Our Story

Welcome from the Head of School

"I love knowing each day that I work in a place where the heart is just as important as the mind, and children don’t just learn to live with each other but for each other." 
~ Lauren Mazzari, Head of School
 
Welcome to the Saint Patrick Catholic School Community!

As one of the newest members of the school’s community, I would like to share what drew me to this special place and why after nearly 30 years in education, I cannot think of a better place in which to have children learn, grow and play. Of course, Saint Patrick Catholic School’s beautiful campus, with its spacious grounds and state-of-the-art facilities, provides the perfect educational setting, but the school’s comprehensive curriculum, commitment to the total formation of students, and nurturing environment set us apart. Any visit to campus will confirm that our young Wolfhounds love their school! 

In a world so fraught with unprecedented challenges and violence, children need a joyful and safe place where they can take risks and learn from mistakes. Our faith-learning community is authentically Catholic and warmly ecumenical and provides a loving atmosphere in which children can become their best selves. Our school mission, “Saint Patrick Catholic School educates and nurtures the whole child - mind, body and spirit - to be Christ-centered, compassionate and a courageous servant leader” guides our every decision. Our faculty, staff, Board of Directors, and senior administration, all live out the mission and serve as role models for our students, and we do so in a counter-cultural environment. Saint Patrick Catholic School offers a rigorous academic program rooted in Christian values that encourages faith, integrity, resilience, hope, optimism, perseverance, and kindness. Faculty and staff value each child’s inherent strengths and gifts and children feel loved, a primary need for anyone to learn.  

I consider it a great privilege to work with some of the most talented and caring faculty I have met across my career, and I am energized by the school’s mission. Teachers encourage curiosity and guided risk taking; mistakes are not only allowed but recognized as an integral part of the learning process. Our school community ascribes to many of the ideals of education reformer William Glasser and is the only Catholic Glasser Quality School in the country.  As such, our school vision is to guide students toward independence in striving for quality and goodness in every phase of their development. For a more detailed look at our unique program, read our Vision and Practice Document.

I feel especially proud to be part of a school community that values social and emotional learning, diversity, equity, and inclusion, as highly as challenging academic curriculum. I love knowing each day that I work in a place where the heart is just as important as the mind, and children don’t just learn to live with each other but for each other.  
 
As you peruse our website, I know you will, as I did, find many compelling reasons to join the Wolfhound community at Saint Patrick Catholic School. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me at lmazzari@mystpcs.org and join me for one of our Snapshot tours!
 
In faith and gratitude,

Lauren Mazzari
Head of School

Lauren Mazzari
Head of School
(757) 440-5500