Mater Dei School

Mater Dei is an independent, Catholic school for boys, grades 1 through 8. The curriculum is a reasonably fast-tracked one in which consistent effort and reading are emphasized; however, character development is the school's top priority. Religion is taught daily. All classes are generally limited to twenty students. Grades 1 through 4 are housed in the Lower School and grades 5 through 8 are in the Upper School.  Grades 5 through 8 are departmentalized with specialists teaching most subjects. Students have multiple community service opportunities, attend numerous field trips and Upper School students participate in “Outdoor Week.”

 

In grades 1 through 4, classes are generally between 18-20 students with small groups pulled for reading.  Students participate in daily physical education and recess for 40 minutes each.  Art, music, computers and library are each taught once per week.  Lower School students also attend class field trips and perform community service.

 

Mater Dei students in grades 5 through 8 participate in a wide range of competitive sports with other independent schools. This program includes soccer, football, basketball, wrestling, hockey, baseball, tennis, and lacrosse. In addition, there is an intramural and physical education program for grades 5 through 8 with every boy participating in some activity.

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School opens at 8:00a.m., classes start at 8:20a.m. and school is dismissed at 3:00p.m. Homework Club is offered Monday through Thursday after school until 4:15p.m..

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Mater Dei School intends to provide an accelerated yet basic Catholic education in which character development is emphasized and appreciated as much as academic accomplishments. In a traditionally structured yet relaxed atmosphere, the students are encouraged to both work and play hard; accordingly, a strong athletic program complements the scholastic curriculum.

 

By providing effective role models as teachers, Mater Dei tries to impress upon its boys that academic success depends upon consistent and responsible effort in class and on assignments; that by being good persons they can best fulfill their roles as students and their obligations as Catholics; that they must and should be held accountable for their actions and inactions; and that by not taking themselves too seriously they can gain a valuable perspective on the ups and downs of school life.

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For all of us, this effectively means “Work hard, play hard, pray hard, but most of all, Be A Good Guy!