ABOUT THE SCHOOL
There is an open enrollment policy at St. Theresa School. Although most of the students are members of the parish, students from other parishes as well as non-catholic students are welcome.
Preschool students in the three year-old program must be three (3) years old on or before October 15 of the school year in which they are enrolling. The four year olds must be four (4) on or before October 15. All students in Preschool must be able to use the bathroom facilities independently.
New kindergarten students must be five (5) years old on or before October 15 of the school year in which they are enrolling. New first grade students must be six (6) years old on or before October 15. All incoming kindergarten students must take part in a kindergarten screening.
There is an annual Open House during Catholic Schools Week. New student registration takes place during this time. Parents are invited to visit the school and observe classes during this special week.
Appointments may be scheduled at other times by calling the school office at (610) 838-8161 between 8:00AM and 3:00PM. New students in grades 2 – 8, and their parents, will have an interview with the principal.
At the time of registration, if a student is transferring from another school, the parent is requested to sign a transcript-release form granting permission to the student’s school to forward transcripts and personal records to St. Theresa School. Upper level students who are transferring from other schools should arrange to provide copies of their academic record to insure their admission to the proper classes.
A physical examination is required when a student enters school for the first time. Ages must be verified by a birth certificate and immunization records must be complete.
Registration forms must be completed and submitted with a nonrefundable registration fee.
Families will be notified by the school concerning the admission of the student(s).
Registration Requirements:
- Birth Certificate
- Baptismal Certificate
- Proof of Immunization
- Medical History Form
- Registration Fee (nonrefundable)
- Report Card and Standardized Tests (students transferring to our school)
The annual tuition rates and fees for the upcoming year are announced in the spring. These are set while keeping within the parameters of the Allentown Diocese for tuition rates. Tuition rates are set for registered active parishioners and non-parishioners. Rates are set according to the number of children in a family. See current St. Theresa School Tuition Rates here:
St. Theresa School Tuition Document — Please note all parents wishing to enroll their children in the school should call the school financial officer to discuss tuition if they have any questions or concerns.
Parents have two (2) options with regard to paying tuition. Parents may choose to use First Star Bank or pay the tuition in full by August 15. There is a school discount when paying in full and no additional First Star Bank service charge.
First Star Bank is a tuition management service that enables tuition payments to be made directly to a bank. First Star Bank charges an annual enrollment fee.
A set School Fee is charged to pay for those workbooks and instructional materials not covered by our government funding and to support our Technology Plan.
Fundraisers are in important part of our funding. The major fundraiser is the Dollars for Scholars supermarket certificate program. The school purchases certificates at a 5% discount and sells them for face value. Each family is required to purchase a set amount of certificates, or they can “buyout” this requirement for a set fee. Parents are encouraged to participate in the various other fund raising activities throughout the year.
A set student fee amount is established for Preschool. This class is self-supporting and receives no parish subsidy.
Experience has demonstrated that the advantages of a standardized dress code serve to encourage full attention on religious and academic development. St. Theresa School strives to instill the promotion of school spirit and classroom decorum. With this in mind, students are expected to wear either the winter or summer uniform and their appearances must meet the criterion as outlined in our handbook.School Handbook 2012-2013
The students are to take pride in their appearances and to be neat and clean. Their daily appearances reflect the quality of our school, as well as their conduct and schoolwork.
Lunch: Lunch is served in two sessions. Students may pack a lunch or purchase a hot lunch prepared on site. Lunch is served five days a week. School lunches must be purchased in advance. Beverages can be purchased in advance or on a daily basis.
Health: We share a school nurse with the public school. The nurse is responsible for charting height and weight; screening for vision and scoliosis; the maintenance of student health records; and assistance in health education. The nurse is also available for any emergencies that may arise.
Instructional Support Team: The Instructional Support Team is a state-funded service available for parents and teachers to deal with problems of an academic, social, or emotional nature. The team consists of the school psychologist, the Intermediate Unit remedial teacher, the principal, a teacher representative, the recommending teacher, and parents. The team meets biweekly to discuss issues or concerns presented to them by the teacher or the parents. Feedback and instructions guide the recommending teacher, parents, and students on how to better accommodate a specific issue and to maximize learning potential.
Diocesan Crisis Manual: The Allentown Diocese has provided a reference guide to provide general guidelines for an immediate response when extraordinary situations arise. Reference Guides are provided to all faculty and staff so the needs of the entire school community can be met.
Remedial Services: The Intermediate Unit provides a part time remedial teacher to assist in math and reading. Other specialists are provided through the Intermediate Unit as needed and available.
Transportation: Transportation is provided by the local public school district in which the student resides. If the children do not ride the public school bus, they are either car riders or they walk to school.
Extended Care: Extended care hours on school days are from 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM and after school from dismissal to 6:00 PM. There is no extended care on days when school is closed. If the school dismisses early for an emergency situation, there is no extended care. Students in extended care during after school hours have a snack and begin their homework. Fees are charged on an hourly basis.
Additional School Resources: Our school is equipped with the latest technology. All classrooms are equipped with classroom computers interactive whiteboards or interactive display technology, and document camera equipment. We have mobile interactive collaboration equipment for intra-school as well as inter-school collaboration distance learning. We have a mobile Wireless labs for all grades in the school. We continue to explore the use of current technologies and integrate them into the core curriculum content.
For additional online student resources click the link below. These resources will help your child practice valuable skills they are learning in school. These resources are updated on a regular basis as teachers add to their online resource base for class activities.
Tuition Information: For current school tuition information please click this link Tuition Information
For Additional information on the school’s activities visit our online newspaper site at http://stscomp.wordpress.com and visit our student showcase page at Student Showcase. NOTE: The student newspaper is only provided online during the school year and is suspended during the summer months.