Admissions - Grades One through Eight

Introduction

St Thomas More accepts new students in all grades based on current class enrollment. The enrollment in each kindergarten class is capped at 18, and the enrollment in grades two through eight is capped at 26.  Parents or guardians are encouraged to contact the Main Office to determine if we can accommodate new students in a particular grade. The office number is 610-432-0396.  If space is available, we would be happy to provide an information packet, explain the admissions process, and schedule the activities in the admissions process. The steps in the admissions process are explained on this page. 

Parent/Guardian Inquiry for Information

  1. Based on your request, we will mail or present the information packet to you.
  2. We will explain the steps in the process.
  3. We will ask if you would like to schedule an appointment to visit the school, ask questions, and have your child take a placement test. 
  4. We will schedule the appointment as requested.  Sometimes parents/guardians will want to review the information packet before scheduling an appointment.

Parent/Guardian Contact to Schedule a Visit with the Principal and Counselor

  1. We will explain or review the steps in the process.
  2. We will ask if you would like to schedule the placement test during the same visit.  The junior high test is 90 minutes, and the test for the other grades is 60 minutes.
  3. The tour and meeting will take 60 minutes, and the placement test will take an additional 60 or 90 minutes.
  4. We will collect the application form and all available application records.
  5. We will schedule the appointment as requested.

Tour of the School, Principal and Counselor Meeting

  1. The principal, or a school representative, will take the parents/guardians and child on a tour of the school.
  2. The parents/guardians and child will meet with the principal and counselor to ask questions about the program.  The principal and counselor will answer questions, provide an overview of St. Thomas More defining characteristics, discuss the religious expectations, and clarify the placement process. The principal will describe his/her vision of the St. Thomas More program.
  3. The counselor will collect or arrange for the delivery of any missing placement records that are described in the application.

Placement Testing

  1.  The counselor will administer the appropriate teacher-developed placement tests for a student entering grades one through eight. (Note:  regular kindergarten screening is handled by the kindergarten teachers.)
  2. The counselor will review the admission/placement steps with the parents/guardians and estimate the time for the next contact to schedule the placement meeting.

Review of Placement Tests and Placement Information

The review of placement tests and information takes about two weeks after all admission documents are received.  Parents or guardians will be called to set up a meeting after the tests and documents are reviewed.

Admissions/Placement Meeting

  1. The principal will meet the parents/guardians and child to inform them of the placement decision.  The counselor and/or assistant principal may also be involved.
  2. The purpose of the placement meeting is to establish appropriate expectations based on the review of the child's records and the St. Thomas More program.
  3. The principal and parents will sign an Acceptance Letter that details standards and specific expectations for the school, parent, and child.

Transportation

Transportation is provided by the school district in which the student resides. Notification of bus stop and time is sent directly by mail to residents of all school districts except Allentown School District.  Residents of Allentown School District will be notified by STM regarding their child's transportation. Concerns about busing are addressed directly to the respective school districts.

Educational Fee

The St. Thomas More School Board determines the educational fee.  Tuition for the upcoming year is announced at the annual parent meeting held in May.  Other obligations include regular parish support and participation in the volunteer and More Bread programs.

Services

An Extended Care Program housed in the Children's Center in the church is available before and after school.  In order to provide for the individual needs of the child, the services of specialists are available through the Carbon-Lehigh Intermediate Unit under Act 89.  The specialists are listed below:

  1. Guidance counselor
  2. Speech therapist
  3. Psychologist
  4. Educational diagnostician
  5. Reading specialist