About Us

St. Mary, Read: Small School, Big Success!

St. Mary Catholic School is located northeast of Belleville, nestled in the picturesque countryside of Read, Ontario, a community located in the Township of Tyendinaga within Hastings County.

The school is located 2 kilometers from our parish church St. Charles Borromeo. St. Mary Catholic School teaches faith in God, values, morals and servitude toward others. We model good citizenship and forgiveness through the foundation of a connected school community.

With our motto of Small School, Big Success, we have had many wonderful academic achievements to celebrate over the lifetime of our school. Our students have consistently performed over the provincial average in provincial testing and many alumni have been recipients of academic and athletic awards at the secondary level and beyond. Our athletic teams, known as Read Ravens are strong competitors in all sporting events and have had many successes, especially at cross country due to the commitment and dedication of our student athletes.

We have a committed and active Catholic School Council. They run the weekly Healthy Snack and Hot Lunch programs as well as special events like Christmas Shopping, fundraisers and preparing special hot feasts at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.

We have a strong history of commitment to the Terry Fox Foundation as demonstrated through our Terry Fox walk/run/ride participation and fundraising, which places us among the top per capita fundraising schools in the country.

St. Mary Catholic School families, staff and students are committed to caring for each other and fostering a friendly and welcoming community that accepts and celebrates each of our differences. Being part of a cross-grade spirit team that is led by older students promotes relationships of respect and a recognition that by working together we can accomplish any goal.

School History

St. Mary Catholic School, in the small hamlet of Read, is a school steeped in tradition. The school was originally built as a one room schoolhouse at the turn of the 20th Century. In 1954 the current four-room school was erected and then expanded in 1963. Through the years our strong ties to our parish, St. Charles Borromeo, have been an important part of our development.

Positive School & Well-Being

The ALCDSB is dedicated to creating and promoting positive school climate and well-being in all of our schools. Respecting the dignity of all persons by fostering trusting relationships through policies and practices that promote equity, inclusion and diversity are at the core of our Catholic values, the Board's spiritual theme of Faith in Action and our provincial Catholic Graduate Expectations. A positive school climate is directly linked to student success and well-being ensuring students are motivated to do well and will realize their full potential. We are committed to sustaining healthy and nurturing communities of belonging that are safe, caring and respectful and built on the principles of restorative practice and progressive discipline.

The ALCDSB and its school communities engage in a whole school approach in putting prevention and intervention strategies in place to facilitate a positive relationship between students, staff, parents and community partners.