UPDATED: Saint Bridget Celebrates Catholic Schools Week

Editor’s Note: Article was updated on Monday, February to note it was a pre-kindergarten classroom and not a kindergarten classroom.

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By Ashlyn Kelly

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FRAMINGHAM – Saint Bridget School Principal Marilena Martucci walked into a pre-kindergarten classroom and immediately she had four pre-kindergartners hugging her legs. 

One little girl looked up at Martucci and proclaimed “It’s my birthday! I’m turning five.”

Martucci smiled and said, “You’re a big girl now!”

With every classroom entered, Martucci was greeted with the same enthusiasm as the pre-kindergartners had shown – only with fewer hugs. 

Martucci said she is a product of Catholic school herself, as well as having taught at Catholic schools since 2000. After her husband’s work transferred their family to Massachusetts, she said she was at a “crossroads.

“I sat there and I said, ‘No, I really only want to be in Catholic education because I feel very strongly about a Catholic education – about the values that it teaches, about the people who we are developing,” she added. 

St. Bridget School was completed and dedicated in 1958, according to the school’s website, and was run by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Archdiocese of Boston until 1974. 

Currently, St. Bridget serves around 250 students from preschool to eighth grade, according to Martucci. Students in first through eighth grade are provided with an education in mathematics, language arts, science, and social studies as well as religion. 

According to the school’s website, the school serves 180 families from 15 different towns including Framingham, Marlborough, Hopkinton, Natick, Southborough, Ashland, and Wayland. 

The average class size is 14 students. 

All grades go to Mass once a week and a school-wide mass once a month, according to the school’s website. Each day starts and ends with a student-led prayer, said Martucci. 

“We try intentionally to make sure that every child understands their self-worth, that every child understands that they’re a child of God, they have worth and everyone is important,” said Martucci. “Whatever gifts you have are amazing and you’re gonna use those gifts to do incredible things.”

The school even has a pet chameleon named Buddy. 

According to the National Catholic Education Association, Jan. 30 – Feb. 5 is Catholic School Week, which is time for Catholic schools to show the “value Catholic education provides to young people and its contributions to our church, our communities and our nation.”

St. Bridget is celebrating Catholic School Week with a number of activities for students, faculty and staff, and the community. 

Monday, Jan. 31 was “Celebrating our Community,” according to the school’s website. Students could “dress down” in their hometown or St. Bridget School spirit wear. The school also collected food for a food pantry and for baskets to give to frontline workers. 

Tuesday, Feb. 1 was “Celebrating Vocations,” according to the school’s website. Students did activities to learn about Saint Bridget, attended a school-wide mass, hosted the vocation chalice, and made cards for priests. 

Wednesday, Feb. 2 is “Celebrating our Nation,” according to the school’s website. Students can “dress down” in red, white, and blue, and will watch an interview with a veteran, and make cards for veterans.  

Thursday, Feb. 3 is “Celebrating our Students,” according to the school’s website. Students can “dress down” in their own choice of attire, play a school-wide BINGO game, and have a special snack of cookies and cocoa.      

Friday, Feb. 4 was supposed to be “Celebrating Faculty & Staff,” but it ended up be a snow day, due to the ice storm.

St. Bridget School gives tours to potential families every Tuesday at 9 a.m.

Amanda Popp, vice principal for Admissions and Advancement, said, “From there what happens – everything is done online. It’s a quick 15-minute application.”

There is a virtual open house on March 1 at 6:30 p.m.

Pre-registration is required. 

For more information on the cost of tuition and how to schedule a tour, visit their website at https://www.saintbridgetschool.info/.

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Ashlyn Kelly is a Spring 2022 SOURCE intern. She is a is a senior communication arts major with minors in political science and journalism at Framingham State University. When she is not writing an article, you can usually find her in a theatre.

Saint Bridget School kicked off Catholic Schools Week 2022 by celebrating our community! Our mission drives us to serve others. Students collected food items for our Food Pantry, and also made baskets for area First Responders (photo from Saint Bridget School)