In early January, members of the St. Catherine’s community gathered for Alumni Night—a candid conversation about life after high school graduation and the lasting influence of a St. Catherine’s education. Moderated by Upper School Director Dr. Brian Tucker, the panel featured three alumnae at different stages of their college journeys: Isabella ’22, a senior at Johns Hopkins University; Caroline ’25, a freshman at Tulane University; and Jasmin ’24, a sophomore at the University of Houston.

A thoughtful dialogue unfolded about preparation, independence, challenge, and growth—offering perspective for current students, parents, and alumni reflecting on their own paths.

As part of our Catholic Schools Week celebration, PSO Friends of the Atrium welcomed Dominican Sisters Maureen O’Connell and Carol Mayes for a thoughtful morning of study and reflection on the theme Welcoming the Stranger. Over breakfast and coffee, parents and community members discussed principles of Catholic social teaching, using immigration as a lens to explore human dignity, community, and our shared responsibility to one another—values that resonate across faith traditions and lived experience.

In September 2025, St. Catherine’s opened the doors to the newly renovated Japhet Campus—a space envisioned for growth, exploration, and transformation for our adolescents. The campus embodies Dr. Montessori’s vision for the third plane of development, a stage she described as a “rebirth,” when young people ages 12 to 18 experience profound physical, intellectual, and spiritual growth. Japhet Campus offers a prepared environment for students aged 12 to 18, a setting that fosters reflection, collaboration, and responsibility.

At St. Catherine’s Montessori, transitions between program levels are formative rites of passage that honor each child’s development and affirm their place within a loving, purposeful community. Rooted in Montessori principles and shaped by our Catholic identity, transitions are thoughtfully designed to meet the needs of each developmental plane.

Each spring, St. Catherine’s High School seniors take the stage for their Senior Capstone presentations, a hallmark event that represents the pinnacle of their Montessori educational journey. These TED Talk-style presentations—delivered with confidence and poise—demonstrate years of independent exploration, rigorous research, and deeply personal inquiry. More than academic exercises, they reflect the purpose, maturity, and perspective shaped by a Montessori education rooted in faith, personal responsibility, and meaningful contribution.

Throughout one’s AC years, the 9th-year Costa Rica trip is something that many students wait for in anticipation. From past groups, we heard tales of the beauty of the mountains, the taste of the coffee, the challenge of getting used to the Costa Rican plumbing system, and more. This year’s trip lived up to the legends of past trips on all accounts.

At St. Catherine’s Montessori, the final year of each three-year cycle is a transformative experience. This “leadership year” crowns the work of the earlier years, allowing students to flourish academically, socially, and emotionally in ways unique to Montessori education. 

This year’s panel discussion, “Completing the Montessori Journey: Alumni Parent Perspectives on Choosing SCM High School,” provided an invaluable opportunity for our community to hear directly from parents who have navigated their children’s journeys through St. Catherine’s Montessori High School and beyond. Moderated by Sarah Lewis, SCM’s director of college counseling, the panel included four alumni parents who shared their observations on how their high school graduates approached academics, social life and extracurricular opportunities, and reflected on the unique strengths of the Montessori high school model.

A unique aspect of a St. Catherine’s education is our deep respect for the natural stages of a child's growth. Dr. Montessori identified a series of distinct six-year stages from birth to 24 years, which she called the four planes of development. By understanding these stages, we can better support each child as they grow from infancy to adulthood.

Since the founding of St. Catherine’s Montessori, Dominican charism has been a guiding light for the school’s work with students and families. The Dominican pillars of prayer, study, community, and preaching are present in harmonious collaboration with our Montessori pedagogy at every level. Though these two aspects of our school are often mentioned alongside each other, the connection goes beyond a parallel coexistence.

Jacob graduated summa cum laude from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies and a minor in Core Texts and Ideas.

The Mirza family—Nazia, Thaha, Musa, and Iman—embodies what it means to be a St. Catherine’s family. Since joining SCM in 2017, they quickly became familiar and friendly faces on campus, attending and hosting Sociables, participating in PSO, cheering for the SCM Owls, and enjoying the school’s events and traditions.

Sophia graduated magna cum laude from Rice University with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and a Bachelor of Arts in Art History. 

Sarah graduated with honors from Nottingham Trent University with a Bachelor's of Art in Design for Film and Television. 

Ruth graduated cum laude in May from Whitman College with a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Media Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in German Studies. She also graduated as a member of Delta Phi Alpha, the National German Honor Society.