Together we serve,

Together we share, and

Together we walk humbly with God always at our sides.

Taunton Catholic Middle School opened it doors for the first time in September, 1971. That autumn, more than five hundred students were enrolled in grades six through eight, coming primarily from the parochial, elementary schools of Immaculate Conception, St. Jacques, St. Anthony, St. Mary, St. Joseph, Sacred Heart and Our Lady of Lourdes, in Taunton. In the years that followed, all but two of these elementary schools have closed and the city’s parochial educational system has undergone changes. Monsignor Coyle High School, for boys, merged with Bishop Cassidy High School, for girls, becoming the co-ed, Coyle and Cassidy High School quartered in the former Bishop Cassidy High School building, thus making space available for the first diocesan middle school, Taunton Catholic Middle School.

 Over the course of its existence, six school leaders have guided the school. Sister Mary Bridget McGettigan, SUSC, was the first principal, from 1971 to 1978; followed by Sister Patricia Mulryan, SUSC, from 1978 to 1989.  Kathleen A. Simpson, the first lay person, held the position as principal from 1989 to 2002. Robert A. Jeffrey completed a three year tenure as principal, followed by Margaret S. Menear from 2005 to 2010. Dr. Corinne R.  Merritt is currently the principal of Taunton Catholic Middle School. Each person has accomplished his or her goals

with unique style and commitment. Originally, Holy Union Sisters and teachers from the Sisters of Mercy and Dominicans comprised the majority of the faculty, with few lay teachers. Through the years, the number of religious on staff has dwindled and in recent years the staff was comprised solely of lay people. The most recent religious on staff from 1998 to 2003, Sister Marie Baldi, SUSC, left her position as seventh grade Science and Religion teacher to assume the position of Principal of St. Michael’s School, in Fall River. At the beginning of the 2005-2006 year, TCMS was once again staffed solely by dedicated, lay people.

 Over its thirty-two year existence many priests have served as Chaplain of the school. Rev. Raymond Monty was the first, followed by Rev. William Babbitt, for one year. Rev. Arnold Medeiros was the school chaplain for fifteen years. He was followed by Rev. Gerald Barnwell, Rev. Michael Camara and Rev. Douglas Souza, each for a year.  Rev. Pawel Swiercz began his chaplaincy in 1996 and remained until 2000. He was followed by Rev. Maurice Gauvin, for a year and in the school year of 2001-02 Taunton Catholic Middle School had no Chaplain and relied on the various priests of the Taunton Deanery for assistance. Rev. Jeffrey Cabral, ordained a few months before his appointment as Chaplain, served the School for one year and was transferred to Coyle and Cassidy High School as their Chaplain. The Diocese, appointed Rev. David Pregana as Chaplain for the 2003-2004 school year. The school is currently seeking a chaplain for the 2011-2012 school year.

 Home and School Association and Student Council were established in 1973. The Student Council remains active in the School. In 1996, following a few years of decline in membership and attendance in events, the Home and School Association ended and a new system of parent involvement, the TCMS-VIPS was initiated. Today, TCMS families have the opportunity to serve the school community either as members of the School Advisory Council or Parent Ambassador Committee. Parents, students and staff continue to give countless volunteer hours of service planning and executing a variety of events, each year. Spaghetti Suppers, Thanksgiving Food Baskets, decorating the tree on the Green, Science Fairs, Catholic Schools Week, Open House and Registration, Butler Basketball Tournament, TCMS Invitational Quiz Bowl, Welcome-A-Child, Walk-a-thons and many more events have been established as traditional events each year. Special events such as 9/11 Memorial Liturgy, the citywide Catholic School Liturgy for Peace, Wing Fling, Walk-a-thon and the Guaimaca Mission Project demonstrate the level of commitment and dedication of all members of the TCMS community.

 Taunton Catholic Middle School students have displayed outstanding achievement in academics, accepted to many Catholic, private and public high schools such as: Coyle and Cassidy High School, Bishop Stang High School, Bishop Feehan High School, Bishop Connolly High School, Archbishop Williams High School, Cardinal Spellman High School, Notre Dame Academy, Xaverian High School, Catholic Memorial High School, Cushing Academy, Portsmouth Abbey, Ursaline Academy, Sacred Heart High School, Boston College High School, Fontbonne Academy, Tabor Academy, Thayer Academy, Bristol County Agricultural High School, Norfolk County Agricultural High School, South Shore Vocational Technical High School, Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School, Bristol-Plymouth High School, and Providence Country Day.

 Student achievements have been publicized by the Anchor, Boston Sunday Globe, Fall River Herald News, Brockton Enterprise and the Taunton Gazette. Dozens of students qualify for the President’s Education Awards each year. Many students qualify for the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth Search where students often score with distinction on the Verbal and Math SAT. Language Arts students participate in the Respect Life Essay Contest. Students placing first or second in the TCMS Science Fair advance to the Regional and State Science Fairs, successfully competing for awards. The Science Olympiad Team competes annually at MIT receiving several awards, and the Mock Trial Team has finished first in Southeastern Massachusetts for 2008-2010. Students received a number of awards for the Lions’ Club World Peace Poster Contest.

 For summer enrichment, students are regularly accepted to the Advanced Studies Program at Bridgewater State College and College Academy at Stonehill College. Students may compete in local, state and national art contests, winning the Channel Five, Let’s Make A Difference Contest, Handicapped Awareness Poster Contest, and Up With Kids. 

Drama Club continues to provide the community with quality cultural productions of seasonal interest. The 2002 Christmas production was written by the students who performed it. The Club continues to invite clients of Bethany House and the Wise Program, both adult day care programs, to a luncheon and viewing dress rehearsal of each play. The Taunton Catholic Middle School Sports Program continues to be an important facet of personal growth for many. Citywide championships and tournaments have been won by both girls and boys track, soccer, baseball, softball, and basketball teams. All students are encouraged to participate in the various after-school programs that exist and an after-school program is in place to assist families with transportation after regular dismissal to buses.  Spiritual growth comes to the students in many ways. The TCMS community regularly participates in liturgies and prayer services. Monday mornings begin with either a student-prepared prayer service or the rosary for peace.  Living Rosary, community service, altar servers, Stations of the Cross, Passion plays and Holy Thursday Hunger Meals all play an important part of our spiritual experience. Each grade level and the faculty attend an annual retreat especially designed for the group.

 As we look to the future, encouraged by our past, we continue to grow as a community of Christian people, unified by mutual trust and respect for one another. We continue to develop individuals who are well-rounded spiritually, intellectually, socially and physically; recognizing that our responsibility is not only to our school community, but also to our global community.