Saint Mary Catholic Church in Guthrie has long joined parishes across the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City in providing a school to instill a Catholic education for the kids of local families.
The school graduated its last class in 2020, leaving yet another Catholic building empty amid dwindling students. But out of the ashes of Saint Mary Catholic School arose a new program, however, and in 2024, Saint Mary Academy is seeing the end of its first school year with a new zeal to bring Catholic education back to the community.
“SMA is within the old school building, and is a Catholic school cooperative,” said Headmaster Tomas Sandoval, adding that it is separate both from the Saint Mary Catholic Church parish and the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. “It is a combination of homeschool and in-school. We’re striving to have as classical an education as possible.”
SMA plans to have students from grades pre-k to 12, although the first graduating class isn’t expected until next year. SMA currently has 60 students learning from 19 educators. Quite a difference from a few years ago, when they felt they had lost their Catholic school for good.
Angela Staudt is assistant headmaster at SMA and has long been associated with Saint Mary Catholic School.
“It is difficult for a parish, if they have a mission school, and it closes,” said Staudt, who attended the school.
“I went to Saint Mary School and the school brought my family into the faith,” she said. “My parents converted when I was 10. All of my children were there at one point. The younger three came with me for the four years I taught at Saint Mary School.”
Once the school closed, Staudt turned to homeschooling to continue a private education. It was those parents who were once educating their kids at the school, and also homeschooling, who were looking for an alternative, which led to what is now SMA.
SMA is accepting enrollment through May 31. For more information visit smaguthrie.org.
Sandoval listened to, and worked with the parents, to make the unique cooperative approach materialize.
“My wife and I talked to another couple of mothers who wanted to educate their children in a Catholic environment, while keeping them as close to home as possible,” he said. “What that led to is the cooperative model.”
They approached their pastor, Father James Wickersham, and he was happy to support the measure.
“I taught at Saint Mary School before, and knew it was closing, and talked to Father Wickersham about the opportunity, and he loved what we were doing,” Sandoval said. “He’s letting us use the space, and on the board, as well.”
There are several basic core curricula the students learn, starting with grammar at the youngest grades, learning how to speak and communicate, as well as logic.
“Grammar is essentially learning words, putting words together. How do you communicate,” Sandoval said. “Logic is taking those concepts and applying it to what is true in the world. Logic is philosophy.”
The older students learn rhetoric, how to make a positive impact around themselves.
“It’s essentially taking those philosophies and turning them into the poetic, and influencing the world around them,” he said.
Classes offered through the school year include mathematics, Latin, science, philosophy, theology and grammar. SMA joins all Catholic schools in putting church first, including prayer.
“The goal of SMA is to equip parents and empower them to be the primary educators,” Sandoval said. “The way we find this most effective is by only having in-school classes two days a week.”
As for those who once called Saint Mary Catholic School home, many are excited as they see a new Catholic education opportunity within the Guthrie community.
“The school’s being used in a little bit different way, but it gives people an opportunity to serve, and that is a beautiful thing,” Staudt said.
Everett Brazil, III is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.