ABOUT ST. MEL SCHOOL
| St. Mel School Application | St. Mel School Student Handbook |
St. Mel School Philosophy
St. Mel Elementary School embodies the teachings, values and beliefs of the Catholic Church. We serve our mission by providing a compassionate, nurturing atmosphere in which students develop a solid moral character, realize their fullest potential and share their gifts with others. All that we do is rooted in love, the teachings of Jesus Christ, prayer and Eucharistic celebrations.
St. Mel Elementary School recognizes that parents have the primary responsibility to educate their children. In partnership with them and the larger St. Mel community, the faculty and staff endeavor to develop all students’ spiritual, academic, social, emotional, physical, and potential. Students emerge from St. Mel Elementary School well prepared for their next step as active Catholics and contributing members of their community.
Faith-Based Instruction
Language Arts
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Science and Math
- Hands-on discovery learning beginning in kindergarten
- Specialized math teachers
- Concepts of algebra, geometry, and statistics are interwoven throughout the curriculum beginning in kindergarten
- Small, skill-based math groups for 5th – 8th grades
Fine Arts
- Full-time art teacher serving all grades
- Annual student art show
- Music beginning in kindergarten
- Band and choirs
- Drama club in 7th and 8thrades
Technology
- Computer lab begins in kindergarten
- 2nd grade students operate Microsoft Word and Powerpoint
- Produce documents, graphs, and multimedia presentations using Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, and Excel by 5th grade
- Competence in Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Publisher by 8th grade
- Research, critical thinking skills and analysis of web-based information are stressed
And More…
- Sports (soccer, football, volleyball, swimming, cheerleading, basketball, tennis, golf, and track)
- Anderson Enrichment after-school program (chess, science, art, dance, math, etc.)
- After-school homework club
- Full-time school nurse
- Coach John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success character-building program
- High level of parental involvement
- Student-produced newspaper
Application Process
- Child must be baptized.
- Child must be 5 years old by September 1st of the year entering kindergarten.
- Child must complete assessment.
- Applications, available in the office, are due in February.
School Hours
Kindergarten and 1st grade: 7:50 am to 2:45 pm, Monday thru Thursday, 7:50 am to
12:45 on Fridays
2nd through 8th grades: 7:50 am to 3:00 pm Monday thru Thursday, 7:50 am to 1:00 pm on
Fridays.
Before-school and after-school care are available
Our Community
At. St. Mel, lifelong friendships are made between students, and between parents. There are many opportunities for parent involvement in the St.Mel community – from the Halloween Carnival, the Spring Auction, and the Book Fair, to the Jogathon and the Chili Cookoff, to faith-sharing, specialty ministries and leadership roles.
Our Leaders
Monsignor Steven Zak - interim Pastor
Monsignor Helmut Hefner - Pastor (effective July 1, 2008)
Ms. Mary Beth Giordano, Principal
Our Teachers
Many of our teachers have master’s degrees completed or in progress. We have teaching specialists in math, science, foreign language, computers, art, music, physical education and reading, as well as a full-time librarian, school nurse, and school psychologist.
St. Mel Students are Academic Performers
In October, 2004, St. Mel students (2nd – 8th grades) took the Iowa Test of Basic Skills, a nationally normed test of academic achievement. Our students’ tests scores showed that on average all grades performed above grade level, and our 8th graders were reading at the 11th grade level and their math skills were at the 10th grade level.
St. Mel graduates are well-prepared for high school and go on to attend schools such as Chaminade, Crespi, Louisville, Loyola, and Notre Dame.