The following is an excerpt from the book Common Bond – St. Mary’s Church, Bryantown, Maryland which was authored by John E. Potyraj and published in 1993 by Steeple Press on the Bicentennial Anniversary of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Bryantown, Maryland.  The excerpt, which appears on Page 43 in the book,  is from a journal kept by the School Sisters of Notre Dame and it provides a vivid impression of the beginnings of education at St. Mary’s Parish:

“On a Monday morning, on September 6th, 1915, amid torrents of rain, five sisters, Sister Superior M. Vincentia, Ven. Sr. M. Quirilla, Sr. M. Clementia, Sr. M. Nivarda and Sr. M. Melinda accompanied by good Ven. Sr. M. Materna (from the School Sisters of Notre Dame), boarded the train at Union Station for Bryantown, Maryland…where we were met by Rev. P.E. Conroy, Pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Bryantown, and two gentlemen members of the parish…They escorted us by way of automobile to our new home and Mission, a distance of eight miles from the Waldorf Station, out in the real woodland…At our new convent we were heartily greeted by many of the parishioners…The rest of the day was spent in receiving and entertaining callers.” 

St. Mary’s Elementary School was established in 1915 in two different buildings: one for white children and one “colored” children.  St. Mary’s became the home of Notre Dame High School (for white youth) in 1923. Notre Dame High School actually became an accredited institution in 1925.

All three schools were taught by the School Sisters of Notre Dame for approximately 80 years.

Notre Dame High School was closed in June of 1967.

St. Mary’s Parish dedicated a new elementary school for all children in November 1967.  This is the school we have today.