LYNN – When students reported for school last week at St. Mary’s, there were significantly more of them than last year.
St. Mary’s, a Catholic school for students in grades 6-12, welcomed 650 students — 50 more than it had at the end of the 2020-21 school year — an increase of 8.3 percent. There was an even more dramatic increase at St. Mary’s Elementary School at Sacred Heart, where enrollment is up more than 30 percent, with 250 students in grades pre-K-5.
The week of Aug. 23, St. Mary’s held its first Welcome Week in which 150 new students spent time on campus meeting classmates, teachers, and administration, with a goal of making their transition to the school a smooth one.
“We are thrilled with the numbers,” said St. Mary’s Head of School Dr. John F. Dolan. “We worked extremely hard to open our buildings and offer in-person learning all of last year, under challenging circumstances. I think we can attribute our enrollment increase to that, the opening of our new STEM building, and the overall quality of our academic, athletic, and extracurricular programs.”
Dolan also pointed to increased parental involvement as a factor in attracting more students and families. This marks the third year for the Parent Advisory Council, a group of about 15 parents who provide input on issues affecting all aspects of student life at the school.
The co-chairs of the Parent Advisory Council this year are Saugus residents Victor and Mevis Leo, whose daughter, Daniella, is in the seventh grade. Their daughter, Isabella, graduated in 2020.
“We represent the voice of the parents of children at the school,” Victor Leo said. “We discuss matters that are important to students, families, and the school.”
Leo said it was especially important last year for parents to be involved in the process of the school reopening under its Care For All model.
“The administration did a great job with Care For All last year and Care For All 2.0 this year,” Leo said. “They listened to parents, and we felt like our opinions mattered. There are no perfect answers, but we thought the plan was solid and safe. We appreciate having the opportunity to have our daughter experience in-person learning.”
The Parent Advisory Council has been invited to participate in developing the school’s strategic plan, Ascend 2026.
“It has been a great experience as a parent to have a voice when it comes to planning for the future of St. Mary’s,” Mevis Leo said. “It’s very valuable to have parents involved in that process.”
In addition to serving as a liaison to the school for all parents, the Parent Advisory Council shows appreciation for faculty and staff by holding a back-to-school breakfast and holiday luncheon. They have also been involved in planting trees and landscaping on campus.
“We want to give back as much as we can,” Victor Leo said, adding that many of the parents who attended Welcome Week expressed interest in getting involved.
The Leos succeeded Michael and Carolyn Richman as Parent Advisory Council chairs, while the vice chairs this year are Heidi and David Guarino.
“There are many good reasons to solicit parent feedback and to give them a seat at the table,” Dolan said. “We appreciate and respect the fact that they are investing in our school and entrusting us with guiding the academic, spiritual, athletic, and social development of their children. They are among our most valued stakeholders.”