St. Mary Magdalen Elementary School

Posted: June 15, 2020

In our experience the homework has been just enough. Not too much, not too little.

Posted: June 15, 2020

Posted: June 15, 2020

Posted: June 15, 2020

We have just hired a new principal so I look forward to the strong leadership I see in our future.

Posted: June 15, 2020

Posted: June 15, 2020

Posted: June 15, 2020

SMM Review

I couldn’t be more impressed by our teachers and staff at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic School. During this time of School Closure we have not missed a beat. Our kids lost only 1 day of instruction due to Covid-19. School was closed on Thursday and by Monday we were in class online. Over the remainder of our school year, our teachers provided wonderful content and in a time of such uncertainty they also provided continuity and routine to our days.

Our 8th grader had regular class time every day…each of his teachers providing this regular class time on Google Meet through Google Classroom. He was given projects and assignments. When things proved a bit overwhelming, we had an online meeting with all his teachers, counselors and our principal to come up with a plan to help him through the rest of the year. We felt completely supported.

Our 5th grader was given daily assignments. Complete with online video tutorials from her teachers. It was as if she was sitting right there in class. She was also so lucky as our amazing Music teacher provided Keyboarding and Guitar lessons for any of the 5th graders once a week through Zoom.

I have had 4 kids at St. Mary Magdalen, 2 have graduated out and are thriving in high school. I have always loved our school community. I have always been so impressed by our amazing school staff. I know there are many wonderful teachers in this world. But there is a concentration of dedicated, talented, kind, teachers and staff at our school. As I have but one child left at SMM I look to the next few years, our last few years with both excitement and sadness as our time here will draw to a close. But I also know my children will move forward in their schooling with an amazing foundation brought to them by St. Mary Magdalen.

Posted: June 13, 2020

Marvelous, this will be our 10 year and it is my kids corner stone and my strong community

Posted: June 13, 2020

Excellent methodology and one on one student teacher reviews

Posted: June 13, 2020

Posted: June 13, 2020

Posted: June 13, 2020

Posted: June 13, 2020

Posted: June 12, 2020

Posted: June 12, 2020

Posted: June 12, 2020

Posted: June 12, 2020

Posted: June 12, 2020

Posted: June 12, 2020

Our son just finished his second year at St. Mary Magdalen School. We continue to be extremely happy with our choice to send him there. The teachers are amazing, the administration is incredibly dedicated, and the education quality is superb. We really feel like a member of the community, and everyone there is family. In addition to the excellent education in core subjects, the school greatly helps us in educating our son about God and the Catholic faith which we hold near and dear to our hearts. The recent Covid situation initially caused unease and concern over his schooling, but I was so impressed with St. Mary's response. Our son did not miss a single day of instruction. Online learning started the day school closed. He misses his teachers and classmates, but the learning continued. The value of this school is beyond measure and I highly recommend you consider it for your children.

Posted: June 12, 2020

Posted: June 12, 2020

Posted: June 12, 2020

During the COVID quarantine my kids were sent home on Thursday and by the following Monday started remote learning! Not just handouts either- full classes on Google classroom following the same curriculum( 6th and 8th grade) Accountability, live classes via zoom and full access to communicate with the teachers and admin at any time. How’s that for being prepped, dedicated and willing to go above and beyond to ensure the success of all students

Posted: June 12, 2020

SMM IRISH - integrity, respect, inclusion, service and honesty is what they strive to teach and model to the students and they do a great job.

Posted: June 12, 2020

Posted: June 12, 2020

There is a Reading Specialist and a Diversified Learning Program which aims to support students that have varied needs

Posted: June 12, 2020

There is a zero tolerance for bullying at this school

Posted: June 12, 2020

I have had 2 kids graduate from this school after having attended from Preschool-8th grade and have one going into 7th grade. Having seen my now Junior thrive in public school, I am confident that SMM has prepared my kids with a strong and solid foundation to be successful in HS and beyond

Posted: May 15, 2020

We have had a great experience at SMM and I can’t imagine my children being anywhere else.

Posted: May 15, 2020

Posted: May 15, 2020

The teachers at SMM are exceptional and have made my children’s experience amazing. I am so thankful for their commitment to the education of my children and also their commitment to helping my children build sound values and a strong moral compass.

Posted: May 15, 2020

In addition to the education my children receive at SMM, the focus on helping students build strong character is one of the main reasons we are at the school.

Posted: May 15, 2020

Our new principal, Dr. Mahar, is amazing!

Posted: May 15, 2020

Posted: May 15, 2020

Posted: May 14, 2020

Teachers are great. However, there could be some improvements to the administrative staff. There are some staff that I don’t really know what they do. Not sure how there performance is evaluated either.

Posted: May 14, 2020

I have a very active and energetic boy which had some difficulties to adapt to a classroom environment. The teachers worked with him and now he is still active but is able to control his energy in more positive ways.

Posted: May 14, 2020

I haven’t had a problem with bullying. Thus I can’t evaluate this.

Posted: May 14, 2020

I have 3 kids in SMM. My daughter is graduating this year from 8th grade. My other kids are in 2nd grade and Kindergarten. We have been affiliated to SMM since 2010. We are very happy with the school and community here.

Posted: May 14, 2020

The school is very strict and rigorous with homework. I also studied in a Catholic environment, so I know it is hard for some parents that are not used to the level of academic effort required in private schools. I am very involved with my kids activities, thus academic work is not a problem for us.

Posted: May 14, 2020

Teachers are great. They are all very dedicated. This is also reflected in the knowledge and activities our kids are exposed.

Posted: May 14, 2020

I see how the teachers work with the students to develop strong characters based on respect but assertiveness, compassion for others and integrity (doing the right thing even when others are not looking).

Posted: May 14, 2020

Excellent. A great community to be a part of. Our family is Catholic but there is so much character development being fostered at SMM and academic rigor.

Posted: May 14, 2020

St. Mary Magdalen has an appropriate amount of homework, especially in elementary. They promote family engagement activities and skill reinforcement; the teachers will also say if it gets frustrating step away and do it tomorrow, family first.

Posted: May 14, 2020

The teachers are responsive to each students’ personal needs and will meet them where they are. Having worked as a public school teacher I appreciate the focus is on the student and not achieving state criteria benchmark scores on standardized tests.

Posted: May 14, 2020

I have watched my children grow in academics, but they have fostered relationships with classmates, volunteer opportunities, and reflective practices that are helping them build a solid foundation as a centered, compassionate and integral individual.

Posted: May 14, 2020

The former and new 2020-2021 principal are exceptional at building relationships with students and families. They are also effective at cultivating professional growth in their teachers and their educational practices.

Posted: May 14, 2020

I have a child with Autism and he has been at this school for 5 years. He has made huge growth and the safety of the community, responsive and knowledgeable teachers and learning services coordinator helped him have a plan for success, safety and academic growth. It’s more than that though, the day to day interactions and communication helped us make home and school cohesive and he felt accepted at school and cared for by his teachers. I can’t imagine not having started his educational experience here, he has made so much growth and it is because of this community of educators and peers.

Posted: May 14, 2020

Administration and teachers are responsive and will always talk about a situation. They have an excellent counselor who works with students on both ends of a situation.

Posted: May 14, 2020

We’ve have been part of the SMM community for over 10 years! We can’t recommend it enough. Teachers go above and beyond for their students. They went from in classroom sessions to online learning in no time. Since March 16 my three kids have been attending online sessions with their teachers. 8th grade, 2nd grade and Kindergarten. The transition was seem less. Teachers are constantly communicating with parents and students.

Posted: May 14, 2020

Teacher try to balance the workload that goes home.

Posted: May 14, 2020

Posted: May 14, 2020

SMM’s theme is to be IRISH. Integrity, respect, individuality, service and honesty.

Posted: May 14, 2020

Posted: May 14, 2020

Posted: May 14, 2020

Posted: May 4, 2020

We decided to bring our daughter to SMM in First grade. I can honestly say that this was the best decision we have ever made. Our daughter is now in middle school and continues to excell in every way. She is a 4.0 student, she plays violin in advanced Orchestra, she is on the speech team, the robotics team, drama and all CYO sports teams. This school prides itself on being competitive in all sports. SMM has many championships in soccer, basketball, track and volleyball. We continue to build this program and are very proud of our student-athletes. Besides all of the academic and athletic achievements, the things I am most proud of is her kind heart, her respect for others and her ability to be a strong leader.

Posted: May 4, 2020

This is a trying time for our families and my daughter hasn't missed a day of school. All grades were immediately online and participating in remote learning. The teachers and staff went out of their way to make this transition as smooth as possible. Our daughter continues to excell in her studies and all other activities offered. The curriculum is pretty intense and students are challenged on a daily basis.

Posted: May 4, 2020

This is the 5th year that we have been at this school and every year we have been blessed with an amazing teacher. Our daughter continues to thrive and achieve in all areas.

Posted: May 4, 2020

We have had several Leadership changes and continue to grow as a school. Our new administration is working hard to make the necessary improvements to keep this school at the highest levels in all areas.

Posted: May 4, 2020

The pace in which the curriculum is taught and the high level does not allow for a student to fall behind. Teachers are very supportive, but I don’t feel that they are able to take the time to help students that struggle with the material.

Posted: May 4, 2020

My family has not dealt with any bullying issues. I am aware that the occasional incident happens, but we are fortunate to have a Full-time counselor that supports the students with anything that comes up.

Posted: April 29, 2020

I have had children at this school for over 12 years now and love our time at SMM. They have grown into intelligent, caring, respectful individuals and have had wonderful opportunities to participate in academic and extracurricular activities that are not available elsewhere.

Posted: April 29, 2020

My child has the appropriate amount of homework. During the move to remote learning, the school has been reaching out to ask parents what the homework amount looks like and has listened to feedback. My child's homework amount has dropped just a bit and the school has reached out to other grade levels to ensure homework is at the appropriate level.

Posted: April 29, 2020

I so so impressed with the amount of time our child's teacher has spend tutoring students, even remotely, and even spend time during their spring break to provide tutoring for an upcoming test. This teacher really took the time, even over spring break, to ensure my child was learning.

Posted: April 29, 2020

I feel my child, and others, are learning about integrity, compassion, honesty and respect, just to name a few. It's a highlight of the school award system and is brought up many times when I'm in the building as something to strive for.

Posted: April 29, 2020

I am impressed with the swift action taken by the school's leadership and all of the staff at how quickly we have moved from in-person schooling to remote learning. Our school lost only 1 day of teaching before the staff and students were holding class online. My child is receiving a quality education online and I am confident will be ready for the next grade. They have not missed a beat. The teachers have been so flexible and worked hard to be sure all students have access to online learning.

Posted: April 29, 2020

I am aware of programs at the school to support students with learning differences, but my child does not partake, so I am not able to comment of their effectiveness.

Posted: April 29, 2020

I have had only one issue and as soon as I brought it to the attention of school leadership it was handled immediately.

Posted: April 11, 2019

I would not recommend this school to anyone. They show NO accountability and do not look out for their students education and safety.

Posted: April 11, 2019

Posted: April 11, 2019

Posted: April 11, 2019

Bullying is a major issue with no accountability

Posted: April 11, 2019

They discuss positive leadership skills but fail to follow through.

Posted: April 11, 2019

I have asked over 6 years for help for my child who is often referred to another student for help.

Posted: April 11, 2019

My student observes bullying every day with no action from the staff
Also they fail to keep any records of any incidents including major ones such as my student being threatened to be shot with a hand gun

Posted: July 11, 2016

I have to agree with the May 16, 2016 post. As a Catholic, I have been both disappointed and at times appalled by the degree of bullying and inappropriate language and behavior I have repeatedly heard or witnessed throughout the school year. My children have not benefitted from this or by the less than luke warm response by teachers and administration when asked to address it. Admissions and fund raising take priority here over the unhealthy culture that permeates the hallways of this school. I found parents here unwelcoming and disinterested in getting to know my family. My calls and invitations to get our children together for the most part went unanswered or ignored. There were clear family cliques. There was no social life outside of school for my children which left them feeling unwelcome and isolated. I found great disparity in both the teaching styles and attitude of the teachers. Some were not very accessible which was difficult at times due to the amount of home work assigned. I found the principal to not be accessible or responsive. The heart of this school unfortunately does not reflect the very Christian principles it should be based on and we will not be returning.

Posted: July 11, 2016

Posted: July 11, 2016

Posted: July 11, 2016

Posted: May 16, 2016

We transferred to SMM this year from another Catholic school, and have been pleased with the academic rigor to date. The amount of homework is a bit high, but I chalk that up to the Common Core standards and teaching to tests that has impeding genuine teaching for a number of years. The rationale behind the 2 star rating derives from the lack of welcoming spirit demonstrated by the families at this school. There are previous comments about the administration jumping to conclusions, and we have been a party to this ourselves, having to vigorously defend one of our children against a known bully, who has been identified by other parents since Kindergarten, with no definitive action taken by the administration, and worse, an attempt to foist off this child's continued harassment as the fault of every student who she victimizes.

In addition to this, I have to say that the parents in the grade our older child transferred into are, by and large, without empathy and have made no attempt to demonstrate Christian values and be welcoming, kind or otherwise expand their clique. It has been very frustrating to see this, when the parents in our other child's class are so welcoming and serve as the day to the night that is the unfriendly class. The children are a direct reflection of their parents and I have been unimpressed with the attempted snobbery I see demonstrated when I volunteer at events with the school. This is Everett, and there are families here that need to remember that this is not Beverly Hills, we are all working families, plenty of us with generous means as well, but without a desperate need to flaunt our wealth. The administration unfortunately caters to these parents, much to the alienation of other families. This behavior discourages participation and has created an insider/outsider feel that I have learned by asking many other parents. It is a disappointment, as we left a good community to come to this school, and have been so very let down by the nepotism and lack of integration of families not from the school. If you are not from the area, good luck, this school has significant challenges integrating families who are not lifelong Snohomish County residents.
We are transferring after one year, and we are not the first family recently to do this. The school needs to address the "ruling families" or they will continue to have trouble.

Posted: May 16, 2016

Posted: May 16, 2016

Posted: May 16, 2016

Posted: November 24, 2013

St. Mary Magdalen School is a true gift to the community. I can say with absolute confidence, my children are being prepared for their future.

Posted: July 15, 2013

I have been associated with St. Mary Magdalen School both as a parent and teacher. I have had the pleasure of seeing my own children grow into committed, caring adults with a strong foundation of academics and sense of purpose to make the world a better place. I have also had the amazing opportunity to work with many wonderful staff members, students, and families. I would highly recommend our school as a place for growth in faith, education, and creativity.

Posted: February 6, 2013

I have substituted in many schools both public and private. This school stands out from the rest as a community of love and support for teachers, students and parents. There is a real loving sense of acceptance and Christian charity. Besides this all classrooms look clean, uncluttered and well organized. The students receive an excellent education. I highly recommend this school over others I have worked in.

Posted: October 12, 2012

Our daughter attends St. Mary Magdalen and we are very happy with the academic and spiritual environment.. SMM participates in many community service projects which we believe are key to raising socially responsible citizens. The teachers, administrators, and school families together make SMM a wonderful community. I would highly recommend SMM to families looking for a quality education for their children.

Posted: March 12, 2012

Since it's my belief that you should never hate anything I did not give SMM 1 star otherwise I would have. My family and I miss Sister she was the best very accepting and willing to communicate, a true Christian. Under the new "reign" we do not feel accepted as a family they draw conclusions which are incorrect and pass judgement on others very quickly. The reason I sent my daughter to this school in the first place was so that she could learn to not judge others and to treat others with kindness, along with having a good education of course. This is our last year at this school and I would not recommend this school to anyone unless they change things substantially which I doubt unless they replace a few staff members or rather the hierarchy. Check out St Thomas More in Lynnwood or Holy Rosary in Edmonds I've heard good things from the parents at those schools.