ST. ROSE OF LIMA SCHOOL

Just the Facts

Serving God – Serving our Parish – Serving our World

402-388-4393 – www.stroseschool.us

Founded by the dedicated parishioners of St. Rose of Lima Parish – 1911

Head Teacher – Mr. Scott Becker – (402) 388-4393

Grades – Preschool and Grades 1-8 Nebraska Licensed and Approved

Educational Standards – State of Nebraska AND Archdiocese of Omaha, including Religion Standards

Current 2011-12 Enrollment PreK and Grades 1-8 – 101 students

Student to Teacher Ratio – 11 – 1 (State Average is 14 – 1)

Tuition – rated among the lowest of any parochial school in Nebraska.

Tuition Assistance Programs – Families who need additional assistance with tuition can discuss specialized payment plans with Mr. Becker. The school has the ability to assist families in paying for tuition, but the family must contact the Head Teacher. We have never turned a student away because of an inability to pay. Register your student, and we’ll figure out the tuition plan that suits the family.

Children’s Scholarship Fund (Administered by Archdiocese of Omaha, based on income level, apply by Apr. 30, forms available through school office) We have several families who have assistance from this program each year, so please apply.

School Scholarships – All of the school scholarships are offered by random drawing and range from $50 to $100. Drawings generally are conducted during Catholic Schools Week. For 2011-12 over $1800 in scholarships were awarded to twenty students.

Certified Teaching Staff – Eight full-time teachers/Full-time Head Teacher

St. Rose School is State of Nebraska approved and certified by the Archdiocese of Omaha. The school meets and exceeds all of the educational standards of the State of Nebraska, and also meets and exceeds the additional rigorous Religious standards required by the Archdiocese.

All of St. Rose School teachers maintain current teaching certificates for the State of Nebraska. All teachers at St. Rose have B.A. degrees in education, and specialized endorsements for their particular grade level or discipline. Several of our teachers also have completed advanced level courses toward Masters degrees in Education. Our teachers have visited and observed at neighboring schools, and each is evaluated each year by a professional outside evaluator, and they make strategic plans based on evaluations for future improvements and enhancements in the classroom.

All teachers have completed specialized additional educational courses. All teachers and volunteer staff have completed Archdiocese “Safe and Secure” program training. Our teachers have participated in numerous modern disciplinary programs like DWP, and education workshops and in-service and all have current certification in CPR and are instructed on defibrillator. In addition to teaching duties, St. Rose teachers typically are involved in coordinating student efforts at parish and school stewardship and volunteerism.

They also help individually with fundraising for the school and parish and are ambassadors for the school in the greater community. For our teachers, being an instructor at St. Rose School is more than just a job. They view it more of a “mission” in life and we appreciate their kind and heroic efforts on behalf of our students. It is with this spirit in mind that our faculty members begin each school day before our students arrive with their own prayer service as a teaching staff.

School ITBS Scores – Average past ten years in top 25 percent in U.S.

*Several subject areas rank in top 10 percent or higher in U.S.

*Tests given in the fall as per Archdiocesan requirements

**(Test scores are available from the school office upon request.)

Facilities and Technology – Our structures are well maintained by our outstanding and dedicated custodial staff. Our upper grade building received extensive renovation and refurbishing of classrooms and hallways in 2004-2006. Our lower grade building received new hall lighting in 2008. Our school includes a full-service library, a modern computer lab with new computers updated in 2008, and all new and updated individual computers in each classroom along with laptop computers for our teaching staff, all with safe and monitored DSL Internet access. Student lockers are available for the upper grade classes. Each classroom includes proper audio-visual equipment and materials necessary for high quality, personalized education of our students, but the classrooms also support a spirit of Catholic identity, fostering the spiritual atmosphere in which our students feel safe in practicing their faith.

Future plans include the construction of an extensive prayer garden and reflective area along the south side of the lower grade building and the installation of our new playground equipment in the spring of 2009.School Goals (Visit the School and Student Pages at www.stroseschool.us)

High quality education that meets and exceeds Nebraska State Standards and those of the Archdiocese of Omaha. We do not “teach down” to standards, but believe in instruction that goes above and beyond requirements. The last five CHS Valedictorians have been St. Rose School graduates. This has been the trend over the past two to three decades. Our students excel in high school and beyond, as honor students, in the classroom and on athletic fields.

Religious formation is a hallmark of our school with daily religion education in the classroom, as well as opportunities for planning and participating in Mass on Wednesdays and Fridays each week, Eucharistic Adoration, Reconciliation, weekly Rosary service on Fridays, prayer services each day, special Lenten and Advent services and projects, celebration of Holy Days and Saints’ Feast Days and visits to local Catholic shrines.

Community service through mission projects, Pennies for Patients, serving meals at the Yankton Area Banquet, helping with projects for the parish and community, providing plays (like last year’s Snow White production) free to the community, visiting senior centers and nursing homes, providing Spiritual Bouquets for families in our parishes who have lost loved ones, offering cards to shut ins and those who are ill and much, much more.

Religious Education – Provided by Fr. Mike Schmitz (weekly instruction), Daily instruction by Individual Classroom Teachers for the lower grades and Mrs. Ginger Schieffer, Grades 6-8. (following Archdiocese of Omaha standards)

School Health Program – Instructed by Registered Nurse, Helene Hegge (Includes nutrition and wellness education, with the Temple Builders program, aimed at the spiritual aspects of health.)

Computer Science and Technology – Instructed by individual classroom teachers in the lower grades and by Mrs. Karen Leader for the upper grades.

Physical Education and Athletic Programs

Star Trail – Regionally recognized one-mile concrete walking trail developed on the school campus to encourage students to keep fit by walking the trail during their recess periods. Mrs. Helene Hegge provides specialized instruction to students in health and hygiene.

Regular P.E. classes for all grade levels. (Lower grades – Mr. Scott Becker; Upper grades, Mrs. Judy Guenther)

ST. ROSE STARS – Colors – Blue and White – (Mascot – Stars) – Junior High Sports Program

• Girls Volleyball – Girls and Boys Basketball – Girls and Boys Track

Our students carry out a full schedule in all seasonal sports, and host their own basketball tournament each February – (Coach – Judy Guenther, Asst. – Donna Arens)