ST. THOMAS
THE APOSTLE SCHOOL
25 DOVER ROAD
WEST HARTFORD, CT
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Thank you to those of you who have returned the Annual Satisfaction Survey. Your questions and suggestions are all appreciated. If you have not returned the survey, it’s not too late. Just send it back to school at your earliest convenience.
I love reading surveys! Your suggestions are of great value to our planning for next year and for the years to come. In an attempt to share your ideas and concerns, I have categorized the responses to assist you in your reading and appreciation for the contributions of your fellow parents.
Atmosphere
Our parents are delighted with the welcoming community that is St. Thomas the Apostle School. There is a sense of belonging and respect for families. The kindness expressed by the teachers and staff toward each other and the students in particular gives parents a feeling that their children are safe and well cared for. There is a small town feel with a great emphasis on education and community service. There is a feeling that Catholic values are communicated throughout the curriculum.
One parent voiced concern over our lack of diversity in our faculty and staff. This has always been a challenge in our Catholic schools. In order to communicate the theology of the Catholic faith in our classrooms, especially on the elementary level where all classrooms are self-contained, teachers need to be Catholic with a firm commitment to their personal faith formation.
In addition to the religious requirement, teachers in Catholic schools are paid far less than their public school counterparts. Most teachers receive half a public school teacher’s salary with the same education and experience. Because of that, many teachers have a secondary income.
Our diversity rests with the levels of experience and maturity. Our teachers have brought with them a love of teaching and a true realization of the mission of our school. I will continue to attract teachers who will reflect our mission and the love teaching with the additional goal of understanding the needs of our families and children. If you know of anyone who is interested in teaching in a Catholic school, please have them contact the Office of Catholic Schools through their website. The application process is noted. While there are challenges working in a Catholic school, the rewards are tremendous!
Curriculum
Most parents feel that the curriculum is challenging and that help is available when students need it. Parents are favorably impressed with the changes that have been made although one comment mentioned older textbooks. Parents are pleased with the newsletters from each homeroom this year. Some parents look forward to an increase in the communication of the timing of the curriculum to parents. This would include e-mail and homework logging on our web-site.
Presently, all of the curriculum guides for the Office of Catholic
Schools are available through our website link. You will find all of the
disciplines listed.
I share your desire to fully utilize on-line communication. Presently, our on-line service for parents is immature. We hope to expand our abilities to share curriculum outlines and homework, but our capabilities are limited at this time. We have explored the creation of a more sophisticated website, but the cost is beyond our reach. The creation and maintenance of a website to compliment our needs would require a $15,000 start up fee and maintenance packet of $7,500 per year.
If there is anyone with contacts or the creativity to help us broaden
our communication skills in this area, I would welcome a conversation and your
advice. We are looking to provide daily homework and monthly curriculum outlines
to families, while continuing our goal of personal contacts.
Our textbooks are in great shape! We will complete the first cycle of replacement in the fall with new reading books. We have spent the last six years evaluating and purchasing material that will compliment all of the curriculum needs for our children. Our next step is to begin again….looking at the Science and Social Studies material.
Gym and Science
Our
gym is a challenge. We have begun the replacement of the radiator covers…we
didn’t wait for summer. I have been waiting for one of our students to reach
the NBA and send us a huge donation to build a new space….but everyone is
still too young! Meanwhile, we have written a grant to upgrade both the gym and
the science lab on the upper floor. The upgrades will include teaching and
student learning stations, SMART Boards, a sink, new exterior doors, new hoops
and gym pads for the walls. Keep
this effort in your prayers. We should hear from the granting committee later
this spring.
Safety
Student safety is a top priority. All of the exterior doors are locked. The front door is on a buzzer release system. We have two cameras, one at the front door and one on the second floor in the main hallway. We can see the front and side hallways to follow visitors visually as they make their way to the office. The back After Care door has a doorbell and is also locked….only be opened by the adult in charge.
The play scape and parking lot have been examined in the last three year. All of the equipment on the play scape has been evaluated and installed to code. Teachers supervise the space during recess and enforce the no running and no ball playing rule. Students must also be the appropriate age for the equipment or they are not allowed to use them.
There are three teachers at the younger children’s
recesses with walkie-talkies, whistles and first aid baggies. One upper school
recess has two teachers and a roaming principal. We practice fire drills and
whistle drills monthly. Winter fire drills don’t require exiting the building.
Ask
your cherubs the rules for the whistle drills…they do a wonderful job!
Parking is a great concern for some parents. I agree. It is especially troubling because of the blind spots in and around the cars. At dismissal, students are required to wait with their teachers until a parent or guardian appears physically in the dismissal area. Dismiss to a car only occurs when the “pick-up” person is handicapped in some way.
The areas for parking are in the play yard as marked and across the street. The parking on the street is questionable. There are signs to indicate the appropriate spaces. Parking spaces are scarce sometimes, so I recommend that you stagger your pick-up times and consider sending your child into the building in the morning on their own. We are on duty in the building each day and will be available to help all students find their way.
Of course, it is nice to visit the classrooms, now and again…
After Care Programs
The present After Care Program lost a treasure this year, Mrs. Oates. Mr. Wilbur assumed the role of coordinator. Along with Sister Rose, we welcomed back our college students, high school students needing employment and parish high school students interested in community service. The schedules of the students fluctuated and probably gave the impression that things were not as organized as they had been in the past.
We have rectified that issue and have welcomed on board a stable staff for the remainder of the school year. Next year, we will welcome Mrs. Reneson to further solidify the program…..don’t tell anyone, it’s a secret. Her frequent visits have made a great impression on our After Care students already.
Activities after school have been a welcomed addition to our program. In addition to the Karate, we hope to resurrect the Dance Club and Art Club next year. These will be an expanded program for all students after school. We intend to keep additional programs immediately after school to ease the transition for students and reduce the frustration of pick-up and drop-off.
Fund-raising vs.
Tuition Increases
Many parents are battling over this issue. I share your pain! Many of you want to increase the tuition to cover costs and then be done with the fund-raising. Believe me, extra cash in our bank account would ease the stress I feel every time I hear the heat rattle or see the plumber working on the water heater. But the need for a full analysis is warranted if we take this step.
The cost of educating a student at St. Thomas the Apostle School is $6,800 dollars per year. An increase even over time will cause a tremendous burden to our families. The fund-raising and memorial gifts help to defray the cost of that tuition. Creative programming and fund-raising are the buffers between increased tuition and reality.
For those of you who work in areas of financial analysis and planning, I
welcome your consideration of this dilemma. As we consider any approach, we must
fully consider the effect on all of the families that are sharing their children
with St. Thomas the Apostle School for a faith-filled education, but are on a
tightly controlled income.
Playground
While the playground has seen a full evaluation by the planning committee for the parish, the playground can still use some extra attention. Some motivated parents agree and have decided to move ahead with improvements. They have plans for including ball games and template drawings for small group activities. So…..just remember…..Lent is over! In this envelope, you have been invited to a bake sale every Friday until the end of school. All of the profits will benefit our NEW playground activities.
As the surveys continue to arrive, I will share your comments and suggestions. Some issues of concern cannot be fully outlined or explained in a letter in the Thursday envelope. But, please know that all surveys will be fully considered by our School Board, as we map out our Strategic Plan for the next five years. As always, I am available to discuss your private concerns…just call.
Thank you for your time and consideration. Your efforts are truly
appreciated.