Educating Beyond the Classroom
August 21, 2025
This article appears in the August Issue of Reflections and Connections
St. Mary's Springs Academy (SMSA) was established by the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes in 1909 as a boarding and day school for girls. As the school has transformed through the years into its current PreK-12 system, the sisters have remained connected, even after giving up day-to-day administration in 1970. Sisters have been regular volunteers on the Board of Directors, in classrooms, and even in the nurse’s office. Recently, relationships have brought educational opportunities for students at the motherhouse.
In January, nearly 150 SMSA students, grades 9-11, participated in a two-day event learning about the history of CSA and SMSA and culminating in “Sit with a Sister” sessions allowing students to engage in meaningful conversation with sisters in groups of five students. CSA has also organized social justice roundtable discussions for the students, an interfaith panel, and invited senior girls to the Breakfast with Women event in March.
Mary Gentile, Senior Theology instructor at St. Mary’s Springs, reflected “Collaborating with CSA has added depth and richness to my students' learning experiences. The interfaith panel, social justice roundtable discussions, and women's breakfast have all been unique opportunities to apply the concepts and ideas that we have explored and processed in a classroom setting in relevant and practical ways. The intergenerational interactions are particularly valuable - students have the opportunity both to give and to receive perspectives and wisdom specific to their age group.”
Many of the current students have parents who were taught and inspired by sisters. While the classroom relationship has changed, their children are now getting similar opportunities to see the CSA charism and mission in person.