Welcome!

Dear Prospective St. Ignatius School Families,

Welcome to St. Ignatius Parish School! Our school is proud of its heritage of offering a faith-centered and academically challenging education in the tradition of the Sisters of the Holy Names. Our school motto, “Building a Peaceable Kingdom,” speaks to our mission of educating leaders who are active in their community through service to others.

St. Ignatius School is noted for having high expectations of its students while offering a supportive and nurturing environment that encourages students to excel. Our core curriculum includes instruction in religion, language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, computer science, music, physical education, health, and art. The junior high program in grades 6 through 8 is departmentalized, with specialist teachers offering expertise in given subject areas. We provide opportunities for community service, student leadership, and extracurricular activities to help ensure that St. Ignatius students are well-rounded, highly capable individuals. Our school’s greatest endorsement comes from the surrounding Catholic high schools who tell us that St. Ignatius graduates are among the best-prepared students at their schools.

I am proud that St. Ignatius School is accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges and the Western Catholic Education Association at the highest level granted by these agencies.

I hope you will consider joining our school community. We have a long history of providing outstanding educational opportunities for students in a loving and supportive environment. St. Ignatius is a great place for children to grow and thrive!

Please phone or email (jmatcovich@stignatiusschool.org) if you need additional information. Feel free to contact the school for a tour or to schedule a personal appointment with me to begin the admissions process.

John Matcovich, Principal

St. Ignatius School offers an exceptional and balanced educational program.  We welcome students of diverse backgrounds and abilities, and support them to achieve success.

Our school is proud to offer a rigorous academic environment that has high expectations for all students.  We expect our students to work hard in the classroom!  At St. Ignatius, parents and teachers work together to support students in meeting these challenges.  For students who might otherwise be overwhelmed by our curriculum, we provide a reading specialist, small class sizes, and Title I services. At the same time we challenge our gifted students with advanced mathematics courses, competitive science fairs, speech and math competitions at local high schools, and an innovative engineering curriculum offered through the Society of Automotive Engineers.

Our success in these endeavors is corroborated by our school’s exemplary performance on national and archdiocesan standardized tests.  We administer the Iowa Test of Basic Skills and the Cognitive Abilities Test each year to 3rd through 8th graders, and use the results to consistently monitor and improve our curriculum.

St. Ignatius strives to be a caring, close-knit community that works in earnest to see every child succeed.  We value diversity and see a tremendous advantage in the influx of cultures and languages that are coming into our school.  Our school truly welcomes everyone.

In these challenging economic times, St. Ignatius remains committed to being an affordable option for families.  Nearly $90,000 in tuition assistance is distributed to our families every year, with all awards based on the family’s level of financial need.  Remaining financially viable for families at all income levels helps maintain our rich and vibrant community.

 

St. Ignatius School offers a challenging and diverse curriculum to our students, which includes:

Core Curriculum:

• Religion
• Language Arts
• Mathematics
• Science
• Social Studies
• Computer Science
• Music
• Physical Education & Health
• Art

Enrichment Programs:

• Library program with full-time librarian, including grade level book clubs
• Art Literacy program and annual Artist-in-Residence for all grades
• Music program with performance arts opportunities (African drumming for junior high)
• M.U.S.E Band program (grades 4-8)
• Certified reading specialist
• Departmentalized junior high with specialist teachers in reading/writing, social studies, science, and math (all with master's degrees)
• two-year high school-level Algebra I program
• Student Leadership program
• K-8 service opportunities
• M.E.S.D. Outdoor School (grade 6)
• Overnight OMSI Science Camp (grades 4 and 5)

After school MAD Science program

 

St. Ignatius School values well-rounded students who find success both inside and beyond the classroom.  With this in mind, we offer:
• Family Group activities that unite students and build friendships across grade levels
• Networked computer lab with 30 workstations
• SMARTBoard Technology in all classrooms
• Hot lunch served every school day.  Delicious meals prepared on-site by our kitchen staff
• Newly-installed, professional grade gymnasium floor
• Before & After School Care offered from 7:00am through 6:00pm on school days, and on many no-school days
• CYO Athletics Program provides recreational sports opportunities in volleyball, football, swimming, basketball, and track
• After school Scout opportunities for girls and boys

St. Ignatius School offers a full day Kindergarten program for up to 25 students.  Our kindergarten teaching team consists of lead teacher Phyllis Collins and her full-time assistant teacher Kathy Rogers.  Mrs. Collins is a veteran teacher who has taught at St. Ignatius for over 30 years – and, in fact, she attended St. Ignatius School when she was a child.  She knows our community and, more importantly, she knows the skills and knowledge-base that young children need to prepare for school. 

Along with Mrs. Rogers, who has been in our kindergarten classroom for five years and also is a licensed nurse, she creates a classroom environment that is caring, creative, and challenging.  We offer a solid academic kindergarten curriculum that is balanced by fun.  Students find success in so many ways as they create a solid foundation for success in first grade and beyond.  Most importantly, our kindergartners feel God’s loving presence at work within their classroom environment and throughout the school community.

Here is a sample of what St. Ignatius students, parents, and teachers have to say about their school:

"As a non-Catholic family, we've been welcomed into the St. Ignatius community. This is a school where every parent can make a difference and impact their child's education. St. Ignatius is a fertile ground for young minds, and celebrates the diversity of faith and cultures."

-Andrew Millar, parent

"When our eldest son entered high school from St. Ignatius, he was placed directly into honors classes and felt more prepared than many other students. His younger brother and sister are now thriving at St. Ignatius. We give total credit to the school staff and curriculum for the excellent academic foundation our children receive."

-Rochelle Teeny, parent

"I come each day to a faculty that inspires and encourages me, to young students excited to be here, and to parents willing to help and support the learning and growth of their children."

-Phyllis Collins,
Kindergarten teacher

" I just started at St. Ignatius. When I came for my visit all the kids were really nice and wanted to be my friend. I felt very welcome! Now I look forward to coming to school because of everything I'm learning and to be with my friends."

-Fifth grade student

"I like to learn at St. Ignatius because I am challenged. The teachers give me reasons to learn."

-Seventh grade student

We’d like to share our school with you!  St. Ignatius School offers school tours throughout the year.  While most new students enter at the start of the academic year, we regularly have new students visit and enroll mid-year. 

The application process begins with a school tour and a visit with our principal, Mr. Matcovich.  Please call the school office, or email Mr. Matcovich at jmatcovich@stignatiusschool.org to initiate this process.  We’ll provide all the information you need to make an informed decision about whether St. Ignatius is the right school for your child.  Following this meeting, we’ll schedule a two-day school visit where your child will get to know our school and his/her potential new classmates.

Call or email, and we’ll get this process started by scheduling a visit and mailing you an application packet.

Admissions Policy

St. Ignatius School admits students of any race, sex, color, national and ethnic origin, to all rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to all schools. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, athletic, and other school administered programs.

ADMISSION PRIORITIES FOR GRADES K-8

When it is apparent from the number of registrants that classroom spaces will be exceeded, admission priorities will be as follows:

· Children of families who are members and formally registered at St. Ignatius parish and have other children currently in St. Ignatius School.
· Children of families currently enrolled in St. Ignatius School.
· Children of parents who are members and formally registered at St. Ignatius parish and currently have no children in school.
· Children of Catholic families outside of St. Ignatius parish with no other children already enrolled in school.
· Other children whose parents support the philosophy of Catholic education.

Entrance Requirements:

· Complete registration packet
· Meet with the principal
· Schedule screening for incoming child(ren)
· Kindergarten children must be 5 years of age on or before September 1.
· Final discretionary authority of admittance of a child meeting any of the above criteria shall be vested in the principal and/or pastor.

Application Form            Immunization Form           Release of Records Form