• Religion is the core of our program and is taught every day. Administration and faculty model lives of Catholics devoted to their faith and the Gospel message.
• Opportunities for liturgy are offered many times during the school year. The Campus Minister plans most of the liturgies and the children take active roles in each liturgy. Opportunities for the Sacrament of Penance/Confession/Reconciliation are offered several times during the year.
• Each class prays together in the morning, before lunch, and at the end of the day. Fr. Ray visits classrooms and provide a positive presence within the school.
• Students from the school enhance parish liturgies by being altar servers and members of the choir. Students beginning in grade three are altar servers.
• First Holy Communion and First Penance are for grade two students in our school and in the parish. Parents and students are invited to attend meetings in preparation for the reception of these sacraments. The school community joins with the parish community to celebrate Holy days as well as other special days, such as the celebration of the Feast of St. Margaret of Scotland, the Patron of our parish.

	The school community extends itself to the local community by raising money for the missions, using Rice Bowls during Lent and by contributing to local organizations that are in need of assistance.
Classes have donated Thanksgiving Baskets to families in need in the community. Students write and make cards for shut-ins of the parish, and A goal for the future is setup for at least two service projects per year.

• The Title One Program is designed to provide remedial assistance in Reading and Math.
• Specialists in Art, Music, Computers, Physical Education and French also are available as part of our instruction to students.

Social and Cultural Growth:

Socially, growth is enabled through school sponsored activities such as dances, choir, athletics and field trips.

Culturally, growth is fostered by the provision of Music and Art classes for our students. Field trips to various museums are provided, and the Home and School Association provides a separate cultural program for the lower and upper grades.

Emotional Growth:

Emotional growth is achieved through the various support programs we offer to our students which include: the school nurse; an on-site school counselor, an Abstinence Program given by Catholic Charities for our seventh and eighth grade students where our youth are taught to make positive choices so they can be healthy adults.

The Lowell Police Department offers a Violence Prevention Program for our students.

Various students who have been identified as having special needs have a customized program to help them with their particular growth issues.

Accreditation Process:

The last school evaluation process was an on-site visitation in 2004. The revised School Improvement Plan was submitted, and in 2004 we received continued accreditation.

Archdiocesan Testing Program:

As part of the Archdiocesan Testing program, students in grades two through eight are tested in October of each year. The test results are used to determine curriculum areas that need to be reviewed and/or updated.

The test results are also used as an evaluation tool, along with a student's grades and teacher recommendation when a CORE evaluation is suggested to parents.

Parental Involvement:

Parents and Guardians of our children are involved in school life in a variety of ways:

• A Parent Newsletter is published and sent to each home. It is also sent to prospective new families who are considering registration at St. Margaret School.
• Two Open Houses are held each year, one during Catholic Schools Week and another in the Spring.
• The principal has an open-door policy and parents are encouraged to telephone or visit the school to discuss issues and to suggest new ideas.
• Parents chair and work various events organized by the Home and School Association.
• Parents help with lunch, classroom bakery days, serve as substitutes teachers and staff our library.
• The Home and School Board meets monthly and gives input on development and enrichment.

School Tuition and Financial Aid:

The school budget is prepared by the school administration in collaboration with the Administrator.

• Tuition for each School Year is set at level that strives to ensure a reasonable tuition for families in the area while providing just salaries for teachers that we hire. Families desiring financial aid are encouraged to fill out an application, and to meet with the school principal or Administrator to ascertain specific tuition rates for the child.
• Financial Aid for our families comes from the Catholic Schools Foundation, Children's Scholarship Fund, St. Margaret Parish and the Archdiocese of Boston.
• Salaries and benefits are above Archdiocesan School Department Guidelines.

Further Information and Application

If you would like further information about St. Margaret School or would like an application, please contact the School Office or e-mail Sister Lori.

Your support is appreciated

We are conscious of the financial realities our families' face and the sacrifice they make to provide their children with a Catholic Education.