About Us
Principal's Welcome
Dear Families,
Mary of Nazareth School is committed to an educational model of continuous growth and improvement. The past few years have provided countless opportunities for our school community to thrive and flourish. I am excited about the 2024-2025 academic school year and the enriching experiences that separate Mary of Nazareth School from other schools in the area.
Our families enjoy:
- A strong sense of community, significant parent engagement, and unparalleled school culture.
- Sprawling campus of 191 acres including Hiking Trail with outdoor classroom, and beautiful community spaces
- Upgraded Facilities
- Before and Aftercare (PreK-8th Grade)
- After School Clubs and Activities
- STREAM Lab
- Specials classes, including PE, Art, Music, Computers, Spanish, and Library.
- One to One Devices in 4th through 8th grade (MoN Chromebook Provided)
- Weekly Intramurals for Middle School
- Mass
- CYO Sports
- Spring Musical
- School traditions such as Back to School Picnic, Race for Scholars, Halloween Parade, Grandparents Day, Super Bowl Flag Football, Christmas Concert, Spirit Day, Catholic Schools Week activities, and May Crowning
As you review our school programs, you will quickly recognize that Mary of Nazareth School works diligently to provide a learning environment that is engaging, supportive, and enriching. Our strength lies in our steadfast Catholicity, common values, and desire to raise children of faith.
The students of Mary of Nazareth School are constantly challenged to excel academically, live virtuously, and treat one another with Christian charity. Our staff's willingness to positively impact the development of each student is unwavering. Working together to achieve our school mission and lead the children to a greater understanding of discipleship is not only our motivation, it is our responsibility.
I welcome you to learn more about our school community and encourage you to contact Mrs. Maryellen Wray at admissions@maryofnazareth.org for information about open houses, school tours, and student shadow visits.
Sincerely,
Michael J. Friel
Principal
Explore
Philosophy
Mary of Nazareth School is a Christ-centered environment where each child, nurtured by the parent, parish and educator, is encouraged to follow the example of Jesus in all aspects of life. Our students thrive in an environment of regular worship, service, daily prayer, devotion to Mary, and consistent reference to the word of God. We welcome diversity among our inclusive student-body and stress the unifying concepts of tolerance, love, and respect. Students are encouraged to seek knowledge through the teachings of the Catholic Church and apply those teachings to daily life.
Mary of Nazareth School is comprised of three age-focused programs: early childhood, intermediate and middle school. Within these programs, teachers collaborate to develop and strengthen relationships. These interdependent relationships within the school community are fostered through the leadership of administrators.
The curriculum of the Archdiocese of Washington is viewed from a Catholic perspective, with a central love for the wisdom that comes from the Holy Spirit. The faculty is aware that the manner in which we model our love of God and the Church encourages our students in their own search for lasting faith. Families of our students and their individual parishes continue to foster a love for Christ and a respect for education. Parents are the primary educators; in partnership, teachers and parents strive for the overall success of each student.
We are dedicated to providing students with a well-rounded curriculum, which focuses on the spiritual, developmental, emotional, cognitive, and physical well being of our students. Recognizing the multiple learning styles and diverse needs present in each classroom, the educators differentiate with a variety of resources, teaching methods and assessments. Through reinforcement, praise, and consequence, we foster enthusiasm for education. As a result, our students develop inner confidence to make choices that positively impact their world.
History
During his tenure as Archbishop of Washington, DC, James Cardinal Hickey recognized a growing need for an elementary school to serve upper Montgomery County. He envisioned a regional school attended by children from numerous parishes. A meeting was convened with the pastors of seven upper county parishes: Our Lady of the Visitation, Darnestown; St. Mary’s Shrine, Barnesville; St Paul, Damascus; St. Rose of Lima, Gaithersburg; Mother Seton, Germantown; St. John Neumann, Gaithersburg; and Our Lady of the Presentation, Poolesville. 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 in Darnestown, MD. The same property is home to one of our seven school parishes: Our Lady of the Visitation. The parish, led by founding Pastor, the Rev. Dr. Raymond Fecteau, postponed the building of the church until Mary of Nazareth School was open to students. Sr. Frances Stavalo, M.P.F, of the Religious Teachers Filippini was the first principal, leading the school for eight years. 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. Sr. Elaine Bebyn, M.P.F., another Filippini religious, succeeded Sr. Frances as principal for the 2002-2003 school year. Mr. Michael J. Friel, the first lay principal, has been leading our school since the 2003-2004 school year.
The present school building, dedicated by Cardinal Hickey, was completed in 1996. It includes classrooms for kindergarten through eighth grade, a science lab, a computer lab, a multipurpose room, kitchen facilities, a health room, teachers’ lounges and administrative offices. Subsequent modifications provided space for the chapel, preschool, library, academic resource center, and rooms for the extended care program. Mary of Nazareth purchased the Katie Fitzgerald Center in 2012, which has been an invaluable asset to the school community. During the school year, the KFC is used as a gymnasium for physical education as well as school-wide events.
Cardinal Hickey’s vision of a regional school for upper Montgomery County has grown into a thriving community. The school is faithfully supported by devoted families from seven parishes and a dedicated faculty and staff. Our current enrollment has grown from the first days in the barn with 87 children to over 500 students.
Our Parishes
The parish liaison program is designed to enrich the relationship between our school and the seven parish communities. The parish liaison serves as a primary point of contact between the parish and the school Development Office, provides a calendar of events and important news to the school, and coordinates volunteer coverage for parish related events to ensure MoN representation. The liaison also communicates special school events to the parish, such as Catholic Schools Week, service opportunities, the MoN Benefit Auction, and Open House events.
Strategic Plan
The Mary of Nazareth School 2020-2023 Strategic Plan capitalizes on the successes we have already achieved under previous plans and helps define the objectives we would like to accomplish over the next four years. The four themes in this plan are Catholic Identity, Academic Excellence, Affordability/Accessibility, and Technology. This comprehensive plan demonstrates our school leadership’s unwavering commitment toward institutional growth and continuous improvement.
Contact Us
Contact Us
Mary of Nazareth School
14131 Seneca Road
Darnestown, Maryland 20874
P: 301 869 0940
F: 301 869 0942
Mary of Nazareth School
14131 Seneca Road
Darnestown, Maryland 20874
Phone: 301 869 0940
Fax: 301 869 0942
The Annual Giving Campaign at Mary of Nazareth Catholic School is a community tradition.
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