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Thank you for your interest in St. Therese Chinese Catholic School, a two-time National Blue Ribbon-winning elementary school.
At St. Therese, you will find an advanced, academically rigorous curriculum in a two-campus environment focused on faith formation, service, community, and cultural exposure for students from Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade. St. Therese Chinese Catholic School promotes the desire for lifelong learning in our students, faculty, and staff. We welcome everyone to our community and maintain an open admissions policy, low tuition, and access to financial aid for more than a third of our students.
We hold our students and ourselves to the highest of standards, and our students’ achievements and the school’s national recognition reflect the expectations we set for ourselves. Combining deep-rooted traditions and current best practices, we are dedicated to equipping students with the tools necessary to be successful in the 21st century. St. Therese honors the value and dignity of each student, combining strong Catholic values with a deep connection to Chinese culture and a commitment to diversity. We view our school as transformative and believe all students can reach their full potential. We hold our students and ourselves to the highest of standards, and our students’ achievements and the school’s national recognition reflect the expectations we set for ourselves. As a school, our goal is to support each of our students. We meet each student where they are academically and socio-emotionally, and all students are recognized for their unique abilities and talents. We instill a “growth mindset” that emphasizes continuous effort and targeted differentiated support. Our underlying philosophy is that all students can learn, and our job as educators is to identify ways for every student to participate in the curriculum. Our students come to us with different ability levels, and we tier instruction to meet different learning needs. We design our Response to Intervention (RtI) program to continually screen students and monitor ongoing acquisition of core skills in Math, English, and reading fluency. When necessary, we supplement with specialized instruction from speech therapists, academic coaches, and federally funded Title 1 teachers.
At St. Therese, we cultivate perseverance, resilience, and self-regulated learning that leads to long-term success. Students learn from one another and develop a strong ability to collaborate with peers. Everyone benefits from high expectations, a supportive environment, and mutual personal respect. Teachers come to know their students well, bolstering their confidence to take risks because they have the freedom to continue trying until they succeed. Our academically rigorous curriculum also incorporates leadership and service opportunities. Students are encouraged to take an active role in their school community. Starting in 1st grade, all students fulfill a service component. For example, our students help clean and decorate our churches, pack lunch bags and boxes at local food pantries, and craft blankets for the homeless. These service and leadership roles help develop individuals who are effective communicators, problem solvers, and oriented toward service. At the heart of St. Therese School is faith formation. All students from Pre-Kindergarten to 8th grade participate in religious instruction every day. Students grow in their love for God through preparing for and leading school and family liturgies, altar serving, singing in the choir, and preparing for the Sacraments. While not every student is Catholic, most of our students engage actively in faith-based activities outside of school. These retreats, pilgrimages, and service projects help students cherish, live, and grow in a faith-filled life. Finally, we embrace the diversity of our student body and maintain respect for the many different traditions on which St. Therese was established, while continuing to add many others. Whether it is playing flag football, celebrating Chinese New Year, learning prayers in Spanish, or taking an after-school cultural dance class, all students grow in their ability to see themselves as part of a larger, global Catholic community. We look forward to welcoming you into the St. Therese community. We believe that at our school, your student will feel loved, nurtured, and challenged in a community centered on faith, academics, service, and culture. |