Curriculum
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OUR VISIONSt. Martin’s Catholic School is a student-centered learning community committed to academic excellence and the development of strong characters embedded in the Gospel values and Catholic tradition. A pillar in the Gaithersburg community, St. Martin’s is committed to educating the whole child and to providing a place where students not only thrive academically but also are challenged to be leaders in their school and society. By diversifying the curriculum to encompass authentic learning experiences, it continues to strive to meet the needs and learning styles of children from varied backgrounds and cultural experiences. Technology literacy, 21st century teaching/learning skills, and core academic content at advanced levels empowers the students to become responsible persons in their own educational experiences now and in the future.
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SCHOOL HISTORYSt. Martin of Tours School is a Catholic elementary school (Grades Pre-K - 8) affiliated with the Archdiocese of Washington and St. Martin of Tours Parish. St. Martin’s holds the distinction for being the first Catholic School in the Archdiocese to be established in Montgomery County. The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur welcomed the first classes on September 14, 1925, and continued in ministry at St. Martin’s until 1970. Following the Sisters’ withdrawal, the Pastor, Monsignor Paul Meyer and the Parish Council continued the Sisters’ commitment to Catholic education by establishing a School Board as well as a Home and School Association (HSA). Subsequently, the transition to an all–lay faculty was made. In 1988, a new school and parish center building was opened, through the dedication and efforts of Rev. Americo DiNorcia. The school expanded to include a licensed After-Care Program. Today, the school offers a strong academic program under the direction of the Principal, Anthony Sahadi, and an outstanding faculty and staff. Together with the current Pastor, Monsignor Mark E. Brennan, and the assistant pastors, St. Martin’s provides an excellent faith-centered education program. The Faculty and the Administration, working together, empower the students to develop their unique gifts, as well as their full potential, in an atmosphere embedded in the Gospel Values, mutual respect, and Catholic traditions. St. Martin's School recently commemorated its 90 anniversary in 2015. Our community looks forward to many more years of faith, service, and scholarship.
Elementary (K-8) Curriculum and Standards
We adhere to the Archdiocese of Washington Catholic Schools Office curriculum and standards. This curriculum meets and exceeds the curriculum requirements for the Maryland State Department of Education. The curriculum contains educational framework designed to develop 21st century skills. All curriculum standards reflect a continuum of learning from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade. The ADW continuously update curriculum documents to ensure they are academically challenging and developmentally appropriate to encourage and nurture life-long learners.
Our Catholic faith is central to our curriculum and permeates the life of the school. The students are given daily religious instruction to support their spiritual growth. This instruction utilizes daily prayer, devotion, and opportunities to serve others. Preparation for the Sacraments of First Holy Communion and Reconciliation is the central focus in second grade. Confirmation preparation spans the seventh and eighth grade years, with students being confirmed in the spring of their eighth grade year.
For grade and subject specific standards, please refer to:
ADW Catholic School Curriculum Standards
Assessment
St. Martin’s School use standardized tests to measure how well students master the concepts and skills being taught. These assessment tools also compare our students’ scores to others across the country. We use a computerized assessment tool that offers distinct advantages for teachers, parents, administrators, and students—including students with special needs.
For details, please refer to: Assessment - Archdiocese of Washington Catholic Schools (adwcatholicschools.org)
Accreditation
All archdiocesan elementary and secondary schools within the Archdiocese of Washington are accredited by Cognia.
The Cognia accreditation process is recognized for its ability to effectively drive student performance, ensure mission effectiveness, and promote continuous improvement. Annually, our Archdiocesan schools collect and analyze data, set goals, plan, implement, and evaluate their school improvement efforts. This ongoing continuous review and evaluation of activities leads to authentic school improvement.
The Cognia accreditation process surpasses state standards in that a group of school administrators and superintendents from around the nation spend three days evaluating the Archdiocese of Washington Catholic schools and our school improvement efforts. The review includes interviews with stakeholders, classroom observations and surveys of faculty, parents, and students. As part of the accreditation process, the Archdiocese must report to Cognia its progress in addressing our team’s Improvement Priorities within two years as well as provide evidence of compliance with yearly assurances completed by schools. The comprehensive review visit takes place every five years.
The Archdiocese of Washington Catholic schools Cognia accreditation is valid through June 30, 2026.
