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Susan Buchanan, Principal
St. Mary's Catholic School is where education begins for a lifetime.
As an educator and parent, I know the value of a Catholic education. My name is Susan Buchanan, I may be the first lay principal of St. Mary's, but I am very familiar with Catholic education. I received my elementary, high school, college and one of my masters from Catholic schools. I have taught in Catholic schools since 1970. My son, likewise has attended Catholic elementary school and is presently attending St. Bernard's High School.
My first visit to Arcata last spring, brought me the feeling that St. Mary's students are fortunate to have such a wonderful relationship with home, school and community. This involvement is not only with St. Mary's Parish, but also with the Arcata and McKinleyville communities where most of the children live. The students are involved in helping others through organizations like the Arcata Endeavor, "Pastels on the Plaza" and the McKinleyville Open House, where they volunteered to participate in a Live Nativity.
As we all know, the first educators of our children are parents. St. Mary's School works with our parents in this pursuit. We encourage parent participation at school whether in the classroom or activities that are planned for them.
At St. Mary's students interact with other children whether it is playing on the playground, cross-age tutoring or "family groups". This opens the door for communication while at play, at work or at prayer with older and younger children.
The St. Mary's motto "We care about teaching and teach about caring" comes across in all that takes place — from the qualified teaching staff; to the support from the St. Mary's Parish; and to children themselves, learning to be caretakers of creation.
As principal, I am fortunate to be working with excellent teachers, who provide a rich and varied curriculum, to meet the needs of the children. Likewise, I am fortunate to have concerned parents, who are involved with their children and volunteer for fundraisers, who help in the classrooms and other school activities. And I am fortunate to have a new pastor, Father Eric Freed, who is so supportive and enjoys teaching and talking to the students in church and visiting in the classrooms.
St. Mary's School provides our children a safe, loving and faith-centered educational environment, which instills in them the understanding that they are a part of a school, parish, and community, to which they will be expected to give back and share what they have learned with the world in which they live. How wonderful it is to be a part of the St. Mary’s family... |
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Susan C. Buchanan is the first lay principal. She comes to St.
Mary’s with a background of teaching in Catholic schools since 1970, a Masters
in Elementary Education and a Master in Administration.
