Dear Parents,

I hope this email finds you well and that you and your families have been enjoying a fun-filled summer.  Though the office is quieter than usual, the SMS admin team has been hard at work preparing for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year, and I am excited to share some staffing updates with you.  Our final candidates were selected after standing out during the interview process and after completing demonstration lessons at SMS.  

Our third grade teacher will be Mrs. Sandy Amenta.  A graduate of both University of Pennsylvania (M.S) and Wheaton College (B.A.), Mrs. Amenta has experience as an elementary classroom teacher and as a middle school math interventionist in both Catholic school and public school settings,  She is skilled at providing a differentiated learning approach for her students and at providing meaningful hands-on learning experiences for them.  She is also adept at using data to guide her instruction at both a whole class and individual student level.  A current SMS parent, Mrs. Amenta is committed to Catholic education and the mission of Saint Mary School and will be a wonderful addition to our elementary school staff.  

Our art teacher will be Ms. Katie Sica.  Ms. Sica has degrees in visual arts, animation design and in special education and has many years of experience teaching art, including elementary and high schools in the Diocese of Bridgeport.  After taking some time off to be home with her young son, Ms. Sica is eager to get back into the classroom and share her passion and talent for visual arts with our SMS students.  Also committed to Catholic education, Ms. Sica is a graduate of Sacred Heart School in Greenwich and has taught at Trinity Catholic High School and at the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport.  

Our music teacher will be Ms. Rebecca Vaccaro.  Ms. Vacarro is a graduate of the prestigious Hartt School of Music and has worked in music and the performing arts for over 25 years.  She is not only a gifted vocalist, she has years of experience in theater and performing arts that she will bring to the SMS music program.  Ms. Vaccaro is a Catholic school parent and a graduate of Catholic schools herself, and she is deeply committed to Catholic education.  She has taught theater and music and has been a substitute teacher at schools both public and Catholic in the Stamford area and around Fairfield County.   

I am so pleased to have such talented educators join the Saint Mary School staff, and I am looking forward to all of the gifts and talents that they will bring to our community.  Please join me in welcoming Mrs. Amenta, Ms. Sica and Ms. Vaccaro to SMS.

God Bless,

Rachel