Tuition, Assistance, Scholarships, & Registration
Q. What tuition assistance is available?
A1. St. Brendan Parish and School strongly believes in the value of a Catholic education. All students who attend SBS receive significant financial assistance through a parish subsidy. The actual cost to educate a student at SBS is $7,400; tuition for each child is $5,800; the average adjusted tuition for students receiving a Parish Life Award is $4,300. It is with the generous support of the parish community that we are able to keep the tuition at a lower rate.
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. It provides students in grades K – 12 the opportunity to attend a private (parochial) school for little or no cost whose families meet the Federal Poverty Guidelines. The EdChoice scholarship amount is $5500 for grades K–8 and $7500 for grades 9-12. Click on this link to see if your family is eligible to apply. https://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Other-Resources/Scholarships/EdChoice-Scholarship-Program
If your family is eligible (or you have questions regarding your eligibility), please contact the school office for details on how to apply (440) 777-8433.
A4. Families who would like to apply for tuition assistance should go to online.factsmgt.com/aid (FACTS) and complete the online application for Diocesan Tuition Assistance (DTA).
Deadline for round #1 is March 15, 2023 (for the 2023-2024 school year)
Deadline for round #2 is June 1, 2023 (for the 2023-2024 school year)
Completion of the FACTS application and an Angel Scholarship Fund application is required for all tuition assistance that may be available to you through the parish. Please contact the School Office at (440) 777-8433 to find out more about tuition assistance. The Angel Scholarship Fund is the primary funding source for tuition assistance and families with financial need are strongly encouraged to apply.
A5. Go to www.CatholicCommunity.org for additional tuition assistance opportunities offered by the Diocese of Cleveland.
Q. How much is tuition for my child(ren)?
A. Tuition is $5,800 per student. However, the average adjusted tuition for one student with a Parish Life Award is $4,300, not including any additional financial assistance as determined by financial need. The Parish Life Award is further adjusted to provide additional assistance to families with more than one child enrolled in the school. Please contact Mrs. Tammy Dobrzeniecki at (440) 777-8433 for more detailed information.
Q. How do I submit tuition payments?
A. St. Brendan School tuition can be paid in one of two ways. The full year tuition can be prepaid by
June 1 to lock in a $100 discount per child, or monthly payments will 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. Checking or savings accounts can be direct debited as well.
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 $50.00 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 school website, through the school and parish office and in the vestibule in the church (after March, 2023).
1. Complete the registration form.
2. Submit the registration fee; $50.00, per child.
3. A copy of your child's Birth Certificate & Baptismal Certificate (if not baptized at 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 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: jonacila@stbrendannortholmsted.org
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. E-mails are sent home regularly 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 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. Preschool students do not have a required uniform at this time.
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
Visit, http://www.stbrendannortholmsted.org/DailySchedulesbyGrade.aspx, for specific grade daily schedules
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. There is no outdoor supervision in the mornings.
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 – To be determined
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. Our unique curriculum provides the perfect combination of both current and traditional instruction, including Latin, etymology, grammar, debate, and classic literary works, along with state-of-the-art technology and a focus on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math). The curriculum aligns with the Diocesan curriculum and adheres to the State of Ohio standards. In addition to the state standards, our Catholic tenets, identity, and religious instruction are infused throughout the Course of Study.
Q. How is our Catholic faith instilled and permeated throughout the school day?
A. The overall curriculum is Anchored in Faith. The students have daily, formal Religious instruction in grades PK - 8. However, Catholicism is a way of life. Students attend mass twice a month, pray the Stations of the Cross during Lent, focus on the Blessed Mother and the Rosary during the months of October and May, celebrate the Saints on a regular basis, participate in a yearly-class retreat, are involved in Christian community service/learning, and more.
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, 15 iMac computers, 2 3-D printers 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 diversely 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 technology 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 you for support in 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. They have direct knowledge of what transpires in the classroom. 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
ptu@stbrendannortholmsted.org with questions.
Updated January 2023