Q. How much is tuition?
A. For the 2011-12 school year, tuition for members of the churches of St. Peter and St. Joseph is $2,825 per full-time student.  Half-day kindergarten is offered for $2,626 per student.  Tuition for non-members is $3,825 for full-time students, and $3,625 for families choosing the half-day kindergarten option.  The parish supports the families and students at the school by subsidizing tuition for parishioner’s children.  The actual cost to educate a child at St. Peter’s School for the year 2011-12 is $7,617.  The parish invests $2,147 per child. The balance is covered by fundraising and other income.  Families are welcome to pay full tuition if they wish.  Scholarships are available.  Tuition assistance and a payment plan are offered.

Q. Is there a dress code?
A. Yes. St. Peter’s School students are required to wear approved uniform attire, as follows:
Girls and Boys:
White oxford style or tailored shirt
Red, hunter green, or white polo shirt (short or long sleeved)
Red, hunter green, or white turtleneck shirt
Navy pants/slacks (dark stitching only – twill or corduroy)
Walking shorts, navy or school plaid (Sep.-Oct. and April-May)
Navy cardigan or V-neck sweater
Navy or white socks
School sweatshirt (can be worn along or with school approved shirt beneath)
Hunter Green full zipper fleece jack with school logo, worn with school approved shirt underneath

Girls only:
School plaid jumper
School plaid skirt or navy skort

Q. Is bus transportation to St. Peter’s School available?
A. Bus transportation is provided by Independent School District #879 (Delano Public Schools). St. Peter’s School students take regular public school bus routes to the Delano Elementary School. A shuttle bus from the Delano Elementary School parking lot delivers St. Peter’s School children to and from St. Peter’s School.

Q. Is St. Peter’s School accredited?
A. St. Peter’s School is accredited by the Minnesota Non-Public School Accrediting Association.  The school submits annual reports to this agency in order to meet association standards.

Q. Does St. Peter’s offer all-day or half-day kindergarten?
A. St. Peter’s School offers flexible options designed to meet the needs of your child and family.  Our kindergarten program is designed as a full-day program, but we’ll work with you to accommodate the developmental needs of your child to include half-days if necessary.

Q. How do St. Peter’s students compare academically?
A. Each year St. Peter’s students are tested in grades 2, 4 and 6 in several content areas, including Reading and Mathematics us a test called the Stanford Achievement Test, Tenth Edition.  This test describes the performance of each student compared to students in the same grade across the nation.  The students in grades 2, 4 and 6 scored in the  middle range for the grade, which means the group performance was average.

Q. How well do St. Peter's students transition into other schools after 6th Grade?
A. The transition to other schools, private or public, has been reported as fluid by former students, parents, and current administration at those schools.  St. Peter's students have been described as academically solid and very well-rounded.  Statistics show that the education St. Peter's students receive during the critical formative years of K-6th grade prepares them to continue to excel academically in other school systems.

Q. Is there a fundraising commitment for parents?
A. Yes. A portion of the St. Peter’s School budget comes from fundraising. We depend on our school families to do their best to meet goals set by our CORE parent committee.

Q. Does my child have to be Catholic to attend?
A. No. St. Peter’s School provides a Christian environment and the Catholic faith is reflected in that, but students do not have to be Catholic to attend.

Q. Is there a hot lunch program?
A. Yes. Hot lunch is transported from the Delano Public School and served five days a week. Menus are provided by the month, and students may opt to bring cold lunch if they wish. Milk is available for purchase with cold lunch.

Q. How large are the class sizes?
A. St. Peter’s School has established 25 students as its maximum per classroom. An aide will be secured for the kindergarten class if enrollment exceeds 20.

Q. Are any extra-curricular activities offered?
A. Yes. School Chorus is offered for grades 3-6. Chorus meets after school every Tuesday until 3:45 p.m. The Chorus sings at certain Sunday Masses and also presents an annual Spring Musical.  In addition 5th and 6th grade students are given the opportunity to begin band in conjunction with the Delano Middle School. A bus shuttles St. Peter’s School band students to and from the Delano Middle School twice a week.  Finally, St. Peter’s School students are notified of opportunities to participate in extra-curricular sports and academic activities offered through the Delano Public Schools or independent organizations.

Q. What are the school hours?
A. The school hours are 8:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Q. Do the children attend Mass during the school week?
A. Yes. Students attend Mass on Friday. Classes take turns participating in the Mass by reading petitions and readings, taking up gifts, leading the songs, and altar serving.

Q. Is there First Communion preparation through the school?
A. Yes. Second graders are instructed and prepared for Reconciliation and First Communion during their daily religion classes at school. Your child does not need to attend additional religion classes to prepare for these sacraments.

Q. Is the school building safe and secure?
A. Yes. The school is inspected each year by an outside agency.  Their role includes inspecting the school, identifying safety concerns and suggesting solutions to remedy them.  St. Peter’s School is also required to have emergency evacuation and contingency plans in place as part of the Minnesota Nonpublic School Accrediting Association (MNSAA) accreditation. The school has a keyless entry system to secure the facility during operating hours.  Teachers, staff and parents have access during the school day through electronic keypads.

Q. What if my child needs a special service, such as speech therapy?
A. St. Peter’s School students are eligible for any and all supplementary educational and recreational services and programs offered through ISD #879 (Delano Public Schools). Parents are encouraged to discuss any concerns they may have with the classroom teacher or principal. Eligibility for education services is based on teacher referral, testing and assessment. The teachers at St. Peter’s School are eager to help each child reach his/her full potential and encourage parental input and involvement in determining whether a child would benefit from any special program.

Parents interested in receiving more information can speak with their child’s classroom teacher, the principal, or request a copy of an informational brochure available in the school office.