St. Rita of Cascia School
Are you asking yourself
Why Catholic SCHOOL?
Let me help you with some St. Rita School
Frequently Asked Questions.
What type of environment does St. Rita have? St. Rita School is rooted in the traditions of the church, faith is part of our everyday experience. We have a safe and caring environment where students learn to respect God and others. Religious experiences include weekly school masses, daily all school prayer, Nativity pageant, Lenten Stations of the Cross, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, service projects and peer programs in Mass buddies. Teachers and students demonstrate mutual respect and care for each other.
Is St. Rita School Accredited? St. Rita School is accredited by the Illinois State Board of Education, the Rockford Diocese, and the National Catholic Education Association.
What type of credentials do your teachers have? All St. Rita teachers are certified in the State of Illinois. Staff degrees range from Bachelor of Science or Arts in Education to Masters Degrees. Staff development is ongoing. Teachers work on continuing education coursework. All religion teachers must be certified catechists in the Rockford Diocese. Several of our teachers and our principal have been named Distinguished Educators in Kane County.
How is your curriculum developed? St. Rita School meets or exceeds the standards set by the Rockford Diocese which are based on the Illinois Standards in reading, language arts, math, science, social studies, religion, computer, music, physical education and art. In addition St. Rita school provides advanced coursework in Algebra. St. Rita has a Reading Resource program for primary grade students who need additional support to strengthen their skills in reading. Our full day Kindergarten program is a well developed curriculum of academic enrichment.
How do students do on standardized tests? St. Rita students in grades 3-8 take the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. St. Rita School frequently ranks in the top 10% compared to other schools that take this test. The test scores improve the longer a student is enrolled in our school.
Do you have extra-curricular programs? St. Rita School aims to help students develop academically, physically, spiritually, and emotionally. St. Rita has a variety of activities including interscholastic sports in football, volleyball, soccer, cheerleading, basketball and track. In addition we offer Math team, Spelling Bee, Choir, Band, Piano lessons, Altar Servers, Girl & Boy Scouts, Student Council, Yearbook and Rainbows.
Do you have before and after school child care? Yes, students in Full day Kindergarten through 8th grade may participate in our Extended Day program. Morning care starts at 7:00 AM. Aftercare ends at 5:00 PM. Students are supervised by faculty members. The fees for this program are in addition to tuition but are very reasonable compared to public day care.
What co-curricular offerings do you have? St. Rita School has a state of the art technology lab with Internet access. In addition, each classroom has a computer station with Internet. In addition to weekly computer classes, students have classes in Music, Art, Library, and two classes per week in Physical Education. Band is offered.
Do you have a daily lunch program? St. Rita School offers a daily nutritionally balanced hot lunch program. Students may choose to purchase the lunch or bring a sack lunch from home. Students may also purchase white or chocolate milk.
What is the facility like? St. Rita is a well maintained facility. Our church and school are connected which makes the worship space very accessible to the students. St. Rita School follows a safety program to keep all exterior doors including the church locked during the school day. Visitors must enter by the front door and report to the school office upon arrival. Our fully air-conditioned facility is well maintained.
Do you have Preschool? St. Rita School has a PreKindergarten program for four year olds. Students must be four years old by Sept. 1st of the school year they start. This is a child-centered program, which prepares the children for the readiness skills for Kindergarten. Activities are designed with the “young” child in mind. There are many opportunities for socialization. Students enrolled in our program have priority for enrollment the following year for Kindergarten.
Do you have a full day program for Kindergarten? St. Rita School offers a full day Kindergarten which includes an afternoon enrichment program for Kindergarten students called LEAP! Learning Enrichment Activities Program. This is not a day care program but an extension of learning activities focusing on a variety of skills. In addition, children participating in the LEAP program may also attend the Extended Day program.
I want to send my child to St. Rita but I don’t know if I can afford it? We do know that parents must make a considerable sacrifice to pay for a Catholic school education. Parish families receive a discounted tuition when they actively support the parish through Stewardship. Discounts are given for each additional child in the family. St. Rita does have a limited source of scholarship through our Help a Student fund. Before you decide that it is too much, consider prayerfully the benefits that your child will receive to be in a Christ centered environment and discuss any concerns with our pastor or principal.
WHY ST. RITA SCHOOL ?
We strive to provide all that is needed to prepare students for a successful life, rich in
academics and rooted in faith. Come visit our parish school and see for yourself what an exceptional opportunity is available to your child. 630-892-0200