Participating in contests or in individual and team competitions stimulate the intellectual curiosity of SMCS students. A wide variety of contests and competitions are available during the school year.

Geography Bee

SMCS is proud to be an annual participant in the National Geographic Bee.  Classroom qualifying rounds are conducted in social studies classes during November/December, and all sixth through eighth-grade students participate. These classroom rounds narrow the field to the top ten students who go on to compete in the school bee. This contest promotes quick thinking and a knowledge of map and globe skills, history, and geography, as well as exposing students to public speaking and appearing in front of an audience. The school bee is held in front of parents and students every January. A school winner and runner-up are identified. The winner goes on to take a state qualifying test to determine potential participation in the state Geographic Bee in the spring.  The fifty winners of each state bee are invited to Washington D.C. to compete in the final National Geographic Bee.  

Spelling Bee

SMCS students in grades six through eight participate in a spelling competition to determine who will represent the school in the Washington County Spelling Bee Competition sponsored by the Herald-Mail.  The eighth grade winner of the Washington County Bee competes in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.

Catholic Daughters of America Education Contests

St. Mary Catholic School students participate annually in the Catholic Daughters of America Education Contest which challenges students to use their talents through art, essay, poetry, photography, computer art, or music to express a given theme.

American Legion Auxillary Americanism Essay Contest

Each year the American Legion Auxiliary, Morris Frock Unit 42, sponsors the Americanism Essay Contest for students in grades three through eight.  Saint Mary Catholic School students won eight out of the nine places awarded last year!