Embracing the Past & Celebrating the Present

EMBRACe THE PAST,

CELEBRATe THE PRESENT

St. Mary's Episcopal is a school deeply rooted in tradition. We honor the past by thriving in the present and celebrating special moments.

Our belief in a holistic education that's rooted in religious faiths and traditions drives our dedication to providing students with a nurturing environment that encourages academic excellence and fosters spiritual growth. Additionally, we offer a unique curriculum that's designed to promote an understanding and appreciation of different faiths and traditions.

We also celebrate the achievements of our students, especially alumni who are graduating high school, through events such as Senior Sendoff. This is an opportunity to honor and recognize the hard work of the graduating class and all their accomplishments. It's also a chance for our students to share their plans for the next phase of their lives and the paths they will take after graduation.

We believe that our school community is a place where students can thrive academically, socially, and spiritually. Our devoted faculty and staff work tirelessly to ensure that our students receive a well-rounded education that prepares them for success in all aspects of their lives.

EXPLORE ST. MARY'S TRADITIONS

St. Mary’s has been fortunate to have generations of families return to campus, following in their siblings, parents, or grandparents’ footsteps on the path to become Saints “lifers” – a student who attends St. Mary’s from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. What’s most special is these students get to experience many of the same traditions their family members did from Opening Chapel to the John A. Shepard Field Day and all of the special celebrations in between.

Opening Chapel

Opening Chapel is how we kick off the school year. Hundreds of school members gathered together in Chapel as we welcome our newest Saints and pay homage to our “seniors” in 8th grade.

Weekly Chapel

Our entire school community - students, faculty, staff, parents, and friends of St. Mary's come together every Monday and Wednesday to reflect and enjoy Chapel services together.

Chapel

Our entire school community - students, faculty, staff, parents, and friends of St. Mary's come together every Monday and Wednesday to reflect and enjoy Chapel services together. In addition to our weekly services, St. Mary's also offers a Pet Blessing, a special Veterans’ Day chapel, Christmas Lessons and Carols, and other special celebrations throughout the year.

John A. Shepherd Field Day

John A. Shepherd was the Headmaster of St. Mary's from 1980-1991, and Field Day is named in his honor. The student body is divided into two teams, Gold and Blue, competing against each other in outdoor activities and the Knowledge Bowl on Field Day, in addition to participating in a variety of competitions throughout the year for additional points on their Field Day final score. Spirit Week is the week leading up to Field Day and features fun themes for dressing up each day.

8th Grade Surprise Trips

Surprise trips for 8th graders are a favorite among students. The class goes on one trip per quarter and the trips are a surprise to students until the day of. Recent surprise trips include: Busch Gardens, go-karts, Top Golf, bowling, and roller skating.

Innovation Incubator

Now in its second year, Innovation Incubator is a day focused on continuing education for all grade levels. Trips and experiences have included: learning about aerodynamics while “skydiving” at iFly, a behind-the-scenes tour of the manatee hospital at ZooTampa, and visiting local sacred sites for World Religions students, among others.

Grandparents’ and Grand Friends’ Day

Grandparents’ and Grand Friends’ Day is a popular event held right before Easter weekend. It's an opportunity to celebrate the grandest people in our students' lives and showcase our campus, performing arts, and more. Grandparents and Grand Friends are a special part of our community and are welcome on campus throughout the year to volunteer!

Parents’ Association Benefit

Our annual Benefit is the Parent's Association's largest fundraiser which occurs in the fall and is a celebration that brings together our community of families, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends for an evening of fun and philanthropy. This event helps to fund school projects that are important to our community and enrich the lives of all St. Mary's students.

Senior Sendoff

Every May, St. Mary's brings together the graduating class from four years prior, celebrating them and their St. Mary's Episcopal Day School experience together one last time before they graduate from high school and start the next chapter in their lives.

Holidays at St. Mary’s

St. Mary’s celebrates various holidays throughout the year in special ways. Boo Review is a Halloween assembly featuring costumes, idiom boards, and poems. December is full of memory-making events like PreKindergarten Cookies with Mr. Salvo, and the 8th Grade White Elephant gift exchange and dinner, both at Mr. Salvo’s home. Reindeer Games is a field day for St. Mary’s youngest students that takes place on the day before students are released for Winter Break. There are other opportunities for celebrations throughout the year like the Gasparilla Pirate Invasion and smaller, grade-specific parties for Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, and more.

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Why ST. Mary’s?

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Discover the Magic of St. Mary's

We understand there are a lot of questions when considering schools. We’re here to answer those. Connect with us to discuss your questions.

Let us help you determine if St. Mary's is the right fit for your child.

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We're eager to welcome your family to our vibrant community and show you how we inspire curiosity, kindness, and dignity. We look forward to sharing more information, getting to know your child, and helping you get to know St. Mary’s Episcopal Day School.

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Schedule a visit to explore St. Mary's School, located on 8.5 acres in sunny Tampa. Our campus facilities include classrooms, laboratories, art and music studios, a performing arts facility, a library, a gymnasium, playgrounds, athletic fields, St. Mary's Church, and much more.

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Traditions