014.
Sydney is SCA President and is known for her caring attitude, artistic talent and athletic ability. She joins other Monarch graduates at Steward including Lourdes O. (pictured right) who also received the Debbie Robson Merit Scholarship in 2023. #MightyMonarchs #MonarchPride #NextStopHighSchool
Look what hatched over the weekend!! 🐣
📸 Mrs. Carpenter, SMCS
So grateful for everyone who came out to support our teachers on Friday for another delicious Pasta & Prayer event! #LentenSeason #Tradition #BlessedByTheBest
This morning we celebrated 25 years of Shadow Stations of the Cross programs at Saint Mary’s Catholic School! #MonarchMilestone #Tradition #LentenSeason
Congrats to our Monarchs of the Month for the month of March, our Risk Takers! Risk Takers approach unfamiliar situations with courage and have the independence of spirit to explore new strategies. They are brave, but not reckless, and articulate in defending their beliefs! #WeAreSaintMarys #ibLearnerTraits #CatholicVirtues
STANDBY FOR MISSION UPDATE: The countdown has begun for 17 students who will make history later this month as members of the first and only Middle School Team to ever compete in the @nasa Human Exploration Rover Challenge RC division. WATCH THIS SPACE—we’ll provide updates as they become available. Until then you can make a donation and join our “Virtual Pit Crew!” #linkinbio
#STEM
#WeAreSaintMarys
#ReadyToRoar
🔥When inspired by the Holy Spirit in math class, you write your multiplication facts in the shape of a cross!
#lead
#learn
#pray
#together
🧃 Picnic lunch with friends in the courtyard! #GalaWin #Gratitude #PTO
🦉Whoooo loves hands-on learning and discovery? These Mighty Monarch scientists! In addition to dissecting owl pellets and sorting bones, our second graders can tell you about the sound predatory bird wings make (or don’t) and how this helps them surprise their prey!
📸 Mrs. Carpenter, SMCS
✝️ Be a part of Monarch history—this Friday! Look for flyers in JK-G3 backpacks or details in yesterday’s Weekly Reminders email. Deadline to preorder dinner is tomorrow! #Pasta+Prayers #WeAreSaintMarys #Tradition
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@SAINTMARYSRVA // #WEARESAINTMARYS #RVA #READYTOROAR
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What Our Families Say
“Beyond the academics,
St. Mary's an easy choice for our kid's spiritual and social well-being.”
The Burke Family
“Our children learn important values that help to build exceptional character.”
The Harrington Family
“We are forever grateful for the positive impact St. Mary's has had on our family.”
The Griffin Family
“We love that our kids learn through a global lens in an environment rich with faith and fun traditions.”
The Kirk-Pedersen Family
Saint Mary’s Catholic School admits students of any race, color, national, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
