It was a mixture of tears and smiles Monday morning as students went back to class at St. Mary’s Academy Charter School.

Some parents whispered “I love you” to their excited youngsters while others offered comforting hugs to the crying new students.

SMACS is one of the first schools to start classes, with the public schools throughout the county starting next week.

Noreen Brown, school vice principal, said that this first day went smoothly.

Prior to the first class, all the students gathered outside under the flagpole where Principal Stan Simonson reminded the students that they have a legacy to live up to.

St. Mary’s students had something to celebrate their first day back at school. For the second year in a row, St. Mary’s Charter School has been rated exemplary by the Texas Education Agency.

“I do challenge the children, but they thrive on challenges,” Brown said.

“It is a different type of competition, I urge them to compete against their own personal best and improve on it.

“When did anything great ever come from mediocre effort? I want 100 percent and my students give it to me.”

Simonson said that being recognized as an exemplary campus again just reinforces what the school has known. “Hard work, long hours and differentiated instruction pays off,” he said. “More than half of the students at St. Mary’s attend school on a year-around basis, receiving 50 to 60 extra instructional days every year.

“We also have a number of instructional interventionists — in addition to classroom teachers — on staff to work with individuals and small groups.”

Simonson has been asked to present at the Blue Ribbon Schools Blueprint for Excellence National Conference on the school’s unique wrap-around support strategies credited with helping to achieve the amazing results.

Chances are if you drive by the school on weekends, holidays, summer vacation time or evenings you will see a school campus bustling with activity. The school calls all the extra instruction the SMART program (Science, Math, Arts, Reading and Technology.)

The SMART program extends the school day by offering supervision and activities for an additional three hours before and after school.

The extended year program runs Saturdays, intersession days and summers for an average of 50 additional “school” days per year.

According to Simonson, “We always come and hold classes for the first part of breaks for small group instruction. The students get the one-on-one attention they need in a relaxed setting.

“If you come on weekends, Christmas break, spring break, summer break, it doesn’t matter, we are here and so are the students.”

In fact, part of the St. Mary’s SMART program took over the art building at Coastal Bend College for the summer.

According to Brown, “The students work hard, very hard, but it’s not all work. This summer it was a stay-cation for all of our students.

“They worked on performances, created sculptures, went on science adventures and created beautiful paintings.

“The level of enrichment and the use of synthesis and evaluation were phenomenal. Every skill that an educator wants children to develop happened this summer. It was authentic learning.”

When asked how his school is able to do these extras, Simonson said, “Well, that is our biggest challenge. We use our existing funds to provide what we can, but we really rely on grants.”

Simonson expressed concern that the state has already canceled a grant of $42,000 for next year that was to fund the College SMART program.

“We are hearing that it is going to be a tight funding year next legislative session,” he said. “An advantage that the community has is the strong partnership among St. Mary’s, Beeville ISD and Coastal Bend College.

“These partnerships make all our organizations more competitive for the limited resources available.”

Brown said, “We have also enjoyed the support of community members and local foundations.”