Celebrating 160 Years
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Tracy McGovern · Chair
Natasha Chmelir, DVM · Secretary
Tina Miller · Treasurer
Mark Eberle · Honorary
Mike Naumes · Honorary
Mirek Bobek, MD
Steven Boswell
Tanny Flowers, Sr.
Judy Gambee
Peter Grant, MD
Renu Gupta, MD
Christian Istel ‘07
Scott King
Amy Kranenburg
Christopher Murphy, MD ‘01
Adam Peterson
Fr. Ken Sampson
Megan Van Hoven
Chuck Watson
Ryan Bernard · President
Jim Meyer · Principal
Chris Johnson · Vice Principal, Middle School, COO
Lesley Klecan · Dean of Academics
Andrea Saxon Gibson · CFO
Bethany Brown Director of Advancement
Rebecca Naumes Vega ‘99 Director of Enrollment Management
Sarah Primerano ‘97 Director of Alumni Relations
Erin Maxson Kiene Director of Marketing & Communications
Jamie Young · Athletic Director
160 Years of Purpose and Possibility
Summer at St. Mary’s brings a rare stillness to campus—the kind that invites reflection. As the echoes of graduation fade and the rhythms of a completed school year settle into memory, we find ourselves in a uniquely meaningful moment: the beginning of our 160th academic year.
This anniversary has offered us the gift of perspective. It’s a chance to pause and look back—not just over the past year, but over the decades and generations that have shaped St. Mary’s into the community we know today. What began in 1865 as a small Catholic school in Jacksonville has grown into a vibrant, independent institution serving students from around the world. We are no longer a school defined solely by our longevity; we are defined by the purpose we’ve sustained across time and the people who continue to live it out.
We reflect with gratitude on those who built the foundation—visionary Sisters, pioneering families, and generous supporters who gave the school its early strength. We celebrate the present with pride in the students, teachers, and families who give our mission life and meaning today. And we look ahead with excitement, confident that our values—academic rigor, joyful learning, character development, and service—are the right ones to guide us into the future.
This edition of The Messenger tells that story across time. You’ll meet this year’s graduates who were part of St. Mary’s very first fifth-grade class. You’ll see how our student leadership program is inspiring new generations of Crusaders and how recent athletic facility upgrades are building momentum for the years ahead. You’ll read about transformational moments in our philanthropic history and discover fun facts and milestones that show just how much the world has changed around us, even as our core purpose has remained.
Opposite: St. Mary’s Through the Years
1865 – St. Mary’s Academy in Jacksonville
1908 – St. Mary’s Academy in Medford
1951 – St. Mary’s School in Medford
A thread of continuity runs through every story in this issue. Whether it’s a teacher modeling what it means to be a dedicated scholar or a student expressing the joyful spirit of St. Mary’s in daily life, our school continues to prepare young people not just for college but for thoughtful, purposeful lives.
One hundred sixty years is a remarkable milestone, but it is not a finish line. It’s a vantage point—one that lets us honor the legacy behind us while setting our sights firmly on what comes next.
Original school bell from St. Mary’s Academy in Jacksonville
1962 – St. Mary’s High School in Medford
2018 –St. Mary’s School in Medford
St. Mary’s
1st diploma to Miss Ida Beach
were admitted for the first time
O G 5 G
From 5th Graders to Graduates
BY MAREN SCHULTZ ‘00
When I was asked to create the first fifth-grade class in our school’s history, I had no idea just how meaningful the journey would be. There was no curriculum. There were no classroom materials or established systems. Every part of the experience had to be thoughtfully built—from academic content to field trips, from how supplies would be stored and shared to how we would foster a strong, supportive classroom community. The to-do list was endless.
Being in the first 5th-grade class felt like we were all figuring things out together. That experience helped foster a bond that made our class really close.
Thankfully, Whitney Yeamans joined as the fifthgrade aide. From the start, she was a true partner, bringing care, dedication, and an unwavering belief in what we were creating. She became an essential part of everything we built.
In 2017, we opened the doors to something entirely new. And in came the students. That first group was special in every way—curious, eager to learn, and already deeply thoughtful members of a community. They made every bit of hard work worth it.
Watching them grow has been one of the greatest privileges of my teaching career. I had the joy of teaching many of them again in eighthgrade American Literature and have followed their journeys ever since. To see them now, recently graduated from high school, brings all the emotions. They still have that spark and compassion, but now they also carry confidence, clarity, and purpose.
Recently, we opened a time capsule we created at the end of fifth grade. It was a full-circle moment. Their faces lit up with surprise, laughter, and genuine reflection. Then, without hesitation, they asked if they could add more—something they could look back on again in ten years. That moment said so much. It revealed their thoughtfulness, their maturity, and their deep connection to this community. They knew their story wasn’t over—and that this place, these people, and this time in their lives were worth remembering.
I will always remember that first class—not just for what we built together, but for the joy, heart, and spirit they carried with them from the very beginning.
5th Graders turned 2025 Graduates enjoyed a trip down memory lane after opening their class time capsule.
A Winning Atmosphere
Take a Seat... We’re Just Getting Started
Big things are happening in our athletics spaces! Building on last year’s lighting upgrades in the Main Gym, we’ve brightened the Olsrud Gymnasium and refreshed the main corridor of the Naumes Center—making our facilities feel more vibrant and welcoming than ever. Coming soon: sleek new wall padding, bold championship displays, and corridor enhancements that celebrate our athletic legacy.
The centerpiece of it all? Brand-new bleachers in the Main Gym! After more than 50 years of faithful service, our original bleachers are being retired. The new seating will offer wider aisles, handrails, improved comfort, and inclusive wheelchair-accessible areas—making our largest community space better for everyone who cheers, celebrates, and gathers here. We can’t wait to unveil these exciting upgrades!
Johnson ‘24
Disassembling the old bleachers required removing countless numbers of bolts that secured the structure and planking.
Cannon Anderson ‘24 drives the hoop for two.
The new bleachers feature plastic seating and the St. M logo both when open and closed.
Engaging Students in Leadership
At St. Mary’s, leadership isn’t just about planning dances or rallying the crowd at a pep assembly; it’s about creating a community, shaping the culture, and leaving a lasting legacy. For 160 years, students have helped define the spirit of our school, and today’s leaders are no exception.
In the Middle School, more than 25 students make up the Crusader Crew, meeting regularly to plan spirit weeks, organize charity drives, and support our Sparrow Club. Their energy and service create a foundation of connection and purpose from the earliest grades.
St. Mary’s High School Student Council (known as StuCo) brings together more than 60 students across the year, serving in rotating mod teams and guided by a yearlong executive board. It all kicks off with a summer retreat, where leaders set the tone for the year, plan new student orientation, and craft that unforgettable first-day assembly. From there, the team is in motion: planning class competitions, school dances, spirit weeks, and countless moments of joy and inclusion that bring the campus to life.
Senior Sydney Holderman, an eight-year leadership veteran and two-year StuCo Co-President, says it best:
“Leadership at St. Mary’s has taught me how to be reliable, how to delegate, and how to ask for help. I’ve learned that leading isn’t about being in charge—it’s about being part of something bigger than yourself.”
This year’s events raised thousands for our Sparrow, celebrated community with a Bayou Ball Homecoming and Dads’ Club Fall Fest, spread holiday cheer with Christmas in the Carrico, and capped it all off with a Totally ‘80s Winter Dance and Spring Spirit Week. Student leaders continually look for ways to build on these traditions—adding captains for academic and athletic teams, strengthening peer mentorship, and imagining new ways to serve and celebrate.
The 2024–25 High School Student Council was led by Co-Presidents Sydney Holderman and Bryn Strickler, alongside Natalie Hung (Secretary), Marren Tignini (VP/Coordinator), Bella Mussio (Media Manager), and ASB Co-Presidents Reid Ravassipour and CJ Seggelink, all under the guidance of Lia Kirkpatrick and Paul Hume.
As we look to our next chapter, Student Council elections for 2025–26 are already complete, and the Crusader Crew will assemble this fall—ready to write the next page in our 160-year story of student-driven excellence.
Lia Kirkpatrick DIRECTOR OF STUDENT LIFE
A longtime faculty member, Lia has taken on the newly formed role of Director of Student Life. This position provides focused leadership in shaping a positive, engaging, and supportive school culture, and her work with students is invaluable. While St. Mary’s has always had faculty supporting student council and organizations, we’ve never had a faculty member solely dedicated to student life for grades 5–12. Given the challenges of social media and a growing sense of disconnection, the administration felt strongly it was time to create this position to strengthen our community. The timing was perfect—Mrs. K, as she’s known, is ideally suited for this role. It takes creativity, organization, and energy to lead student life, and she brings all that and more. In her first year, our students and community have enjoyed the fruits of her leadership: more events, greater engagement, enhanced leadership opportunities, and boosted school spirit. It’s been a great year, thanks to our student council—and to Mrs. K!
1952 Student Council
The Transformational Power of Giving
From our founding in Jacksonville to our move to Medford in 1908, every step has been made possible by the generosity of those who believed in our mission. Donors—families, alumni, and community members—have built our classrooms, supported our teachers, and created opportunities for students from all backgrounds. Their gifts, given in faith and hope, have sustained St. Mary’s through every challenge and helped shape the school we are today.
St. Mary’s legacy of philanthropy goes back 160 years.
In 1865, Jacksonville priest Father Francois Xavier Blanchet launched what would become St. Mary’s School’s first fundraising campaign, raising $2,139 from donors across southern Oregon and northern
1908
Medford Mayor Dr. J.F. Reddy donated $3,000 to cover the move to Medford.
$1.5M—First
$4.6M—Second
California. With those funds, he purchased property and a piano. After a rugged 360-mile stagecoach ride, three fearless nuns from the Sisters of Holy Names of Jesus and Mary arrived to launch St. Mary’s Academy. On September 11, 1865, they welcomed 45 students. Those first generous donations didn’t just open a school—they sparked a legacy 160 years strong. 2017
$5.2M—Third
capital campaign includes St. Mary’s 2.0 and the Carrico Center.
1883 Map of Jacksonville by Fred A. Walpole
St. Mary’s second home in Jacksonville. 2012
capital campaign for the Naumes Fine Arts and Athletic Center and St. Mary’s Chapel 1998
capital campaign to build the current high school building
Did You Know
A Little Perspective on St. Mary’s 160-Year History
Oregon
1867 – Nebraska
1876 – Colorado
1889 – North Dakota · South Dakota · Montana Washington
1890 – Idaho · Wyoming
1896 – Utah
1907 – Oklahoma
1912 – New Mexico · Arizona
1959 – Alaska · Hawaii
St. Mary’s is older than…
1867 Barbed Wire
1876
University of Oregon
1879
Incandescent Light Bulb
1885
Truly wild…
In 1865, when St. Mary’s was founded, national parks did not exist. Crater Lake National Park became our nation’s fifth in 1902.
1872
Yellowstone National Park
1890
Sequoia National Park
1890
Yosemite National Park
1899
Mount Rainier National Park
1902
Crater Lake National Park
The Automobile 1886 Statue of Liberty 1934 Harry & David
For the record… When St. Mary’s was founded, live performances were the only way to listen to music.
1877
Edison’s phonograph was the first device capable of recording and playback.
1892
The use of pressed disc recordings began with the gramophone.
1925
The Blattnerphone innovated magnetic recording to steel wire.
1935
The Magnetophone was the first practical magnetic tape recorder.
1900s–1980s
Vinyl records dominated for decades and remain a playback format in 2025.
1930s–1960s
Reel-to-reel remained the standard for portable audio recording.
became the 33rd state in the Union in 1859.
Mickey Mouse
St. Mary’s had just become co-educational when Mickey Mouse was first drawn by Walt Disney in 1928.
Frisbee Invented
In 1948, the year the Frisbee was invented, St. Mary’s Academy officially changed its name to St. Mary’s School.
First Home Computer
In 1971, St. Mary’s became the first independent Catholic school in the state of Oregon, the same year the first home computer hit the market.
1953
8-track cartridges were a first step toward making magnetic tape portable.
Pluto Discovered St. Mary’s graduated its first male student in 1930, the same year that Clyde W. Tombaugh discovered Pluto.
World Wide Web
St. Mary’s opened to grades 6-12 for the first time at the Black Oak campus just months before the World Wide Web debuted to the public in 1993.
Amidst conflicts…
1861–1865 – Civil War
St. Mary’s was founded a few months after President Lincoln was assassinated just five days after the effective end of the Civil War.
1914–1918 – World War I
1939–1945 – World War II
1950–1953 – Korean War
1955–1975 – Vietnam War
1990–1991 – Gulf War
2003–2011 – Iraq War
St. Mary’s School was in the path of totality and introduced the Mod System under St. Mary’s 2.0 when the total eclipse of the sun happened over the continental United States in 2017.
1963
Compact cassettes delivered truly portable magnetic tape playback. Total Eclipse
1982
Compact discs introduced lasers, optical storage, and digital audio files.
1997
MP3 digital audio files enabled vast libraries in compact devices.
2001–2021 War in Afghanistan
2024–Present
Israel–Hezbollah Conflict Gaza War
2025–Present
Iran–Israel War
2001
The iPod, dramatically transformed access to audio content.
2007
The iPhone forever changed communications and mobile computing.
We Are… reflections framed by the qualities we practice
dedicated scholars creative thinkers responsible community members global citizens joyful spirits
School mission statements, philosophy statements, and profiles of the student body should capture much of what a school is, but they are also intended to be inspirational and aspirational, providing beacons of what its students, families, faculty, and staff should aim to be.
Our school’s philosophy is sufficiently long enough to cover much of what we do, but it concludes by identifying what all of our actions should be in service of: “integrating what we learn with how we live.”
Our “We are…” statements are far pithier, and this reflection is framed around those very qualities that we practice, but also we always must simultaneously strive for. We are…
DEDICATED SCHOLARS
We are a college preparatory school, one that believes when 100% of the population values education, the rising tide lifts all boats.
CREATIVE THINKERS
We are fond of saying, “We don’t teach kids what to think, we teach them how to think.”
RESPONSIBLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS
We believe that we all have a role in making our community a better place.
GLOBAL CITIZENS
Not only do we educate and house students from around the world, our partner schools, our curriculum, and our travel opportunities encourage global understanding and cooperation.
JOYFUL SPIRITS
Our history is grounded in a faith tradition, one that encourages us to recognize and celebrate the beauty of the world, making time amid the hustle and bustle of everyday life to find joy in experience.
Those are broad descriptions of our North Star values. Now read the specific stories of some of our stars who embody those values.
A Visit to the Doctors’ Office
DEDICATED SCHOLARS
Room 207 is more than just a classroom; it’s a cozy, intellectually vibrant space shared by two remarkable educators: Dr. Kip Robisch and Dr. Rebecca Haden. Together, they embody and model what it means to be Dedicated Scholars. As close colleagues and fast friends, they’ve created a culture of warmth, inquiry, and authenticity—exactly what high schoolers thrive on.
This year, both reached major academic milestones. Dr. Robisch completed his first year at St. Mary’s after a long career in higher education and has found a true home at the school. After just a few months, he was honored by the senior class with the invitation to lead them on stage at Commencement
“It’s a very emotional thing having even one teenager tell you you’re doing a good job,” he said.
Dr. Haden, in her first year teaching high school English after years in elementary education, earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Gonzaga University on the same weekend her students graduated. “They kept me going,” she shared. “I hope I inspire them as much as they inspire me.”
Their paths to the doctorate are inspiring yet different. Dr. Haden’s research, Educating for Justice in Independent Schools, reflects her commitment to student voice and values-driven education. Dr. Robisch, a published author and lifelong learner, brings humor, heart, and deep academic rigor to every lesson—from poetry to philosophy to sci-fi.
What unites them is a belief in scholarship as a way of living. With coffeefueled curiosity, a love of literature, and deep respect for students, they challenge young minds not just to think critically, but to care deeply.
“Degrees aren’t badges to wave at students. I think they’re more like flags that say, ‘Here’s Help,’” explained Robisch.
In a world that often rewards speed over depth, Dr. Haden and Dr. Robisch remind us that curiosity, reflection, and the thoughtful life still matter.
Barbara Callaway A LEGACY OF SCHOLARSHIP
World class Robotics teams; St. Mary’s students working with NASA to help program the Mars Rover; cutting-edge 3D Studio Max programing courses introduced in the 1990s; a rich offering of a few dozen AP courses—with incredible pass rates by our students; St. Mary’s graduates accepted to the nation’s best universities and forging influential careers in a multiplicity of exciting, important fields of study: all of this is a legacy of Barbara Callaway’s absolute commitment to serious scholarship, hard work, and an academics-first culture she inculcated at Black Oak Drive as she guided the school out of some rough times in the 1980s to re-make it into the nationally and internationallyrecognized college-prep school it is today. Today’s high level of academic challenges and achievements that are part of St. Mary’s DNA, can be traced to Barbara’s scholastic renaissance of St. Mary’s School during her long tenure as Head of School from the mid-1980s until 2001.
The Jewel Box
MASTERFUL WORKMANSHIP
The St. Mary’s Chapel is a place where vision, craftsmanship, and faith unite in sacred expression. It is built with a thoughtful, sustainable design and intimate touches, including handwritten prayers from our community lovingly embedded in the altar itself.
Most striking is the artistry of Kevin Christman, whose stained glass windows and bronze bas reliefs illuminate biblical stories, parables, and saints with rich symbolism and masterful detail. Blending centuriesold techniques with innovative approaches, Christman handselected each piece of glass and devised new methods to create layered compositions.
Known as The Jewel Box of St. Mary’s, the chapel was shaped over seven years through a collaborative act of imagination and devotion. Today, it reflects the school’s enduring belief that creativity is sacred work—one that inspires the spirit, honors tradition, and reveals the divine spark within us all.
Engineered by Ambitious Curiosity
CREATIVE THINKERS
In St. Mary’s Product Design class, curiosity doesn’t just spark ideas, it launches them into the real world. Taught by machining expert Rob Fields, the class encourages students to dream, design, and solve real-world problems through creative exploration. Using SolidWorks, the same professional software used by Boeing engineers, students follow a digital operations tree: sketching, adding features, and assembling components virtually before producing physical prototypes.
Some students bring advanced skills from CAD 1; others start from scratch. But every project is rooted in personal interest. Mr. Fields begins the course by asking, “What do you care about?” and the answers inspire.
Jack King ‘26, an avid fisherman, designed the “Kooz Tackle Box,” a drink holder that also stores tackle. Tennis player Clark David ‘27 (pictured below with Mr. Fields) engineered an automatic ball feeder to work on his backswing. Ben Smith ‘27, tired of losing his water bottle, created a 3D-printed handle, then had to find his bottle to install it.
Cooper Anderson ‘27, fresh off the golf team’s state run, designed a putter head and a putting hole reducer to sharpen his short game. Alex Titianu ‘26 brought his love of Pokémon to life with a Poké Ball earbud case and phone cover. Tyler Caballo ‘26 and Kinn Cho ‘26, both on the robotics team, are ambitiously designing a full-size electric go-kart, Tyler on the frame, Kinn on the drive system, with plans to finish next year.
Whether they’re 3D-printing components, reverse-engineering kits, or troubleshooting designs with Mr. Fields (“Hey, Mr. Fields, look at this!” is a daily refrain), students embrace their creative side through hands-on problem-solving.
Bryn and Callie Lead a Culture of Service
RESPONSIBLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS
Over the past two years, St. Mary’s students have awarded more than $12,000 in grants to local nonprofits—an inspiring achievement made possible by the leadership of recent graduates Bryn Strickler and Callie Davol. As juniors, the two co-founded the St. Mary’s Community 101 Club in partnership with the Oregon Community Foundation.
True examples of Responsible Community Members, Bryn and Callie have worked tirelessly to ensure the success and sustainability of the club. As co-presidents, they led efforts to create annual mission statements, research local nonprofits, and identify needs within the Rogue Valley.
Their approach fostered empathy, curiosity, and informed decision-making among their peers, culminating in the awarding of more than $12,000 in grant funding during their two-year leadership. Behind the scenes, Bryn and Callie poured in countless hours, sacrificing lunches, breaks, and weekends to make sure every detail was just right.
Reflecting on her time with the club, Bryn shared, “Through Community 101, I have gained an enriched perspective on our community, and this new perspective has become my motivation to produce positive change in any way that I can.”
What started as a bold idea has now become an established, thriving program at St. Mary’s. Thanks to Bryn and Callie’s vision, leadership, and commitment to service, the Community 101 Club has empowered dozens of students to step into their roles as changemakers.
Thanksgiving Baskets
A TRADITION OF SERVICE
Community service, bringing real, consistent help to others in need, is a hallmark of our school. While this work has gone on quietly year after year by generations of St. Mary’s students, once a year, this vital aspect of St. Mary’s School is on full display for the tradition of assembling, blessing, and delivering of Thanksgiving Day Baskets. Established in the early 1990s, it is especially important that the younger students in Grades 5-8 witness this joyful, school-wide commitment to community service. The Thanksgiving Day Basket tradition helps to naturally inspire our younger students for service of their own when they hit their high school years. Additionally, the excellent human interaction of delivering the baskets, a “senior (twelfth-grade) privilege” is often an indelible high school memory for our students who grow up to be civic-minded and service-oriented members of society.
BROADENING WORLDVIEWS
St. Mary’s School’s award-winning Confucius Classroom, the first established in North America, is rooted in a remarkable 17-year partnership with Zhengzhou University, an 80,000-student Top-100 research university in central China’s Henan Province. Hundreds of St. Mary’s students have received world-class Mandarin instruction and, through this partnership, have traveled in China, made lifelong friends, and even launched careers tied to their language studies. The Confucius Classroom exemplifies the crosscultural understanding and empathy essential for peace, prosperity, and prudent international relationships in today’s globalized world. It continues St. Mary’s long tradition of international partnerships—with schools in Argentina, Mexico, Germany, Japan, and the former USSR. While many schools speak of “global citizenship,” St. Mary’s empowers students to truly understand other nations, languages, economies, politics, and cultures.
The Cross-Border Curiosity of Elsa Lee
GLOBAL CITIZENS
From the Scottish Highlands to the streets of Kyoto, soon-to-be junior Elsa Lee has taken every opportunity to step beyond the familiar and into the transformative. A standout example of what it means to be a Global Citizen, Elsa has participated in St. Mary’s Mod Abroad programs in both Scotland and Japan, hosted an international student from China, and pursued Chinese language studies for the past four years.
Her Mod Abroad trip to Scotland sparked a fascination with how deeply history shapes identity. From ancient castles to clan traditions, Elsa was struck by how integrated the past is in daily life. Japan, by contrast, challenged her assumptions in unexpected ways. “Everything was different— from social norms to the absence of public trash cans—and that forced me to approach each moment with curiosity instead of judgment.”
At St. Mary’s, Elsa deepens her global awareness through Chinese. First drawn to the beauty of its characters, she’s since discovered how language unlocks culture. “Neither is right nor wrong, it’s just a new lens through which to view the world.”
Hosting an international student from China brought this lens even closer to home. Elsa and her guest swapped stories, navigated cultural differences, and found common ground. “It helped me reflect on my own life in ways I hadn’t expected.”
Elsa embodies the spirit of global citizenship that St. Mary’s hopes to inspire in every student: rooted in empathy, shaped by experience, and open to the world. “To me, being a global citizen means being curious rather than judgmental. You don’t have to travel the world to live that way. You just have to care about it.”
The Legacy of Carly Manning
JOYFUL SPIRITS
As we celebrate 160 years of St. Mary’s School, we reflect on the qualities that have shaped our community, and few are as treasured as joy. “Joyful Spirits” make time for school, family, friends, personal interests, and spiritual growth. This spirit of joyful living shines especially bright in the memory of Carly Manning, a member of the Class of 2003.
Carly passed away in the spring of her eighth-grade year after a courageous battle with a brain tumor. Though her time was short, her impact is lasting. Carly approached her illness with bravery, grace, and a generosity of spirit that continues to inspire her classmates and teachers more than two decades later. Her legacy lives on through the Carly Manning Award, given annually to eighth-grade students who embody her kindness, optimism, and unwavering positivity.
This year’s recipients, Denae Piotter and Josie McMann, are true joyful spirits.
Denae has been a radiant presence at St. Mary’s, greeting each day with quiet confidence and kindness. Her uplifting nature and willingness to serve others make her a role model to classmates and teachers alike. Whether offering encouragement, sharing a smile, or stepping up to help, she leads with compassion and grace.
Josie is known for her generous heart and thoughtful service. She bakes for teachers, crochets for NICU babies, and gives tirelessly through Student Council. Her empathy spans communities and species—she’s just as devoted to her 4-H animals as she is to her classmates. Josie lives her values with intention and heart.
In honoring Carly through Denae and Josie, we’re reminded that joy is not just a feeling—it’s a way of life. It’s in the small acts of kindness, the quiet strength of compassion, and the laughter shared with others.
Mother Marie-Rose A LIFE OF CONTAGIOUS JOY
More than two centuries ago, the joyful seeds of St. Mary’s School were sown in the heart of a young woman named Eulalie Durocher. Born along the banks of the Richelieu River near Montreal, Quebec, she would become known to the world as Mother Marie-Rose.
Despite facing great hardship, she radiated unwavering faith, channeling her love for God through both prayer and compassionate service. In 1843, she founded the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, the very order that would journey west and establish St. Mary’s School in Jacksonville in 1865.
Mother Marie-Rose was a woman of contagious joy. She never complained, always gave freely, and left everyone she encountered with a smile.
Described as cheerful, creative, and deeply devout, she lived a life rooted in hope and guided by grace. As we celebrate our 165th anniversary, we continue to honor her joyful legacy, one that lives on in the hearts of our students and community today.
A Foundation on which to Build and Grow
BY RYAN BERNARD
This upcoming fall will usher in my 16th year working at St. Mary’s and my 4th as President, and although a 16-year tenure is hardly a flash in the pan, my service to this school is dwarfed by many others who have been here considerably longer, sometimes twice as long: Meyer, Johnson, Volk, Wing, Klecan, Moore, Comerchero, Lovett, Miller, and the list goes on… that kind of longevity, consistency, and loyalty speaks well of our school.
Part of what drew each of us to St. Mary’s School was that very sense of longevity. As this edition so clearly identifies, the school is embarking on its 160th year. And as this edition attests, we have so much to be proud of from our first 159, including what is happening right now. Our history is one of strength, stability, solidity–the very adjectives people use when describing a sound foundation, a foundation from which to build, a foundation from which to grow.
Given all of the ongoing changes in demographics, environment, government, economics, society, and technology, St. Mary’s will likely look different in the next 160 years (How could it not?), but we will always lean on our core values, returning again and again to our philosophy to “integrate what we learn with how we live.” How does that play out in the immediate future? Here is a sneak peak, organized by PEOPLE, PROGRAM, and PLACE.
PEOPLE
A rededication to our community service program, integrating it more fully in classroom work in the MS, and among Varsity sports teams’ projects in the HS. We intend to be more intentional about teaching students “the why” of service, through class meetings and liturgy services, and facilitating more opportunities for meaningful work.
PROGRAM
A continued commitment to curriculum development that considers how student learning can remain relevant in the 21st century. This process includes an administrative deep dive into technological advances, including AI, with the intent to set clear expectations and standards regarding use and non-use, especially in regard to research and writing.
PLACE
An already underway campus master planning process, as a committee composed of school supporters and land planning professionals considers the best possible uses for our 24-acre campus. We have been very good stewards of this place and made efficient use of this space, but we are exploring all options to determine the ways in which our facilities can support our programs, both the ones already in existence and the ones we are exploring for the future.
Clearly, I like to think in threes, but that, too, seems fitting in this edition. Ultimately, it is about the past, present, and the future. It’s about the life of
St. Mary’s School, one looking forward to a big birthday and excited for many, many, many more to come.
Our Legacy
New Name, Same Mission
Now under the care of Sacred Heart Parish in Medford, the official name was changed to St. Mary’s School.
New Building
The new St. Mary’s School on 11th and Ivy opens to 1st–12th grade students.
Breaking Ground
The construction on Black Oak Drive allows two schools to form— Sacred Heart Elementary School and St. Mary’s High School.
First of its Kind
Archbishop Robert Joseph Dwyer allows St. Mary’s to become the first independent Catholic school in the state of Oregon.
The addition of a sixth grade completes the middle and high school program on Black Oak Drive.
St. Mary’s School of Medford is located in the beautiful Rogue Valley in Southern Oregon. St. Mary’s is a co-ed, independent, Catholic, college-preparatory school, teaching grades 5–12. For more information, see www.smschool.us