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 2011-2012 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 94-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 who 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 fourth 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. Our Catholic School students
consistently score well-above the National average.
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 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. For science we have a Science Lab set up complete with lab tables and equipment for
the students to use on all grade levels.
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 eight 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
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 2011-2012 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 94-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 who 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 fourth 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. Our Catholic School students
consistently score well-above the National average.
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 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. For science we have a Science Lab set up complete with lab tables and equipment for
the students to use on all grade levels.
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 eight 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
| Mr. Paul R. DeFonzo Principal |
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