During his tenure as Archbishop of Washington, D.C., James Cardinal Hickey recognized a growing need for an elementary school to serve the upper Montgomery County, Maryland area of the Archdiocese. He envisioned not just a single parish school but a regional school attended by children from numerous parishes. A meeting was convened with the pastors of seven upper county parishes: Mother Seton, Germantown; Our Lady of the Presentation, Poolesville; Our Lady of the Visitation, Darnestown; St. John Neumann, Gaithersburg; St. Mary’s Shrine, Barnesville; St Paul, Damascus; and St. Rose of Lima, Gaithersburg. The pastors unanimously agreed to the formation of a regional school – the first Catholic elementary school in the Archdiocese in 30 years.
Mary of Nazareth School opened on August 29, 1994, in a converted barn on the old Boyer farm property acquired by the Archdiocese. There were 87 students in grades K-3. Sr. Frances Stavalo, M.P.F, of the Religious Teachers Filippini was the first principal and led the school for eight years. Initially, sisters from her order helped staff the school as well as teachers from the Sisters of St. Frances of the Martyr St. George and lay teachers. In all, the Filippini Sisters devoted nine years to the school, while the Sisters of St. Frances served for five years.
Sr. Elaine Bebyn, M.P.F., another Filippini religious, succeeded Sr. Frances as principal for the 2002-2003 school year. Mr. Michael J. Friel, our first lay principal, has been leading our school since the 2003-2004 school year.
The first phase of construction of the present facility was completed in time for the opening of school in August of 1996. The building, dedicated by Cardinal Hickey on September 28, included classrooms for kindergarten through eighth grade, a science lab, a computer lab, a multipurpose room, kitchen facilities, a health room, a teacher’s lounge and administrative offices. Modifications to an existing brick building provided space for the library, a chapel, and rooms for the before and after care progra
Enrollment continued to grow and each year an additional class was added to appropriate grades. The most recent phase of construction was completed in the spring of 2004, providing more classrooms, another administrative office, the art and music rooms and a teacher’s lounge allowing the older teacher’s lounge to be used for other purposes. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, former Archbishop of Washington, D.C., dedicated the new facilities in the fall of 2004.
Mary of Nazareth is blessed to have the Katie Fitzgerald Center, the first facility of its kind constructed as a Victory Youth Center, adjacent to our school. This gymnasium, a project of the Archdiocese with assistance from Montgomery County, is used by the school for its physical education program during the school week and is available weekends and evenings to various teams and leagues. It is also used for school-wide events including our religious ceremonies, the annual Christmas pageant and the spring concert. Since opening, the center has been an invaluable asset to the school community.
From its inception the school has been supported by enthusiastic parents and a very active Home and School Association. Parents coach after school sports programs, organize annual fund raising events, run family/community fun activities like Bingo and the Sock Hop, support our field trips, and are always available when teachers need a volunteer.
Extracurricular activities supported by parents and staff have grown along with the school. They include a Science Club, Ski Club, Band, Yearbook, Chess Club, and dance and etiquette lessons for the eighth grade (the Cotillion). The sports program, available to children in grades K to 8, includes baseball, tee ball, soccer, basketball and cheerleading.
From Mary of Nazareth School’s first days in the barn with 87 students and 8 teachers, to our current enrollment of 505 students supported by a professional staff of 45, we look forward to Kindergarten graduations at the school and eighth grade graduations hosted by one our seven parishes. There are currently two classes of every grade.
Cardinal Hickey’s vision of a Catholic school for upper Montgomery County is a reality. Mary of Nazareth School, supported by seven parishes, devoted families and experienced staff, continues to grow and fulfill the need Cardinal Hickey recognized so many years ago