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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHEN WAS ST. CLARE CATHOLIC SCHOOL FOUNDED?

St. Clare Catholic School was founded in 1964 and has been serving the North Palm Beach area for more than 55 years. Learn more about the school’s history here.

IS ST. CLARE CATHOLIC SCHOOL ACCREDITED?

Yes, St. Clare is proud to be fully accredited by the Florida Catholic Conference. The Florida Catholic Conference Accreditation Program (FCCAP) serves as the accrediting agency for Catholic schools (Pre-K to 8th Grade) in the State of Florida and southern Georgia. The Conference is a charter member of both the National Council for Private School Accreditation (NCPSA) and the Florida Association of Academic Nonpublic Schools (FAANS).

The accreditation program provides a systematic process of school improvement. The standards of this accreditation program are derived from sound educational research. They are also influenced by Catholic educational philosophy, integrating faith and values with life and learning. The standards assist St. Clare School in working through a dynamic self-evaluation process that promotes accountability and ongoing excellence. St. Clare School was first accredited in 1979 and has been fully re-accredited with commendations in every seven-year cycle since then.

WHAT IS LEADER IN ME?

St. Clare Catholic School is an accredited Leader in Me® (LiM) school. Leader in Me is an evidence-based, comprehensive-school improvement model—developed by FranklinCovey in partnership with educators—that empowers students with the leadership and life skills they need to thrive in the 21st century. It is based on principles and practices of personal, interpersonal and organizational effectiveness, and upon the powerful premise that every child possesses unique strengths and has the ability to be a leader.

Leader in Me helps students learn how to become self-reliant, take initiative, plan ahead, set and track goals, do their homework, prioritize their time, manage their emotions, be considerate of others, express their viewpoint persuasively, resolve conflicts, find creative solutions, value differences, and live a balanced life. The process helps students develop the skills and self-confidence they need to lead their lives and succeed in school and beyond.

Accreditation to become a Leader in Me school includes training on establishing a vision for the school, goal setting, data tracking, and personal-accountability systems and is aligned with best-in-class content and concepts practiced by global education thought leaders. Leader in Me provides a logical, sequential, and balanced process to help schools proactively design a culture that reflects their vision of their ideal school. This shared leadership increases engagement and enables students, staff, and families to be self-confident and self-reliant, work effectively with others, and make meaningful contributions. For more information about Leader in Me, visit www.leaderinme.org.

WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE TEACHERS?

All teachers have, at a minimum, a bachelor's degree and a Florida teaching certificate or qualify as candidates for Florida certification.

WHAT SAFETY MEASURES ARE IN PLACE?

The school has a crisis management plan that addresses many emergency situations. Parents are welcome to come into the school office and review our Crisis Management Plan.

Comprehensive emergency procedures

Cooperation of local law enforcement

Fencing

Camera surveillance

Organized safe drop-off and pick-up

Police Officer on campus during regular school day hours

Policies for on-campus activities

Two-way radios campus wide

WHAT IS THE APPROXIMATE STUDENT/TEACHER RATIO?

Pre-K 12 students/1 teacher/1 teacher assistant

K-3 25 students/1 teacher/1 teacher assistant

4-8 28 students/1 teacher

WHAT ARE THE SCHOOL HOURS?

Grades PreK3 and PreK4  7:50am – 2:15pm

Grades Kindergarten through 2nd  7:50am – 2:30pm

Grades 3rd through 5th  7:50am – 2:40pm

Grades 6th through 8th  7:50am – 2:50pm

If you have multiple children, please plan to pick up at the oldest students' dismissal time.

DOES THE SCHOOL OFFER BUS SERVICE?

No, parents are responsible for transportation arrangements. Buses to and from local aftercare providers are available.

IS EXTENDED CARE AVAILABLE?

Yes, afternoon care for students is available for an additional charge. Please visit the aftercare page for more information.

IS THERE AN ADDITIONAL FEE FOR TEXTBOOKS?

Some textbooks are owned by the school and a rental fee is charged each year. Students in grades 5-8 have some digital books on their iPads which are on a yearly license and are included in the book bill.

ARE THERE FEES IN ADDITION TO TUITION?

Yes, registration fees, textbooks/iPads, consumable books, home and school dues, uniforms, lunches, and class trips are the responsibility of the parent. See Tuition and Fees for details.

WHAT SCHOOL SUPPLIES DO I NEED?

Grades PreK-8 will receive a school supply list each year.

WHERE ARE UNIFORMS PURCHASED?

Uniforms are purchased at Harris School Uniforms located at 4152 Blue Heron Boulevard, Riviera Beach, FL 33404 (561) 881-8689. P.E. uniforms may be purchased directly from the school. The school hosts a used uniform sale several times a year for your convenience.

WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT UNIFORMS?

All uniform details are located in the handbook. In cool weather, all students wear regulation SCCS warm-up suits or sweaters. Closed-toe and heeled shoes are required. Tennis shoes are permitted.

On school Mass day students wear their formal uniform which consists of long navy or khaki slacks for boys and jumpers, skirts or skorts for girls. On ‘Dress for a Cause’ days students wear casual clothing that adheres to the uniform regulations located in the handbook.

WHAT LUNCH SERVICES ARE PROVIDED?

Lunch entrees are available daily for $4 for a small or $5 for a large. Drinks and healthy snacks are additional. Parents need to fund their child’s RenWeb lunch account which is charged daily for items purchased.

HOW DO PARENTS PARTICIPATE IN SCHOOL LIFE?

St. Clare Catholic School prepares students for a lifetime love of learning, service to God, and responsible membership in the school, community, and ever-changing world.  St. Clare Catholic School believes that the education of students requires a partnership with families and encourages family involvement. We host multiple events throughout the school year to build our community. In addition, our parents have required volunteer hours, which helps to meet these goals.

WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO BE A VOLUNTEER?

All volunteers must be fingerprinted and go through the Protecting God’s Children (VIRTUS) program. The date and time of the sessions will be on the school calendar. Additional opportunities to attend are available through the diocese.

ARE THERE FIELD TRIPS?

Yes, field trips to local areas of interest are scheduled throughout the year to enhance the curriculum. The cost of field trips is not included in tuition.

DO STUDENTS TAKE A STANDARDIZED TEST EACH YEAR?

Yes, students in 2nd through 8th grade are assessed yearly each spring using the Terra Nova tests.

HOW IS CATHOLIC EDUCATION TREATED AT ST. CLARE CATHOLIC SCHOOL?

Each student is a unique child of God whose social, emotional, physical, and academic needs are best met in a safe, comfortable learning environment. Our role as a Catholic school is to proclaim, teach, and model the Gospel message of Jesus, and build a faith community that celebrates through prayer, worship and service to others. The entire Catholic community plays a vital role in the education of our students.

DOES ST. CLARE CATHOLIC SCHOOL HAVE A MEDIA CENTER?

Yes, the Media Center houses the book collection for all grade levels, a computer lab, and a television production studio. The TV Production Studio, located in the media center, is the location of morning announcements that are broadcast into the classrooms via closed-circuit television by our students each day. In addition, a fully equipped computer lab is located in the Media Center building. Students in Pre-K through fifth grade visit the lab once per week for computer instruction.

DO STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET ON ALL SCHOOL COMPUTERS AND STUDENT IPADS?

Yes, all students have access to the internet via our high-speed broadband connection. Filtering software is used to block inappropriate content from reaching the school’s network. The Technology Coordinator, the computer teacher, and the classroom teachers closely monitor all student computer use. All students, parents, and staff members must sign an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) at the beginning of each school year.

WHAT ADDITIONAL TECHNOLOGY IS AVAILABLE?

1:1 iPad Program for grades K-8

Ceiling-mounted LCD projectors in all classrooms (PreK-8th)

Document cameras available in select classrooms

Televisions and DVD players in all classrooms

Premium online resources including RenWeb and Google Classroom

Television studio featuring closed-circuit classroom broadcasts

HOW IS INFORMATION COMMUNICATED TO PARENTS AND STUDENTS?

Renweb, which is a secure website for reporting class information (Pre K-8th grades), homework (K-8th grades), and progress reports.

Email blasts to parents. Through emails from St. Clare Catholic School, we are able to convey important information or breaking news about the School.

Social Media: St. Clare hosts a Facebook Page, Instagram Page and a Twitter Feed.

RenWeb Parent Alert System to notify families via text and cell phone.

HOW DO I GAIN ACCESS TO RENWEB?

Once registered, you will be emailed and given printable instructions on how to create a ParentsWeb Login.

DOES THE SCHOOL HAVE A STUDENT/PARENT HANDBOOK?

Yes, the handbook is available on our website, and it covers the following: general information about the School, general policies, academics, and code of behavior etc. 

WHERE DO STUDENTS APPLY FOR HIGH SCHOOL AFTER GRADUATING FROM ST. CLARE SCHOOL?

Our students apply to Cardinal Newman High School, Oxbridge Academy, The Benjamin School, The King’s Academy, Jupiter Christian School, St. Andrew’s School, The Pine School, and the magnet programs at Suncoast High School, Dreyfoos School of the Arts, Palm Beach Gardens High School, W. T. Dwyer High School, and Jupiter Community High School.

CAN HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT BE OBTAINED FOR ANY CLASSES AT ST. CLARE SCHOOL?

St. Clare offers both Algebra I Honors, and Spanish I Honors for high school credit. High school credit can also be earned for Geometry using the Florida Virtual School Learning Lab Model (Qualified students must meet certain criteria).