Frequently Asked Questions
- Why should I choose St. Aloysius Catholic School for my child? We know you want what’s best for your child and so do we! We prepare our students for life beyond the classroom with outstanding academics and life skills such as integrity, caring and responsibility. Our Christian values are at the heart of everything we do and provide a strong foundation for continued success. Our graduates excel in high school academically and athletically and are active members of their communities. We truly have faith in every student and help them to reach their fullest potential!
- Do you have to be Catholic to attend St. Aloysius? No, we celebrate our common faith and welcome students of all faiths and cultural backgrounds! In accordance with Christian principles, St. Aloysius Catholic School recruits and admits students of any race, color or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities. The school will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies or extracurricular activities.
- Are your teachers certified? Yes, all of our teachers are certified by the state of Ohio Department of Education. All have bachelor degrees and ten of our full time faculty members have master degrees as do two members of our intervention team. Our 16 full time faculty members combined have over 225 years of teaching experience! All of our teachers are required to participate in professional development and continuing education experiences in order to renew their licenses every five years. In addition to the state requirements, our faculty members receive further instruction and certification through the Diocese of Toledo on the Catholic faith.
- Is St. Aloysius School accredited? Yes, St. Aloysius is fully accredited through the Ohio Catholic School Accrediting Association (OCSAA).
- What curriculum does St. Aloysius Catholic School follow? We adhere to the Diocese of Toledo’s own set of instructional standards, entitled Graded Courses of Study, for all subjects at all grade levels. The Graded Courses of Study in all subjects (except Religion) are based upon the Ohio state standards. As a diocese, we essentially take the Ohio standards, make them more rigorous, and infuse them with the Catholic faith. We continue to be “Different by Design.” In addition to the core subjects, our students receive instruction in technology, physical education, music and art. Our fifth graders all participate in band and our sixth through eighth grade students have the option of band or general music.
- What technology do you provide? We are proud of our efforts to integrate technology with our curriculum and in helping prepare our students to use the latest technology responsibly. Technology classes are offered at all grade levels in our computer lab and our students have the opportunity to use iPads, chromebooks, and Smart Boards in addition to traditional desktop computers in the classroom. Our students in grades 5 through 8 all have Google Apps for Education accounts. In our junior high we have a 1:1 chromebook program which provides a device for each student to use during the school day. We have recently installed a 65” Clevertouch interactive touch screen display in our computer lab. Our graduates are comfortable on multiple platforms and devices which helps them to transition seamlessly to the systems in use at the high school of their choice.
- Do St. Aloysius students participate in state standardized testing? As a chartered non-public school we are not required to administer state standardized tests except to students using state scholarship funds. Our students participate in the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) test selected by the Diocese of Toledo. MAP is a computer-adaptive test that compares our students’ scores against students in the Diocese of Toledo and nationwide. St. Aloysius students consistently outperform the national average. Our students also participate in religion assessments through the National Catholic Education Association with great success.
- How does my child become a member of the St. Aloysius school community? Please contact the school office for registration materials. Preschool registration begins in January. KR-8 registration begins in February.
- How much does it cost to send my child to St. Aloysius? The operation of our school is one of our primary missions as a parish. St. Aloysius Catholic School is funded through the partnership of St. Aloysius Church parishioners and school parents. A substantial portion of the school budget is subsidized by the parish.The 2017-2018 tuition rate is $4740. Parishioners of St. Aloysius or other nearby Catholic parishes without a school are eligible for a $2105 parishioner grant. In addition, sibling grants are offered if a family is registering more than one child. The first sibling receives a discount of $375, a second sibling receives a discount of $810 and a third sibling receives a $1245 discount.
- What extra-curricular activities do you offer? We offer a variety of extracurricular activities including Quiz Bowl, Chess Club, and Scouts. Special after school events such as Game Day for grades 3-5 and dances for grades 6-8 are held on a regular basis. At the parish level students participate in a number of CYO athletic programs including cross country, volleyball, basketball, football, and track and are active members of FIAT, a youth group devoted to service.
- What is the dress code at St. Aloysius? Students at St. Aloysius follow a standardized dress code which is designed to simplify the routine at home and reduce distractions at school. While we have a plaid skirt and jumper that can be purchased through Schoolbelles and school logo items that can be ordered through our Parent Association, these are all optional. It is easy to purchase all items required for your child’s uniform at local retailers or online. Throughout the year we also have special dress down or dress up days. The opportunity to sell or purchase used uniforms is offered each year at our Back to School Parent Night.
- What is the schedule for a school day at St. Aloysius? The building opens at 8:30 for students, classroom academics begin at 8:45am. Dismissal is at 3:15 pm. All classes have a half hour lunch period and a fifteen to thirty minute recess depending on the grade level.
- What is St. Aloysius’ Transportation Program? Students can either arrive by privately operated vehicle, daycare transportation, or public school bus (Bowling Green City Schools, Otsego Schools, and Elmwood Schools). Arrangements for bus transportation are made with your district of residence.
- What is St. Aloysius’ Extended Day Program? Students who need to have child care in the morning and/or afternoon beyond school hours are able to participate in our Extended Day Program. The program is designed to offer affordable childcare to families while parents are working. It can be used daily, several times a week, or on an occasional basis. The hours are 7:00-8:30 AM in the morning and 3:15-6:00 PM in the afternoon. The current fee for this program is $2.75 per hour per student calculated to the minute. You only pay for the time your child is in our care.
- What is St. Aloysius’ School Lunch Program? Hot Lunches are prepared in the school kitchen daily by George’s Catering whose primary objective is to provide good lunches that are high in nutritional value and interesting to the kids. They strive to offer fresh, seasonal and locally-sourced foods. Free/Reduced lunches are provided to those families who qualify. All lunch staff is ServSafe Certified food service professionals who have completed appropriate background checks and the Diocesan VIRTUS “Protecting God’s Children” online workshop.