SmaCurriculum
The school offers an innovative curriculum that aims to allow all students to
- achieve their maximum potential,
- pursue through both formal studies and their extra curricular activities wide ranging interests
- become critical thinkers in accessing and applying their knowledge.
In the primary and middle school sections the curriculum is based on the Cambridge International Primary and Lower Secondary Curriculum Frameworks. .Being one of the first schools in Asia to adopt this curriculum framework the school has developed an exciting and varied program of learning for the students based around themes that capture both the interest and enthusiasm of the students. One thrust of this program during the past two years has been an emphasis on encouraging students to become avid readers. Through the “Read with Me” program many students from Class Prep upwards are achieving targets of having read ten, twenty five, fifty or one hundred books per semester. This has been supported by Book Week when students, parents and teachers shared various activities related to their favorite books. Another highlight of the Primary Section school year is Mathematics Day when all students and all teachers engage in mathematics for the entire day. The art, the physical education, the English teachers for one day discover the fun of teaching their subject with the theme of mathematics.
In the secondary section of the school the students are offered the opportunity of pursuing either the matriculation/HSSC program or the O and A Level program with the opportunity to move between these two streams. For matriculation all students study the sciences but at HSSC in addition to pre Engineering and pre Medical the students may also opt for Commerce. At O and A Level the program is even wider with subjects such as psychology and law being available as well as the traditional mathematics, science, computing and business subjects. St. Mary’s Academy is one of the few schools offering A Level students the opportunity of studying mathematics at the highest level through the subject Further Mathematics.
The school has been recognized for its excellence by being the first school in Pakistan and in South Asia to be awarded the prestigious status of a Cambridge International Fellowship Centre school.
EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Intramurals are held between four houses. The four Houses are:
- Byrne House
- Jinnah House
- Iqbal House
- Liaquat House
Saint Mary’s Academy Model United Nations Society
St. Mary’s Academy is now well known across Pakistan for its Model United Nations Society. Each year in August members of the society organize a four day Model United Nations Inter-school Conference for students of Classes 10 to 12. Requests to participate come from across Pakistan and delegations from schools have to be limited to restrict the participants to about 200. The Society also has a delegation that participates in the LUMS annual conference.
Sports
The school has an extensive sports program. Each Friday is devoted to sports with inter class and inter House competitions. Inter school games are also played.
Sports played include
- Cricket
- Football
- Basketball
- Volley ball
- Table tennis
- Long tennis
- Badminton
- Athletics including cross country
- Field games such a long jump, high jump, shot putt, javelin, discus
There is a special tennis coaching clinic for senior primary students to introduce them to the sport.
These activities culminate in the annual sports carnival.
Apart from an extensive sports program the school has many societies and clubs including music, law, commerce, science, arts, debating, IT Club [VisualDepth], social events and a Rotary International Interact Club. Many of these groups arrange inter-school as well as school based activities. The Interact Club with its rotary motto of Service Above Self has undertaken many activities to raise awareness of needs of people both within and beyond Pakistan. Millions of rupees have been raised to assist the people affected by the flood.
DEBATING AND PUBLIC SPEAKING
Throughout the year there are opportunities for students to participate in public speaking and debating contests both within the school and in inter school competitions. These activities are conducted in both English and Urdu.
SCIENCE
Senior students are encouraged to participate in the Buraq Planetary Society and to sit for the admission test for the annual Buraq Space Camp. Senior students are also encouraged to sit for the tests for admission to the annual National Science Talent Quest camp. Entry to both these camps is via competitive tests open to students from acrossPakistanwith the top forty or fifty students being selected. Usually there are several St. Marians among these students.
All students are encouraged to develop and display science projects during the annual Science Week.
STUDENTS LEADERSHIP
At all levels students are encouraged to take up leadership roles such as class monitor and other various roles that are held within a class. Senior students are elected as school prefects. Another group of senior students hold office as student councilors who offer peer support to other students and conduct a variety of welfare activities both within and outside the school.
VOLUNTEERS
Older students are encouraged to become active in their community as volunteers helping out in various places and institutions inRawalpindi.