Admissions - Kindergarten

Philosophy

St. Thomas More offers learning experiences and opportunities that will assist in developing the physical, social, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual potentialities of the child.

 

St. Thomas More kindergarten provides an atmosphere that offers children opportunities to seek knowledge while encouraging their continual wondering, discovering, and becoming. In a Christian context, this atmosphere includes the experience of a faith community where the children participate in and share life with others in an environment of Christian love. It also includes sharing a message of joy and Good News that the Lord is truly a loving Father. Finally, flowing from the experience with others and encouraged by the message of faith, the children experience themselves as a response to each others needs.

 

Curriculum

  • Religion - provides a balanced program of prayer, study, and activity
  • Reading and writing - develops and fosters sound listening and speaking skills of the individual child through various classroom activities.  Basic skills in reading and writing are taught in a readiness program as part of the total language development
  • Social studies - teaches concepts related to people, customs, and life-styles of America
  • Science - provides activities designated to be learning-sharing experiences integrated into the total day
  • Music and art - provides experiences for active participation in musical activities. Opportunities are included to develop skills of the visual arts and to cultivate an appreciation of artistic works
  • Value orientations - includes realistic experiences which will foster each child's growth in self-awareness, self-reliance, and personal responsibility
  • Math - designed to assist children in understanding number concepts and the function of numbers in their daily experiences through the use of many manipulatives

Faculty

The faculty is degreed and state certified, and they provide a challenging and stimulating environment for student growth.

Enrollment Requirements

To be enrolled, a child must be 5 years of age by October 15th.  Admission to St. Thomas More School is based on:

  • Date of registration in parish
  • Involvement and participation in parish
  • Financial support of the parish
  • Other siblings in the school

Kindergarten screening will take place during March or April.  The purpose of the screening is to assist teachers and parents in assessing developmental readiness for kindergarten admission.

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.

 

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:

  • Guidance counselor
  • Speech therapist
  • Psychologist
  • Educational diagnostician
  • Reading specialist