Tuition, Assistance, Scholarships, & Registration
Q. What is the tuition at St. Brendan School and is financial aid available?
A1. St. Brendan Parish and School strongly believes in the value of a Classical Catholic Education and works hard to ensure that is affordable for all families. The stated tuition for the 2024-25 school year is $6,166; however, every family is eligible for assistance through the EdChoice Expansion program, which bases award on the family
S adjusted gross income. In fact, 78% of families at St. Brendan School have the entire cost of tuition covered through the program, while families who receive only partial awards receive additional assistance through Parish Life Awards and the Angel Scholarship Fund. The average tuition paid by families not receiving full scholarships for the 2024-25 school year is $1,728.
A2. Please contact the school office to find out if you would qualify for the Parish Life Award.
* Parish Life Award - This award is available to families who are registered members at St. Brendan Parish, as well as any other local Catholic Parish as determined by the neighboring Pastor. Families are expected to actively participate in the life of the Parish, including regular attendance at Mass, participation in sacramental programs, and support school and parish fundraisers and events. Parish Life Awards are based on the tuition balance due after any/all other scholarship funds are applied.
Please note that the Parish Life Award is determined on a case-by-case basis and factors in items such as the number of children enrolled in the school when determining the amount of the award.
A3. The EdChoice Expansion Program is an income-based program with awards determined by the family’s adjusted gross income. Every family in the State of Ohio is eligible for some level of assistance, with scholarships ranging from $6,166 (full tuition for the 2024-25 school year) to $616.60. The EdChoice Expansion scholarship follows students from kindergarten through grade 12, and a family only needs to submit income verification with the initial application (but can submit it again if the family would qualify for a larger scholarship).
A4. Families who would like to apply for additional tuition assistance through the Diocese of Cleveland must go to online.factsmgt.com/aid (FACTS) and complete the online application for Diocesan Tuition Assistance (DTA).
Deadline for round #1 is March 15, 2024 (for the 2024-2025 school year)
Deadline for round #2 is May 31, 2024 (for the 2024-2025 school year)
Completion of the Angel Scholarship Fund application is required for all families who wish to apply for assistance through this program, and awards are based on financial need.
A5. Please go to www.CatholicCommunity.org for additional tuition assistance opportunities offered by the Diocese of Cleveland.
Q. How do I submit tuition payments?
A. St. Brendan School tuition can be paid in one of two ways. The full year tuition balance can be prepaid by
June 1, monthly payments can be made through the St. Brendan Automatic Payment System.
Registration Forms are stored in the parish safe from the time of submission until the end of the tuition year. Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express are all accepted; however, a 3% service charge is applied for all credit card payments. Checking or savings accounts can be direct debited with no additional service charge.
Tuition payments will be charged to the account provided on the 15th of each month, June - May. If a payment is missed or delayed at any point during the tuition year, remaining payments will be increased to make up the difference. All tuition must be paid, in full, by May 15 of each school year.
Q. How much are school fees?
A. The non-refundable registration fee for Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 8 is $75.00 per student. The fee must be submitted with the registration form to begin processing the enrollment/re-enrollment.
Q. How can I enroll my child(ren) at Saint Brendan School?
A. Registration forms are available on the Admissions page of the website, through the school and parish office and in the vestibule in the church (after March, 2024).
1. Complete the registration form.
2. Submit the registration fee; $75.00, per child.
3. A copy of your child's Birth Certificate & Baptismal Certificate (if your child was baptized somewhere other than St. Brendan Church). After the aforementioned are submitted and the registration form is reviewed, you will be contacted by the school office for confirmation that all necessary information was received.
4. If your child is transferring from another school, a release of records form must be completed and submitted to St. Brendan School. A copy of your child's most current report card and MAP scores also needs to be submitted.
Once St. Brendan School receives the information, you will be contacted to complete the registration process and set up a meeting with the school principal.
For additional information or a tour, please call the School Office at 440.777.8433 or email the principal, Julie Onacila: [email protected]
Q. How can parents / guardians stay posted on what is going on at St. Brendan School?
A. St. Brendan has a website, http://www.stbrendannortholmsted.org, with an abundance of school information. A weekly newsletter is sent out weekly through Constant Contact to keep parents / guardians informed.
Our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/St-Brendan-School-123606694382530/, is regularly updated with student activities and pictures.
Follow us on Twitter, https://twitter.com/search?q=%40SBSNavigators&src=typd, @SBSNavigators.
Uniform / Dress Code
Q. What is the dress code?
A. The school uniform is required to be worn from the first day of school in August to the last day in June. This applies to all students in Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 8. A uniform is also required for physical education. The uniform guidelines are included in the Parent Student Handbook which can be found on the school website, http://www.stbrendannortholmsted.org. In addition, a hard copy will be sent home upon request, at the beginning of the school year.
Q. Where can I purchase the school uniform?
A. School uniforms may be purchased through:
Schoolbelles
4747 West 160th Street
Cleveland, Ohio, 44111
(216) 898-5500
or online at www.schoolbelles.com use school code S0136.
It is recommended that uniforms be ordered early in the summer so that they are available at the start of the school year.
Q. Where can I purchase the physical education uniform and spirit wear?
A. Physical Education uniforms may be purchased through:
Hometown Threads
25313 Lorain Road
North Olmsted, OH 44070
(440) 779-6053
www.hometownthreadscleveland.com.
**Customized and standard spirit wear is available throughout the year.
Daily Schedules & Procedures
Q. What is the daily schedule for Kindergarten through Grade 8?
A. 7:50 A.M. – first bell
7:55 A.M. – second bell; school begins
2:25 P.M. – car riders depart, walkers/bicycles, then bus riders
Q. What is the Pre-Kindergarten schedule?
The Preschool will move to a true 4/5 year-old Pre-K model to provide a more comprehensive Kindergarten Prep program offering half-day or full-day instruction five days per week.
Q. What is the morning procedure?
A. Students may enter the building at 7:30 a.m. Cars form a line in the parking lot, along the side of the school, to drop students off. Upon arrival, students report to their classrooms.
Q. What is the routine in the parking lot for student pick-up?
A. The car line begins in front of the church and continues around the perimeter of the parking lot. Each family is provided a family name sign for their car. The sign must be visible for students to be released. At 2:25 P.M., the cars pull up curbside of the school and students are dismissed to their family marked cars with faculty/staff supervision.
Q. Do you offer Before and After School Care?
A. We offer After School Care (ASC) from 2:25 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. Monday through Friday on days that school is in session for students in grades Pre-K – Grade 8. Specific details are available within the ASC Handbook found on our website. http://www.stbrendannortholmsted.org/AfterSchoolProgram.aspx
Q. Is there a Hot Lunch Program available?
A. The lunch program is available through North Olmsted Campus Kitchen. Meals are prepared and cooked at Campus Kitchen, transported to SBS, and then served by the kitchen manager. Menus are sent home at the end of each month, posted on our School Management System (Option C), and the school website. Applications for free/reduced lunch are available on the website or through the school office.
The lunch / recess times for students:
PRE-KINDERGARTEN – Determined by Pre-K teacher
KINDERGARTEN - Grade 4: 11:30 A.M. to 12:12 P.M.
GRADES 5 – 8: 12:15 P.M. to 12:45 P.M.
Curriculum & Instruction
Q. What curriculum does the school follow?
A. St. Brendan School is truly “Different by Design”. We utilize a Classical Catholic curriculum, based on the Trivium, which provides a strong foundation of intellect, virtue, and faith and weaves the teachings of Jesus Christ and Truth of the Gospel throughout all areas of study.
In the lower grades, the grammar stage, we focus on developing a love of learning and mastery of the basics of reading, writing, and math through chants and rhymes, memorization, and the study of phonics and phonemic awareness aligned with the Science of Reading.
In the upper grades, the logic stage, students focus on higher-order critical thinking and learn to construct and defend arguments through research, writing, Socratic discussions, speech and debate. Students in the upper grades are not just prepared for high school, they are prepared to navigate the challenges of our culture with wisdom, grace, and courage.
At all grade levels, students are introduced to the great books, the great thinkers, the great saints, and the great artists and musicians. Students in the grammar stage also study etymology, the origin of words, while students in the logic stage study Latin.
Our unique Classical Catholic Educational model teaches students to read well, write well, speak well, think well, and live well, in accordance with the lessons taught by the greatest teacher, Jesus Christ.
Our curriculum has been approved by the Diocesan Office of Education and adheres to the State of Ohio standards.
Q. How do the students interact with today's technology?
A. Our Saint Ita Technology Suite hosts state of the art technology. The Suite houses 27 MacBook Pros, 18 iMac computers and an LED television customized to use the technology effectively within the education process. Students in grades K-2 are assigned their own iPad mini and students in grades 3 – 8 are assigned their own Chromebook that they use as directed throughout the school day. Each classroom is equipped with an Interactive whiteboard or an Epson Interactive Projector, Apple TV with Airplay and Chromecast sharing. Students are challenged to become engaged and active in their learning process. This practice leads them to become self-directed learners and collaborative problem solvers while utilizing a variety of devices in the process.
Q. What is the school's homework philosophy?
A. At Saint Brendan School, we look forward to being a true partner in the faith-based education of your child. As such, we depend on your support to ensure that your child's homework assignments are being completed to the best of their ability and submitted on the due date provided. Homework is given with purpose and meaning on a regular basis in grades K - 8. Homework is an effective means to reinforce skills (especially in reading and math computation) and allows for extended learning opportunities.
Homework is communicated through various ways depending on the grade level. These include: assignment notebooks provided by the school, teacher newsletters, and Google Classroom.
Q. What professional services are provided for the students?
A. A tutor provides individual and/or small group instruction for students who qualify for Title I reading, the learning disabilities program, and/or remedial instruction through North Olmsted City Schools. Our staff also includes a school nurse, school counselor, and a speech and hearing therapist on a part-time basis.
Communication / Parent Involvement
Q. Who do I contact to address questions about my child's academic and spiritual needs, or other matters?
A. Parents/guardians are asked to contact the teacher directly when they have questions regarding their child’s academic progress. They have direct knowledge of what transpires in the classroom and can share their professional observations with you. The principal is available for additional guidance/direction when needed.
Q. How are progress reports and grades communicated to the parents?
A. We utilize an Internet based program called Option C to communicate grades and track homework assignments. Each parent and student is given a user identification code and can access grades via the Internet. Teachers update the grades, at least, every two weeks so that you have a regular and up-to-date report.
Q. Are there opportunities to volunteer?
A. There are many opportunities to volunteer at the school, which are communicated through the newsletters (i.e. school events, classroom assistance, after school clubs, recess supervision, and more). Parents are required to take the Virtus training program (Protecting God's Children) as well as have a background check prior to volunteering. The Parent Student handbook has detailed information, http://www.stbrendannortholmsted.org/ParentVolunteerOpportunities.aspx
Q. What is the Holy Family Program?
A. The Holy Family Program is the sacramental preparation program for St. Brendan Parish. Families with children who will celebrate First Eucharist and First Reconciliation (traditionally 2nd graders) participate in this year-long family preparation program. The parish supports parents in their role as primary educators of the faith (the role parents agree to at their child's Baptism) with parent meetings, family retreats, and other materials. Preparation for the two Sacraments takes place at home and involves the whole family. Religion classes support and reinforce what is being taught at home.
Q. How do I get involved with the PTU (Parent Teacher Union)?
A. Information regarding PTU membership is distributed in August. To learn more about how our PTU is active in the school and how to get involved, go to our website under Parent Resources or email
[email protected] with questions.
Updated January 2024