60 Years of Academic Excellence
St. Mary Magdalen’s dynamic history began in 1960 when the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary agreed to staff our school. Our first principal, Sister M. Michael Francis, Superior, was joined by additional Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary when the school year started on September 7, 1960.
That fall, St. Mary Magdalen Catholic School opened its doors to students in the first through fourth grades and chose “Irish” as the school’s mascot. This was in honor of our first priest, Fr. William Lane, whose homeland was Ireland.
St. Mary Magdalen has grown over the years, adding portables in 1963 where sixth, seventh and eighth grade classes were held. In 1983 a new wing of the school was built to handle the extraordinary growth of our school, doubling its size. Kindergarten classes were added in 1987 and our preschool program started in 1999. Our sport court was enclosed to become a gym in January, 2019. The summer of 2020 wrapped up the remodel of our church.
While much has changed in 60 years, including the transition to a faculty and staff made up entirely of lay people, much has remained the same. We continue to offer an excellent education and remain faithful to the teaching and mission of our Catholic faith while also welcoming those who share other faiths. Today our diverse student body hails from all over Snohomish County and North King County.
St. Mary Magdalen students learn the teachings and traditions of our faith by participating in daily prayers, weekly masses, stations of the cross, May crowning of Mary, sacrament preparation, opportunities for reconciliation, service projects, blessing of the animals on St. Francis Day, our Christmas program, and special observances on holy days. Our students are encouraged to be active participants in the practices of our faith, and in loving service to others.
Today, St. Mary Magdalen school is thriving. The strong foundation built by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary enables us to combine rigorous, 21st-century academics with a values-centered philosophy. From the first day of preschool through eighth grade graduation, we guide our students’ success by helping them develop their unique strengths. A St. Mary Magdalen education transforms our students’ futures and prepares them to transform our world!