St. Martin de Porres Catholic School (Columbia)

OUR MISSION

St. Martin De Porres Catholic School strives to provide an evangelical witness through catholic education in the heart of Columbia. Since its founding as a mission school in 1936, St. Martins has offered resources and opportunities to the underserved and underprivileged in our community. Our school is rooted in a Catholic understanding of the dignity of the human person and a vision of catholic social teaching that informs all that we do for our students and their families. Students benefit from small class sizes, individualized academic assistance, and mentoring. Our devoted faculty and staff continually emphasize a Christ-centered environment with a strong focus on each student’s spiritual growth. Our students receive daily catechesis and spiritual guidance, and upper classes have the opportunity to attend Mass daily, and engage in small group Scripture Study after school.  

Because our school is at its heart missionary, seeking to serve those who need it most regardless of their ability to afford the typical cost for a private catholic education, your generosity is crucial to providing the resources, opportunities, and infrastructure that make our school able to best provide for the needs of our students and their families.  

OUR FUNDRAISER

This year we are asking for donations to cover costs in 3 key areas: our new and expanding Montessori programming for our youngest students, enhancing security features on campus that will ensure the safety our students, and our cultural heritage community garden project. 

For many years children in this country have suffered from an income achievement gap that affects their academic success. A 2017 study out of UVA determined that the best solution to this problem was Montessori education in the early years of child development. Our school, out of a desire to provide the very best to our students, has launched Montessori education in our early year classrooms. We are currently raising funds to direct towards the training for teachers, materials for classrooms, and necessary modifications to expand and improve our Montessori offerings at St. Martins.  

We are also fundraising to improve the safety features of our campus, including adequate fencing and safety gates, and buzzers and intercom systems for improved visitor screening. While the safety and security of our students is priceless, the actual campus modifications needed to ensure their protection is not, and we need your help!  

Finally, we would like to highlight here an exciting new enrichment opportunity for our students through a new cultural heritage garden project. The garden will serve the school’s educational needs functioning as a living classroom where students engage in STEM activities such as insect identification, testing soil quality, studying plant-pollinator interactions, and exploring how sustainable agriculture practices support both ecosystem and human health. The garden beds will emphasize the cultural heritage that is displayed by the diverse populations in our community, and will feature beds for African heritage, Hispanic heritage, and Vietnamese heritage.  Beyond serving the school the garden will serve the local community, providing fresh produce which will be available directly through the garden and through the church’s soup kitchen. 

Every donation made during this #igivecatholic campaign allows St. Martin De Porres Catholic school to continue and improve in its mission to serve those in need, providing a catholic education to those who stand to benefit the most from what it has to offer.  

Finally, please share this fundraiser with your friends and family, far and wide, near and far!