St. Mary School to Host Community Information Session on Tennessee Education Freedom Act Voucher Program – April 10, 2025

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Oak Ridge, TN – St. Mary School will host a community information session on the Tennessee Education Freedom Act Voucher Program on Thursday, April 10, from 6:00 to 7:00 PM in the St. Mary School gymnasium.

This public event will provide families with essential information about Education Freedom Scholarships, a new initiative that allows residents of Tennessee with a child eligible to attend a public school in grades K–12 to use state funds toward approved education expenses. These expenses may include tuition and/or fees at registered Category I, II, or III private schools located in Tennessee.

The proposed scholarship amount for the 2025–26 school year is $7,295 per eligible student. This funding could significantly expand access to private school education for families across the state.

Attendees will learn more about eligibility requirements, the application process, and how these scholarships could be used to support a private school education, including at St. Mary School. St. Mary School is currently the only school in Anderson County intending to participate in receiving Education Freedom Scholarship funds.

“As an institution that has been an integral part of the Oak Ridge community for 75 years, St. Mary School is committed to supporting families in making informed educational choices,” said Tiffany Shreve, Director of Advancement. “This information session is one way we can educate our community and surrounding areas about the new options available through the State of Tennessee’s Education Freedom Scholarships.”

For more information, please contact Tiffany Shreve or visit https://school.stmarysoakridge.org/.

About St. Mary School

The St. Mary’s School students, families, teachers, and parish are united to provide a Catholic education in a Christ-centered environment, dedicated to academic excellence and promoting truth and charity in service to God and others. Founded in 1950, St. Mary’s is an award-winning, private, Catholic school offering PreK–8th grade classes. As an integral part of the Oak Ridge community for 75 years, St. Mary School is committed to fostering an education that emphasizes not only academic success but also the personal growth of each child. With a focus on a whole-child approach, the school integrates science, technology, religion, engineering, art, and math (STREAM) into its curriculum, ensuring a well-rounded and innovative education.

St. Mary’s Middle School Students Excel at Regional Science Fair

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Building Conflict Resolution Skills in A.R.M.E.S.

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St. Mary’s School in Oak Ridge Helps Students with Social-Emotional Learning

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Anne Garrett Reading Room Opens at St. Mary’s School

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7th & 8th Grades Visit Nashville

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St. Mary’s School Celebrate 25 Years of Excellence

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St. Mary’s School, located in the heart of Oak Ridge, reached a significant milestone this school year. The 2023-2024 school year marks 25 years of being an accredited institution. While the education practices and standards and the accrediting organization’s name has changed (originally Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, then Advanced Ed, and now Cognia), the devotion of the St. Mary’s faculty and staff to continuous improvement and their unwavering commitment to their students has not changed.  

 

The school accreditation process is an opportunity for improvement. The organization gives the institution a framework of standards analyzed and evaluated for proficiency. The standards examine everything from policies and practices to the culture and climate of the school. Through school visits, interviews, and panel discussions they evaluate the institution and provide improvement goals and areas of commendation.  

 

St. Mary’s opened its doors in 1950 and serves a student population of around 200 from five counties. They offer small class-sizes from 3-year-old preschool to 8th grade. General academics are enhanced with dedicated science labs for both their elementary and middle school students, physical education, music, Spanish, art (including drawing, pottery, and glasswork), library, and technology (including coding, 3D printing, keyboarding, and program usage). Aside from their amazing academic programs, students, families, and even visitors comment on the loving, family atmosphere of the school.  

 

At St. Mary’s your child can truly experience a journey that matters. If you are interested in exploring more of what St. Mary’s has to offer, visit their website at school.stmarysoakridge.org or contact their admissions office for at tour, 865-483-9700. 

Patriot Pen Winner Announced

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Congratulations to Saint Mary’s School’s Ellie Greeson for winning the Veterans of Foreign Wars essay contest! This award is given annually to a local middle school student and Ellie, a 6th grade student at Saint Mary’s School in Oak Ridge was announced this year’s winner. Mickey Vickery, representing the VOFW Post 12051, said that her essay brought tears to the eyes of those who read it. He then talked with middle school students about his experience with war and presented Ellie her certificate and a check for $100. Pictured above from L to R is Superintendent Mary Ann Deschaine, Ellie Greeson, Mickey Vickery. Picture on the right is Mr. Vickery presenting Ellie her certificate and check.

Click here to read Ellie’s award winning essay.

2024 Science Fair

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Saint Mary’s held their annual Middle School Science Fair on Thursday, February 8th. Judges from the area and local laboratories discussed with the students, in detail, everything about their project including their hypothesis and conclusion. The 1st – 5th place winners will go on to participate in the Southern Appalachian Science and Engineering Fair held on UT campus on March 26th.

 First Place winner Josh Diaz speaks to judge Rick Lowden, retired Engineer from Oak Ridge National Lab, about his project titled “Seeds Unite or Divide.”
Winners front row L to R: Principal Sr. Mary John, O.P., Aliana Ayala – 3rd Place; Phinley Halcrow – Honorable Mention; Betty Johnson – Honorable Mention; Arianna Paoletto – Honorable Mention; Sr. Gloria Christi, O.P. – Middle School Science Teacher
Back row: Leilani Cooper – 4th Place; Josh Diaz – 1st Place; Gabriel McCallum – 2nd Place; James Lutz – 5th Place.

Family Legacy Expressed through Gift to Saint Mary’s School

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