St. Martin of Tours Academy & Preschool
U.S. Dept. of Education Green Ribbon School | Fair Trade School | La Mesa, CA
Welcome!
St. Martin of Tours is a co-educational Kindergarten through eighth-grade Catholic elementary school located in La Mesa, California. The school offers students the best in elementary and junior high education and life skills. In addition to offering a strong faith-based education, St. Martin of Tours Academy offers a unique system of instruction that enhances our Catholicity and curriculum: ®Pilon’s Workshop Way® System of Education. School tours are welcomed by appointment throughout the year. It is not required to be Catholic to attend. Learning support services are available for students with learning challenges.
Our Mission
St. Martin of Tours Academy fosters confidence, curiosity, and independence through a climate of cooperation and trust by preserving dignity throughout the learning process, accentuating all children’s God-given gifts in a Catholic environment.
What sets SMA apart from other schools
Workshop
Way
Each morning, students come into a calm classroom playing music to stimulate the brain. Students work at their own pace through the "Schedule of Tasks". These tasks are tailored to develop the whole student and incorporate various areas of the curriculum. Meanwhile, teachers meet with students 1:1 for a daily check-in while teacher aides hold small groups, as needed, or assist/challenge students individually. Some tasks are meant to be independent while others require collaboration.
Why choose St. Martin of Tours Academy?
St. Martin of Tours Academy (K-8) is fully accredited by both Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and Western Catholic Educational Association (WCEA). Preschool is available for children ages 3-5. Choosing a Catholic education gives your child(ren) advantages for life.
Among the benefits: daily religious instruction and prayer, participation in liturgies and sacraments, and an emphasis on moral values and spiritual development integrated throughout the curriculum.
Children have a right to grow to the fullest of their potential in an atmosphere of utmost reverence and respect. St. Martin Academy’s environment facilitates the learning process, blending academic achievement with a Christian perspective on life and an understanding of human nature.
With a student-centered orientation, teachers work in close communication with parents to strive toward the development of the whole child with an emphasis on self-esteem, confidence, and motivation to be lifelong learners. To this end, we employ a process ensuring all students have equal opportunities to develop higher-level thinking skills, learn, and make responsible decisions. We liaise with public school districts to ensure the transition of student IEPs and 504 plans to SMA Individual Learning Plans (ILPs).
St. Martin of Tours Academy believes that:
-
each person is unique and has his/her own timing and way for learning
-
mistakes are an inevitable part of being human and are not a reflection of one’s intelligence
-
children, by nature, have an innate love for learning and that classrooms must be “labs” for learning so as to stimulate their intellectual curiosity
-
daily opportunities for logical, critical, and creative thinking must be afforded to students for learning subject matter and for responsible decision making for future living
-
an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect in the classrooms is essential for mental and emotional security for students
-
a noncompetitive, cooperative, safe atmosphere will convey God’s acceptance and unconditional love for the uniqueness of each individual
-
experiencing justice in the classroom will lead students to seek justice in the world and to respond to the needs of others now and in the future
Accreditation
WCEA/WASC Accreditation
The school undergoes an evaluation and visit from Western Association of Colleges every three-six years. The school has received the highest possible ranking, with a full six year term through June 30, 2023. There is ongoing follow-up on recommendations made by each visiting committee.
WASC
Fully Accredited for grades Kindergarten through Eighth Grade by the Schools Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Accrediting Commission for Schools
533 Airport Blvd., Suite 200
Burlingame, CA 94010
Phone: (650) 696-1060
WCEA
Fully Accredited by the Western Catholic Education Association
