St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic School has served the community of Aiken, South Carolina for a significant period of time. In 1906 the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy, a diocesan community whose motherhouse is in Charleston, South Carolina, was asked by the Bishop to staff St. Angela Academy, a boarding school for girls and a few young boys as well as a day school for Aiken students.
A great influx of people arrived in the Aiken area with the opening of the Savannah River Plant in the early 1950's. Many of the construction workers as well as the Dupont scientists who operated the plant wished to have their children educated in a Catholic school. The existing school facilities became overcrowded and inadequate almost overnight.
In 1953 the Elbert Estate on Berrie Road was purchased by the Sisters to house the Sisters and the boarding students. Adjacent to this mansion was constructed a brick building and a gymnasium needed for the expansion of the four-year high school program. The elementary department remained at the York Street location.
In 1954, Monsignor George Lewis Smith, pastor of St. Mary's Church, bought the elementary school from the Sisters and its name was changed to St. Mary Help of Christians School. The Dominican Sisters from Adrian, Michigan, took over the operation of the school. In 1971, when the Dominican Sisters withdrew, Monsignor Smith requested that the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy, who were still staffing St. Angela High School, return and administer the grammar school. The Sisters terminated their oversight in 1998 when Sister Rosemary Boyd retired as principal after almost 30 years. The convent was closed and Mr. D. Keith Darr, formerly of Our Lady of the Rosary School in Greenville, transferred to St. Mary's School as principal. Mr. Darr and his family currently reside in the former convent house.
St. Mary's began accreditation efforts in 1972. At that time, no other elementary schools in Aiken were accredited. In 1974, a comprehensive self-study was reviewed by a Visiting Committee and accreditation was granted by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) (one of six regional accrediting agencies in the United States). In 1994, the school successfully completed its second ten-year review by SACS.
St. Mary's School now has double grades for students in 5K-8 with a total enrollment of approximately 315. Of these, approximately 87% are Catholic.
St. Mary's administrator and staff endeavor to provide their students with a good Catholic, moral education through daily prayer, religion classes and weekly liturgies. Students also participate in seasonal devotions such as the Stations of the Cross, the May Crowning and the Living Rosary. Students are given opportunities during the school year to do service projects which help them to share their faith and make them more aware of those who are sick, infirm or less fortunate than they.
High academic standards and good discipline are required and the students generally are highly motivated, well-behaved and they do well academically. Class scores are well above average on national tests. Students who leave St. Mary's after eighth grade are, on the whole, well prepared for their high school curriculum. Many of these students carry with them three earned high school credits and are allowed to take advanced placement courses at their new school.
St. Mary's School strives to serve its students and their parents. Seeing the increasing need for both parents to work and the difficulty they have in picking up their children at dismissal time, St. Mary's opened its extended care program several years ago. For a small fee, students may enroll in the after-school program which runs from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. each day.
St. Mary's School enjoys the support of our pastor, Father James L. LeBlanc. Both Father LeBlanc and Mr. Darr rely heavily on the Advisory School Board and the Parent/Teacher Organization. Through the efforts of these two very active organizations and the generous support of our other parents and parishioners, the school has been able to reach many of its goals.
St. Mary's athletic program has grown each year since its inception. Junior high students may participate in cheerleading, basketball, soccer, golf, tennis, baseball, cross country, volleyball, and track.