What grades does St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic School serve?

We serve  PK3 through 8th grade.

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Is your Kindergarten a Full Day program?

Yes, it has been full day since 1986.

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What is your average class size?

Typically in the low to mid twenties per homeroom. Our Cap is thirty in a classroom.

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What is your total enrollment?

Pk3 through 8th grade is about 385 students.

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What is the tuition for Preschool at St. Thomas?

PK3 is $1350 and PK 4 is $1800 per year.

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I have heard that St. Thomas has a Fair Ability Tuition system for grades kindergarten through eight. How does the Fair Ability Tuition System Work?

We calculate the cost it will take to educate a child here at St. Thomas. For 2010-11 that cost to educate is $4652. If you are a registered parishioner of St. Thomas the Apostle, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. Mary’s of Huntley, or Resurrection of Woodstock parishes you set your own tuition rate by prayerfully pledging the amount that you are able to pay.

Any questions regarding your Fair Ability pledge can be directed to Sonda Herren, Financial Secretary for St. Thomas the Apostle Parish. The number for the parish center is (815)455-5400.

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How qualified is your staff?

86% of our full-time staff have completed course work beyond a Bachelors’ degree, with 53% having attained a Masters degree.

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Is there a dress code?

Yes, a uniform dress code applies to all students in grades kindergarten through eight. All uniforms must be purchased from Dennis Uniform Company. Their store is located at 1400 E. Business Center Drive, Mount Prospect, IL. You can also order online at www.dennisuniform.com. Their phone number is (800)299-1442.

St. Thomas the Apostle School also has gently used uniforms that can be purchased. These will be available to you during specific times throughout the school year.

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What are your school hours?

The school day is from 7:50 am until 2:15 pm. The school office is open from 7:30 am until 3:00 pm.

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How many of your graduates go on to Marian Catholic High School in Woodstock?

Typically, around 75% of our graduating classes matriculate to Marian.

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Generally speaking, how do St. Thomas students perform on standardized tests compared to students in the public school?

It is a bit like comparing apples to oranges because the local public school students and St. Thomas students do not take the same test. The Rockford Diocese administers the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) to its schools. The majority of Catholic schools across the country take this test as well as host of public districts in various states. St. Thomas students perform well on this test, with most class averages in the above average ranges for stanine, percentile, and grade equivalent.

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Are there ways for parents to be involved at the school?

Absolutely! There are all sorts of volunteer opportunities that fit all different interests. Art helpers, literacy and math centers, recess supervision, athletic coach, hospitality baking, filing and copying, guest speaking, and Market Day just to name a few.

As mandated by the Dioceses of Rockford, every employee and volunteer must be trained to recognize and properly act upon allegation in incidence of abuse. The McHenry Deanery offers a required class to assist in this matter called Protecting God's Children (PGC). For your convenience, PGC classes can now be taken online.
Simply go to www.virtusonline.org to get started. Once you have completed the PGC class, please bring the completion certificate to our school office. If you prefer, PGC classes are also offered at various locations throughout the Diocese of Rockford. Dates and locations for upcoming classes are listed on our website. All parent volunteers at St. Thomas School also need to complete a background check. Background check  forms must be acquired from our school office. A $10 check made out to St. Thomas School needs to accompany your background check. If you are able to complete these two requirements before the start of school it is very beneficial, as you will be permitted to volunteer at St. Thomas the Apostle School right from the very start!

I have taken a tour of St. Thomas the Apostle School and had my questions answered by an administrator. How can I find out more about St. Thomas the Apostle School?

Our website is a wonderful resource to find out more about our school. Please visit us at www.stthomascl.org. If you have further questions, please click on the "Contact" tab under the main menu and email us your questions or concerns. Our Parent/Student Handbook can also be found on our website. The handbook contains valuable information about our school's policies and procedures. Familiarizing yourself with this important information before school begins is highly recommended. Every Wednesday during the school year you will find our weekly family communication on our website listed under "Weekly Family Communication." Enjoy browsing through our past communications with our families and see what we've been up to!

I understand you have a mentoring program for new families at St. Thomas the Apostle School. How does this work?

New families are paired with current St. Thomas the Apostle families who look forward to making you feel welcome at our school and comfortable with the transition to our school. Before school begins, you will receive a call from your mentor family. If you have not heard from your mentor family by mid-August, please contact the school and we will make sure to find you a mentor family.

My child will be taking the school bus to St. Thomas the Apostle School in the fall. Who do I call to answer questions I have about transportation on the first day of school?

Transportation is provided free to students who live in District 47 by District 47 buses. Special arrangements can be made to students living outside the District 47 area. Please contact the District 47 Bus Garage at (815)455- 0558 with questions regarding bus scheduling. If you anticipate your child taking the bus and have not received a letter from the bus garage by mid-August, please call the bus garage to make sure your child is on their list.

Is hot lunch served at St. Thomas the Apostle School?

Yes! Students may choose to bring in a sack lunch from home or order a hot lunch from Papa Saverio's. Papa Saverio's provides hot lunch to our students in our cafeteria Monday through Friday. All ordering is done online and can be found on our website under "Papa Saverio's Hot Lunch." If you have further questions about hot lunch or getting your child's account set up online, please contact Ronnie at (815)482-5561. Students may also order daily milk which typically runs about $20 for the whole year.

My child need after school care. Who do I contact to register my child for this program?

St. Thomas School provides an extended time program, often referred to as ET, to students in grades K-8. This after school program provides adult supervision on campus in room KA. ET provides students with snacks, homework time, and a variety of both indoor and outdoor activities. Pickup times are 4:15pm or 6:15pm. Please call our school office for more information or to register for this program.

Are there two St. Thomas Churches in Crystal Lake?

Yes, there are. We are blessed to have a church on campus, 453 Pierson Street (often referred to "Pierson Street Church") and 451 W. Terra Cotta Avenue, (often referred to as "Oak Street Church"). Once a week our students are fortunate to participate in mass with their classmates at St. Thomas Pierson Street Church. Retreats, confessions, and adoration also take place for our students at this church. All school masses are held 3-4 times during the school year and are held at Oak Street Church. We welcome parents to join us for weekly mass at Pierson Street Church as well as our all school masses at Oak Street Church.

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