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Frequently Asked Questions

 

Please click here to submit a question.

Is ther a cost for MCES families to utilize the shuttle bus?
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There is no cost to utilize the shuttle bus before or after school. The free shuttle runs to the elementary campuses each morning. If your children will ride the morning shuttle bus from the St. Michael campus or the St. John campus, please plan to arrive to load the bus no later than 7:45 a.m. The busses run to and from the elementary schools after school hours. The shuttles will reach the opposite campus by 3:00 p.m. Parents choosing to utilize the Shuttle Bus will pick-up their children at one campus at 3:00 p.m. After school, the oldest child will travel on the Shuttle Bus to the younger sibling’s elementary school. There will never be a need for kindergarten or first grade students to ride the Shuttle Bus in the afternoon.

Will there be after school care at the St. Mary Middle School location?
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Yes, there will be afterschool care for students who are in the fifth and sixth grade at the St. Mary campus. There will also be an option for parents to request that their older child use the shuttle bus to another campus after school for one stop pick-up after the work day.

Will the Amolsch Tuition Assistance be available to the St. Michael families
for the 2012-2013 school year?
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Each academic year, the Luella Amolsch Trust provides tuition assistance to Monroe Catholic Elementary School (MCES) students whose parents/guardians are registered parishioners of St. Michael the Archangel. The amount for this award is determined annually, there are no family household income qualifications, and no need for a family to apply. In addition, the Luella Amolsch Trust provides for an additional need-based scholarship. The Private School Aid Service (PSAS) form will be utilized to determine additional financial assistance for each family; limited to $500 per student, per year. The PSAS form will be available in all school offices mid-January. The deadline for PSAS grant application is April, 2012 and award letters are mailed to applicants, schools and parishes by July 30.

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2011 FAQs below

Why are we doing this in the first place?
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• The existing structure and model of delivery does not offer us the best vehicle to provide an exceptional Catholic educational experience to all who seek it.
• The current model is not economically sustainable.
• The new configuration positions us to grow our enrollment by another 24% and significantly expand the services we can provide, something that was not attainable in the one parish, one school model.

What will we call each campus and our city schools as a whole?

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In collaboration, the three campuses will be known as Monroe Catholic Elementary Schools. Each building will continue to bear the name of the parish.

Will the students be divided at the class level by their parish affiliation?

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The best educational decisions for our children will be made by the educators based on research and best practices in Catholic education today. In collaboration, our students are already learning together this school year.

What opportunities will my student(s) have in this model that they don’t have now?

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The new school design will provide an enriched curriculum, new academic and developmental programs, and an atmosphere that breeds best practice and educational opportunity for students and teachers well beyond what can currently be provided.


Why are the grade levels split at these specific points PreK-1, 2 to 4, and 5 to 8?

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The grade levels were organized around building layout, building capacity, and classroom sizes; considering best practices in Catholic education. The campuses, as outlined in the brochure, will provide opportunities to meet the needs of all of our families from providing year round infant, toddler, and preschool education to a middle school concept that will fully prepare our students for their Catholic high school experience.


Will all three campuses operate on the same calendar?

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The Monroe Catholic Elementary School campuses will operate on the same academic calendar in conjunction with St. Mary Catholic Central High School. St. Michael the Archangel Early Elementary School will remain open year-round with extended hours.


How will these changes affect my parish?

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Our three parishes will continue to invest in our schools, but will do so in a more managed and predictable fashion. In five short months, the parishes have realized an economic benefit in all three schools with regard to the amount of subsidy required from the parishes. During this time we have discerned that there are more opportunities ahead that will bring about the best Catholic education we can provide in Monroe.



Will my student(s) have contact with our parish priest even if they attend school at a different campus from our parish?

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Pastors will collaboratively serve all students; from sacramental preparation to celebrating weekly school Masses at each campus, leading prayer services and facilitating faith formation with teachers and catechists.



Will my student(s) still have the opportunity to attend weekly Mass?

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Students will attend weekly Mass. A full calendar of Mass times at each campus will be made available before the school year begins.



How will faith formation, sacramental preparation, and daily religion class be handled?

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Our Monroe Catholic Elementary Schools serve the educational and spiritual needs of the students and work in partnership with the parishes to achieve this. A collaborative plan of sacramental preparation between parishes and schools will be developed. The plan will allow for an educational / formational program through the parish religious education and school program and provide joint opportunities for community building within the parish setting. Religious study, including sacramental preparation, is weaved into the daily instruction in every content area. We believe that faith formation and sacramental preparation begins at home with parents, attending Mass every weekend with your child, and parish participation.



Who will run our schools and will each campus has a Principal?

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The Monroe Catholic Elementary Schools will be led by one Executive Director supported by the pastors of the three Monroe parishes. Each campus will be managed by a building principal.



How will I deal with drop off and pick up if I have students at more than one campus?

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School hours will be staggered slightly to accommodate transportation of any kind. Consideration has been given to early drop-offs and staggered release times that will be beneficial for the good of all. Transportation from Monroe Public and St. Mary Catholic Central will operate at all campuses in morning and afternoon.



If transportation is provided before and after school between the campuses, will it cost me more money to use it?

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There will be no cost incurred to families who choose to utilize the St. Mary Catholic Central bus service between campuses before or after school.



Will before and after school care be available at each campus for students?

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Year-round childcare and latchkey services (before, during, and after care) will be available at the St. Michael campus. Latchkey for grades 2-4 will be available at the St. John campus after regular school days.



How will tuition rates and family discounts at each campus be set?

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There will be one framework for tuition costs for all families. This will be available in January at enrollment.



How will I be billed and who will I pay for tuition and daycare charges?

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All fees, including tuition and childcare will be paid to Monroe Catholic Elementary Schools. Payment schedules that fit every family will be available.



How will fundraising be handled among the three schools?

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The Monroe Catholic Elementary Schools will have two or three large fundraisers that the Executive Director will oversee with the purpose of offsetting the cost of Catholic education. Additional fundraising and the organization of the fundraising for parent, student, and athletic interests will be determined at a later date.



Will the three parishes continue to subsidize the schools?

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The three parishes will continue to subsidize the schools, however moving forward we will be in a position to share resources, manage costs, and handle the non-educational operations of the school in an efficient and effective manner, allowing for predictability for our parishes.



Will tuition and fundraising revenue go to fund the childcare and daycare operations?

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100% of the tuition paid by families will be used to educate our students in preschool through grade eight. The childcare operation at the St. Michael campus is considered a student service, similar to a hot lunch program, which funds itself.



Will my child, as a day school student, have preference for enrollment in daycare and summer camp programs over non-day school students?

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Our parishioners and current school families of our Monroe Catholic Elementary Schools will always have an opportunity to enroll first, before open enrollment is offered to the public.



How will this reorganization affect CYO sports?

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Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) is a parish program. Students will participate in athletics at the parish they are registered.



Will I have to buy new uniforms for my student(s)?

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Information regarding uniforms will be distributed in January at enrollment time.





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