Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Are your teachers state certified?
A. Absolutely! Furthermore, our teachers must earn six academic credits every
five years.
In addition to their teaching certification,
teachers at St. Katharine Drexel School must earn and maintain Basic Religious
Education Certification. Anyone teaching religion must acquire Advanced
Religious Education Certification. Upon earning the required certification, the
teacher must maintain that level.
Q. Do you have before and after school
care?
A. Yes. We offer this service through the YMCA, which has several sites
throughout the city.
Q. Does St. Katharine Drexel School have a
well developed curriculum?
A. It most certainly does! St. Katharine Drexel offers a standards-based
curriculum. A new curriculum area is evaluated each year. We review the state
and national standards, revise the areas in which revision is needed and choose
materials accordingly. Our curriculum is a living, breathing document.
In addition to our textbooks, we utilize a
number of supplemental resources. Some of these include: library materials,
audio and videocassettes, educational games, and computer software.
Experiential learning is essential to the curriculum, and laboratory activities,
guest facilitators, and field trips are utilized to enhance the learning
experience.
Every classroom at the Elementary Campus also
has between 1 and 6 networked computers which allows for numerous other
resources to be used within the classroom setting.
Q. What special resources and facilities
does St. Katharine Drexel School have?
Each campus has a library containing a broad
spectrum of supplementary instructional materials and equipment. The Elementary
Campus has a Computer Laboratory which houses 25 computers and 4 servers. The
computer lab also contains a wide variety of instructional and supplemental
software programs. Each of these facilities is staffed by qualified personnel
and is utilized daily as part of the instructional program.
Both campuses house a gym, a kitchen area
where hot lunches are prepared, art and music rooms, adjacent churches for
weekly mass, and a stage for performances and special events.
The Primary Campus has a well-equipped,
child-friendly Preschool classroom, Kindergarten classroom, and Extend-A-Day
classroom.
The Elementary Campus is also home to the
only middle school band in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. See the Student
Activities question below for more information.
Q. Does St. Katharine Drexel School have a full-day Kindergarten?
A. Yes. We have the most flexible Kindergarten program available in Beaver
Dam. As of Fall 2007, the following Kindergarten program options are
available:
Option 1: Full day Kindergarten, 8:10 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.
Option 2: Half day Kindergarten, 8:10 a.m. to 11:10 a.m.
Option 3: Extend-A-Day, 11:10 a.m. to 3:10 p.m., up to
5 days per week.
Full day Kindergarten is a great option. Children who participate in the
Full Day program will receive the most well-rounded schedule of learning
opportunities, including art class, gym class, and a complete day of learning
centers and enrichment activities. Children will also have a rest time,
recess, lunch, and story time during the day.
For those families who feel
their child is not quite ready for a full-day program, we offer Half Day
Kindergarten and an optional Extend-A-Day. This
versatile Extend-A-Day program offers an extension to the half-day Kindergarten program. Our
Extend-A-Day Coordinator works closely with our Kindergarten teacher to
reinforce, enrich, and expand the learning that occurs in Kindergarten. There
is also a rest period, recess, story time, etc. included in the daily schedule
for Extend-A-Day.
Children may participate in the Extend-A-Day program one day a week, or up to
five days a week.
Q. Is St. Katharine Drexel School accredited?
A. Most definitely. SKDS is accredited through the Archdiocese of Milwaukee
School Planning and Accreditation (SPA) program and the Wisconsin Religious and
Independent Schools Accrediting Association (WRISA).
Also, we are proud to announce that in the
2003/2004 school year we earned Exemplary Accreditation in the areas of Mission,
Community, and Climate!
Q. Is tuition assistance available?
A. Yes. St. Katharine Drexel School has established a Tuition Assistance Fund
for those who desire to send their children to a Catholic
School but who need some financial assistance in order to do so. For this
assistance program, please contact either the principal or the pastor.
Q. What's the technology story?
A. St. Katharine Drexel School continually strives to meet the technological
needs of today's world through its computer lab, classroom computers, internet
access for students and staff, and computer classes. Technology is an ongoing
challenge and we are always striving to be on the cutting edge.
Q. How can I get more information or tour
the school?
A. We are always happy to share information
about what we offer here at St. Katharine Drexel School. If you have questions,
or would like to tour the campuses, please contact the school office at (920)
885-5558.
Q. What is the average class size?
The current average class size is 14 students to 1 teacher. Smaller class sizes
allow our students to receive the one-on-one attention they need to reach their
learning potential.
Q. What activities are available for
students?
St. Katharine Drexel School is home to the
only middle school band in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Students may
participate in Junior Band (5th Grade), Mezzo Band (6th
Grade), Senior Band (7th and 8th Grade), Jazz Band (6th
through 8th Grade), and Marching Band (4th through 8th
Grade).
Other student activities include:
Volleyball, Basketball, Football, Track, Forensics, Builders’ Club, Yearbook
Staff, 8th Grade Tutors, and Mass Servers.
Q. What
opportunities are available for parent involvement?
There are many ways to get involved at SKDS.
Regardless of your talents, skills, or interests -- there is something for
everyone! Parents may be involved in one of our many committees, including:
Home and School Association, Band Guild, Athletic Association, Alumni
Association, Development Committee, School Board and its committees, and Parish
Council.
Aside from joining a committee, parents may
volunteer in the classroom, library, lunch room, computer lab, or Scrip office.
There are other countless ways a parent can help out from home or at the
school.
Q. How is religion incorporated into your
program?
Our faith is incorporated into
everything we do. For a comprehensive list of ways in which our faith is
integrated into the curriculum, see the Faith In
Education page.
Q. When is registration?
Registration begins in February and continues
throughout the school year and summer. A waiting list is established when
classes are full.
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