FAQs
HOW OLD DOES MY CHILD NEED TO BE TO APPLY TO PREKINDERGARTEN OR KINDERGARTEN?
Your child needs to be 3 years old on or before October 1st for our Pre K 3, needs to be 4 years old on or before October 1st to apply for Pre K 4 and needs to be 5 years old on or before October 1st for Kindergarten.
WHAT DOES A SCHOOL DAY LOOK LIKE at SAINT THOMAS THE APOSTLE SCHOOL?
Your child can arrive as early as 7:30 am when the school doors open. Students must be in their homerooms by 7:45am for attendance and daily morning prayers and announcements. At 8:00am classes begin. The day ends at 2:00pm with prayers, announcements and dismissal. Before Care is available beginning at 6:30 am and after care is available beginning at 2:00pm until 6:00pm.
Early Dismissal Days begin when doors open at 7:30 am, and students are dismissed at 12:20 pm
HOW DOES BEFORE CARE AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE WORK?
Before care begins at 6:30am until 7:30 am when student can go into their classrooms. Aftercare begins when the school day ends at 2 pm. and is available until 6:00pm. Our aftercare program is designed for working parents. Families use the program as needed. Inquire with Admissions for pricing options.
HOW DO I PURCHASE SCHOOL UNIFORMS?
Uniforms can be purchased from Flynn & O'Hara. Their store is located in the Kohl’s Plaza, Hazlet, NJ
Phone (800) 441-4122 or Visit their website. We also have a Uniform Exchange which is overseen by our HSA offering gently used uniforms at $5.00 apiece.
DO I HAVE TO BE CATHOLIC TO ATTEND?
No. Students of all faiths are welcome; however, pupils are required to take religion classes pertaining to the Roman Catholic faith and attend religious services with their classmates.
DO WE HAVE TO BELONG TO THE PARISH?
No. Families of all parishes are welcome and may attend Saint Thomas the Apostle School. We also offer a Catholic Tuition Discount. To be eligible for this discount you must submit a parish verification letter signed by your pastor to receive a discount of $500 per family.
HOW MANY STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ARE IN EACH CLASS?
Our classrooms usually include 20 - 25 students. Lower grades (Pre K 3 to 3rd Grade) have two teachers—a lead teacher and an instructional aide. The upper grades have a lead teacher.
ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ME TO VOLUNTEER WITH THE PARENT COMMUNITY?
You’ll discover many opportunities to get involved in our HSA Parent Community, from our Pumpkin Patch Fall event, Scholastic book fairs, decorating for holidays, to classroom parties and festivals. Whatever your interests and availability, you can find a way to get involved. Learn more about our HSA Parent Community on the HSA tab on our website.
WHAT ARE MY TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS?
Bus transportation is provided by your resident school district not through Saint Thomas the Apostle School. We provide you with a B6T Transportation Form which you must fill out and return to us. In turn, Saint Thomas sends the forms to your district, and based on your district’s busing policies, you may receive busing transportation or payment-in-lieu of transportation. Busing is only available to students in grades K through 8 and the child must meet that district’s cutoff date.
IS THERE A SCHOOL NURSE ON THE PREMISES?
Yes. We have a Licensed Registered Nurse (RN) with several years of clinical experience, as well as several years working in a school environment.
WHAT KIND OF LUNCH PROGRAM DO YOU OFFER?
Harmony Foods Service has provided over 10 years of serving lunch to our students at Saint Thomas. Hot and cold lunches can be pre-order monthly, or purchased on any day. They also offer a flexible bagged lunch option where they can pick and choose items. Lunch forms are posted on our website. Students also have the opportunity to order milk on a monthly basis through our milk program.
HOW IS TECHNOLOGY USED AT THIS SCHOOL TO HELP TEACHERS AND STUDENTS?
Technology is changing the way students view learning in the classroom. Because of this Saint Thomas the Apostle School has 1:1 ratio Chromebooks in grades 1st through 8th. Technology allows for our faculty to adapt to our students’ needs - creating a more engaged environment. With hundreds of different apps, educational tools, and other ways for students to connect with their classmates, Chromebooks make it easier than ever to grow.
Every classroom is equipped with a Promethean Board. A Promethean board is an interactive, touch-sensitive whiteboard which allows users to engage with the displayed content through a variety of tools and software, promoting interactive learning at all grade levels and facilitating creative, flexible lesson instruction for educators. Promethean boards enhance student engagement in the classroom not only through this collaborative, active learning, but also through variation in lesson formatting. Students can access content by engaging with the board itself, through manipulative and interactive visual displays, or through a variety of learning activities.
ARE THERE PROGRAMS FOR GIFTED STUDENTS?
An accelerated math program is offered for students who qualify in grades 7 and 8.
IS ART AND MUSIC TAUGHT AT YOUR SCHOOL?
Art
Art is taught through the exploration of a wide range of media including watercolor, tempera sticks, collage, mixed-media, printmaking, and pastels. Students learn about primary, secondary, and warm vs. cool colors. Students learn color blending, geometric vs. organic shapes, and the difference between symmetry and asymmetry. As the students go up in grade, they begin to develop both confidence and mastery of materials. Students learn how artists combine the various Elements of Art to create the Principles of Design: pattern, balance, contrast, movement emphasis, rhythm and unity. Students learn the basics of shading with values to make objects appear more three dimensional. They learn to draw 3D forms and are introduced to one-point perspective. A student art show is held in the spring
Music
Students learn to sing, dance, and play percussion instruments. They also start to learn about musical concepts like melody, harmony, and dynamics. Students develop rhythm and a better understanding of music theory. A concert is held every year before the Christmas Holiday.
MUSIC INSTRUCTION/INSTRUMENTAL
Fundamental music instruction, or FMI, has been at Saint Thomas the Apostle school for over 20 years. FMI is an outside company. Lessons are paid through FMI not the school.
Students in our program are able to have band classes similar to that in a public school. Students learn all of the woodwind and brass instruments that you would see in a concert band, as well as percussion, guitar, violin, and even piano.
We perform our own concerts each year, and often invite our more experienced students from STTA to perform in our honor band. Our award winning honor band performs in places such as Hershey Park, Dorney Park, and Six Flags High Note Music Festival.
Students attend 30-minute music lessons once per week during the school day, or afterschool. Many students are enrolled in our program every year and it’s exciting to see them interested in learning how to express themselves on a musical instrument!
DO YOU OFFER ANY ATHLETIC PROGRAMS?
Competitive Sports
Saint Thomas the Apostle School has co-ed Varsity and Jr. Varsity Basketball teams as well as a track team open to grades 1-8.
CLINICS
Saint Thomas the Apostle School offers extra-curricular athletic programs after school through TNT Sport Clinics for grades K-8 in Basketball, Volleyball and Cheerleading. Clinics are paid through TNT Sports, not the school.