Dear Prospective Parents & Students,
Welcome to our St. Lawrence School web site. As you look through the site, and you
may be considering enrolling your child at St. Lawrence, please feel free to call our
school's main office with any questions you might have. In addition, please know that
your child is always welcome to shadow for a day, but I request that you call and make
those arrangements in advance. At the present time we have openings in all our
classrooms for the 2010-2011 school year. Kindergarten is an all-day program; and
our PreK 3 & 4-year old classes are all-day, 5 days/week, or the schedule can be
tailored to meet the needs of both the parent and the child.
Our philosophy here at St. Lawrence School flows from the church’s participation in
the mission of Jesus. As a loving community with a responsibility to our students
and their families, the faculty and staff are committed to promoting academic
excellence integrated with a vision of life and learning centered in the person and
gospel of Jesus Christ. St. Lawrence School has a rich history, opening its doors in
1917. In its 93-year history many successful young men and women have passed
through its doors.
Saint Lawrence School is open to academically qualified children whose
parents/guardians are members of St. Lawrence Parish, as well as those who live in
the geographic boundaries of the parish. Saint Lawrence School does not discriminate
on the basis of race, gender, color, or national/ethnic origin. Busing is provided for
our students that live in West Haven. We also have a number of students from
surrounding communities.
At Saint Lawrence School there is a strong commitment to Catholic education by my
pastor, Father Mark Jette, my faculty and staff, my parents and their families, and my
students. St. Lawrence students are enthusiastic and eager to learn, and conduct
themselves in a respectful and responsible manner. My staff is both dedicated and
committed to providing a learning environment that fosters the intellectual, spiritual,
social, and personal development of each and every child.
We were re-accredited by the New England Association of School and Colleges,
NEASC, in 2007. We have one classroom of each grade, from Pre Kdg. through
eighth grade. Class size is relatively small, with a low teacher to student ratio
affording our students a more individualized program. Our tuition rates are very
affordable, and tuition payment plans are available. Also, every parent is offered the
opportunity to apply for scholarships if they so qualify after their first year here at
SLS. The West Haven Board of Education Food Service provides our students a hot
lunch each day, if they so choose not to bring lunch from home.
All the core subjects are offered in each grade, along with religion. In addition, we
offer World Language in grades kindergarten through eighth. Also, students have
Physical Education, Library, Music and Art classes each week. Music instrument
lessons are offered in grades fifth through eight by an instructor from Future
Musicians, and twice a year there are regional band concerts.
Our students follow a rigorous Academic Program that mirrors the Connecticut
standards in all subject areas. The CoGat mental ability test is administered in
grades 2, 5, and 7, and the Iowa Achievement tests are administered each year in
grades 3 through 7.
We have a wonderful new reading series, The Pleasant Rowland Reading Program,
in grades Pre-Kdg through second grade. In Pre-Kdg the program is entitled
“Happily Ever After,” and in grades kindergarten and first it is entitled “Superkids.”
In addition, my teachers in grades Kindergarten – 3rd are using a new science series
entitled “Nancy Larson Science Program” which is based on national standards,
develops literacy and vocabulary, encourages inquiry and exploration, has challenging
and engaging content, and offers experiments and hands-on activities. We will also
pilot this same program in our fourth grade classroom this year.
In our junior high, grades 6th through 8th, we offer both Algebra and Pre Algebra
classes. Also, we have an additional math teacher in junior high to help further reduce
class size within the math groupings, as well as offering math tutoring to students in
other grades that may need some additional help. We have an extensive library with a
full-time librarian, and our library also houses our WTNH Weather Net Station, as we
are one of their satellite stations that continually reports weather conditions.
In addition, our 8th grade classes have a science partnership with the University of
New Haven, which offers them additional opportunities in off campus science labs
and classrooms. We also have a new science lab here in the basement of
St. Lawrence School for our teachers and students to use.
We have a separate building that houses our Pre Kdg. Program as well as our After
School Program, which is offered to all families of our students who may need this
additional supervision and child care after school.
We have two computer labs, as well as six classrooms that are equipped with Smart
Boards that allow the teachers to offer their students technologically-advanced
lessons and presentations. We also have the Turning Point Response System which is
used in all grades by the teachers to further enhance their teaching as well as to
provide an immediate response of their students’ understanding of concepts being
taught.
We have a full sports program here at St. Lawrence School, under the direction of
Father Mark Jette and his coaches, offering our students soccer, basketball, softball,
and baseball. We have a Student Council that meets under the direction of two of my
staff members. The Student Council each year undertakes many worthwhile projects
throughout the community, in senior centers and convalescent homes. In addition,
we have a Young Environmentalists Club for our students in grades 5th through 8th.
The Club, run by two of our 8th grade students and moderated by two junior high
teachers, meets monthly where they discuss such issues as recycling, cleaning up the
environment, preserving our natural resources, etc. The club even has their own
website.
Almost daily my staff of dedicated teachers can be found staying after school,
offering their students tutorial lessons and reinforcing skills taught in the many
subject areas. Throughout the year our students will take many worthwhile and
educational field trips, in addition to the enrichment programs that are provided by
outside agencies to our students here at St. Lawrence School. Each month a student
in each grade is recognized by his/her teacher for his/her positive achievements, and
the students, along with their parents and family, are invited to a Student of the
Month Breakfast and ceremony. At the breakfast they receive a certificate of
achievement, an outline of their achievements, and a special Principal’s pin to
proudly wear.
These are just a few of the highlights of events that take place here at St. Lawrence
School each and every day. We would love to have you become part of our wonderful
family, our St. Lawrence Family. Again, thank you for visiting our site, and please let
us know if there is anything we can do to help you with your decision to enroll your
child(ren) here at St. Lawrence School.
Sincerely,
Mr. Paul R. DeFonzo
Principal
updated 8/2010
Welcome to our St. Lawrence School web site. As you look through the site, and you
may be considering enrolling your child at St. Lawrence, please feel free to call our
school's main office with any questions you might have. In addition, please know that
your child is always welcome to shadow for a day, but I request that you call and make
those arrangements in advance. At the present time we have openings in all our
classrooms for the 2010-2011 school year. Kindergarten is an all-day program; and
our PreK 3 & 4-year old classes are all-day, 5 days/week, or the schedule can be
tailored to meet the needs of both the parent and the child.
Our philosophy here at St. Lawrence School flows from the church’s participation in
the mission of Jesus. As a loving community with a responsibility to our students
and their families, the faculty and staff are committed to promoting academic
excellence integrated with a vision of life and learning centered in the person and
gospel of Jesus Christ. St. Lawrence School has a rich history, opening its doors in
1917. In its 93-year history many successful young men and women have passed
through its doors.
Saint Lawrence School is open to academically qualified children whose
parents/guardians are members of St. Lawrence Parish, as well as those who live in
the geographic boundaries of the parish. Saint Lawrence School does not discriminate
on the basis of race, gender, color, or national/ethnic origin. Busing is provided for
our students that live in West Haven. We also have a number of students from
surrounding communities.
At Saint Lawrence School there is a strong commitment to Catholic education by my
pastor, Father Mark Jette, my faculty and staff, my parents and their families, and my
students. St. Lawrence students are enthusiastic and eager to learn, and conduct
themselves in a respectful and responsible manner. My staff is both dedicated and
committed to providing a learning environment that fosters the intellectual, spiritual,
social, and personal development of each and every child.
We were re-accredited by the New England Association of School and Colleges,
NEASC, in 2007. We have one classroom of each grade, from Pre Kdg. through
eighth grade. Class size is relatively small, with a low teacher to student ratio
affording our students a more individualized program. Our tuition rates are very
affordable, and tuition payment plans are available. Also, every parent is offered the
opportunity to apply for scholarships if they so qualify after their first year here at
SLS. The West Haven Board of Education Food Service provides our students a hot
lunch each day, if they so choose not to bring lunch from home.
All the core subjects are offered in each grade, along with religion. In addition, we
offer World Language in grades kindergarten through eighth. Also, students have
Physical Education, Library, Music and Art classes each week. Music instrument
lessons are offered in grades fifth through eight by an instructor from Future
Musicians, and twice a year there are regional band concerts.
Our students follow a rigorous Academic Program that mirrors the Connecticut
standards in all subject areas. The CoGat mental ability test is administered in
grades 2, 5, and 7, and the Iowa Achievement tests are administered each year in
grades 3 through 7.
We have a wonderful new reading series, The Pleasant Rowland Reading Program,
in grades Pre-Kdg through second grade. In Pre-Kdg the program is entitled
“Happily Ever After,” and in grades kindergarten and first it is entitled “Superkids.”
In addition, my teachers in grades Kindergarten – 3rd are using a new science series
entitled “Nancy Larson Science Program” which is based on national standards,
develops literacy and vocabulary, encourages inquiry and exploration, has challenging
and engaging content, and offers experiments and hands-on activities. We will also
pilot this same program in our fourth grade classroom this year.
In our junior high, grades 6th through 8th, we offer both Algebra and Pre Algebra
classes. Also, we have an additional math teacher in junior high to help further reduce
class size within the math groupings, as well as offering math tutoring to students in
other grades that may need some additional help. We have an extensive library with a
full-time librarian, and our library also houses our WTNH Weather Net Station, as we
are one of their satellite stations that continually reports weather conditions.
In addition, our 8th grade classes have a science partnership with the University of
New Haven, which offers them additional opportunities in off campus science labs
and classrooms. We also have a new science lab here in the basement of
St. Lawrence School for our teachers and students to use.
We have a separate building that houses our Pre Kdg. Program as well as our After
School Program, which is offered to all families of our students who may need this
additional supervision and child care after school.
We have two computer labs, as well as six classrooms that are equipped with Smart
Boards that allow the teachers to offer their students technologically-advanced
lessons and presentations. We also have the Turning Point Response System which is
used in all grades by the teachers to further enhance their teaching as well as to
provide an immediate response of their students’ understanding of concepts being
taught.
We have a full sports program here at St. Lawrence School, under the direction of
Father Mark Jette and his coaches, offering our students soccer, basketball, softball,
and baseball. We have a Student Council that meets under the direction of two of my
staff members. The Student Council each year undertakes many worthwhile projects
throughout the community, in senior centers and convalescent homes. In addition,
we have a Young Environmentalists Club for our students in grades 5th through 8th.
The Club, run by two of our 8th grade students and moderated by two junior high
teachers, meets monthly where they discuss such issues as recycling, cleaning up the
environment, preserving our natural resources, etc. The club even has their own
website.
Almost daily my staff of dedicated teachers can be found staying after school,
offering their students tutorial lessons and reinforcing skills taught in the many
subject areas. Throughout the year our students will take many worthwhile and
educational field trips, in addition to the enrichment programs that are provided by
outside agencies to our students here at St. Lawrence School. Each month a student
in each grade is recognized by his/her teacher for his/her positive achievements, and
the students, along with their parents and family, are invited to a Student of the
Month Breakfast and ceremony. At the breakfast they receive a certificate of
achievement, an outline of their achievements, and a special Principal’s pin to
proudly wear.
These are just a few of the highlights of events that take place here at St. Lawrence
School each and every day. We would love to have you become part of our wonderful
family, our St. Lawrence Family. Again, thank you for visiting our site, and please let
us know if there is anything we can do to help you with your decision to enroll your
child(ren) here at St. Lawrence School.
Sincerely,
Mr. Paul R. DeFonzo
Principal
updated 8/2010
| Mr. Paul R. DeFonzo Principal |
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