Welcome to the St. Elizabeth Parish School Community!
frequently asked questions
What is the dress code for my child’s grade?
All Uniform and Dress Down Day guidelines can be found through the link here. Flynn & O'Hara is our official uniform supplier with a location in the Festival Shopping Center near Homegoods/Marshalls in Exton. We also host two used uniform events throughout the year (Summer & Spring) for parents to browse and take gently used uniforms at no cost. Used uniforms can be dropped off in the bin in the school lobby at your convenience.
What is your daily schedule?
K-8 Arrival: 7:45 AM - 8:05 AM
Prek4 Arrival: 8:15 AM - 8:30 AM
Morning Recess PK - 8: 10:00 - 10:20 AM
Lunch (PK& K): 11:30 AM - 11:55 AM | Recess: 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
Lunch (Grades 1-4): 12:10 PM - 12:30 PM | Recess: 12:35 PM - 12:55 PM
Lunch (Grades 5-8): 12:35 PM - 12:55 PM | Recess: 12:10 PM - 12:30 PM
Dismissal (PK4): 2:45 PM
Dismissal (K-8): 3:05 PM
Do you offer extended day care?
C.A.R.E.S. (Children Are Receiving Extended Service) is provided for the benefit of all Saint Elizabeth School families that need before and/or after school care for their children. CARES is available before school from 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM and after school from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. All participants must return a registration form and one-time registration fee of $30/family.
CARES is only operational on the days that school is in session a full day. After school care is not provided on early dismissal days. Morning care is not available on delayed openings. Learn more about our CARES program here.
What if there is a last minute change to my student’s dismissal?
Any and all dismissal changes throughout the year, should be sent to kfitzpatrick@stecs.org by 2:00 PM.
How do I report my child absent?
If your child is going to be absent, please submit this Google Form to the school office by 9 AM with the date(s) and reason for absence. Please note we ask parents not to schedule any appointments/vacations during Terra Nova Testing, which will take place March 21 - 28, 2025. N.B. The attendance phone line is no longer in use.
How do I stay informed of what’s happening at St. Elizabeth Parish School?
A Weekly Communication is sent via Flocknote each Thursday with a letter from the Principal, upcoming dates, digital flyers and other reminders. Periodically, texts, voice messages or emails are sent to notify parents of important information or emergency closings using both Option C and Flocknote. Please make sure your contact information is up to date in Option C via Office tab > Family Profile and Office Tab > Contact Information. You can check the Communications Tab > Manage alerts to confirm if you are signed up for voice, text and email alerts. If you are not receiving communications, or need help resetting your Option C log-in credentials, please contact the school office (610-646-6540 or tgolus@stelizabethparish.org).
Where can I find upcoming important dates?
You can find our complete school calendar here. You can also use the appropriate link to sync the calendar to your phone. For iPhone, use this link, select "subscribe", and "add". For Android, use this link, click the "+" sign and add it to your google calendar. This will ensure any tentative dates that are subject to change are automatically updated to your phone calendar. For more grade specific dates or deadlines, please continue to check teacher and school communications and visit the appropriate teacher page found under the students tab.
Are there opportunities for parents to get involved?
Yes! We always welcome parent volunteers for lunch/recess. Additionally, Homeroom Parents and Pretzel Snack Volunteers are selected using a sign-up form that is emailed to all parents at the beginning of each school year. There are also opportunities for parents to volunteer to chaperone field trips.
All parents are also encouraged to join our Home & School Association, made up of five working committees along with four elected officers. There are varying degrees of time commitments. Whether you can only dedicate time to one event or several events, please consider joining. Many hands make light work! Learn more or join a committee here.
In order to ensure safety, anyone working with St. Elizabeth students in the cafeteria, on the recess yard, in a classroom, or attending a field trip must fulfill all volunteer requirements and Virtus course. These requirements can be found by clicking the volunteer requirements here.
What is the process for lunch & snack at St. Elizabeth?
Lunch orders are placed the previous month using Option C. All students in Pre-K4 - Grade 8 can order hot lunch. Each month, an email will be sent on a Thursday with orders due by the following Tuesday and payment due the following Wednesday. Once you have set up your Matt Money account in Option C’s payment portal, you can use it to make ongoing lunch payments using your saved payment method. Our lunch menu is created by Great Valley School District, with Chick-fil-A offered once to twice a month and Seasons Pizza on Fridays.
All students in Pre-K4 - Grade 8 also have the option to purchase their morning snack from Philly Pretzel Factory. These orders are placed ahead of each trimester, three times a year. Students have the choice of one or two pretzels a day. Payments for pretzels can be made using Option C’s Matt Money.
Students not participating in hot lunch or pretzels are asked to pack a nutritious morning snack and lunch each day.
All students are encouraged to bring a filled, spill-proof, reusable water bottle each day.
How does St. Elizabeth ensure the safety of their students and staff?
Saint Elizabeth Parish is committed to fostering a safe, secure and supportive environment. Our work to strengthen the safety and security measures within our facilities is ongoing. You can find a list of our current safety practices and procedures here.
Does St. Elizabeth offer student support services?
Non-Public School Services (NPSS) provides reading, math, speech and language, and counseling services to the non-public schools in Chester County through the Chester County Intermediate Unit. The Department of Education refers to these services as Act 89 Services. You can learn more about the CCIU-NPSS Team at Saint Elizabeth School and the evaluation process here.
Will my child have specials classes?
All students have specials. Students in Pre-K4 through Grade 8 have Art, Library, Music and Physical Education class once a week. Students in K through Grade 8 also attend Technology class weekly. Spanish is taught to students in grades 4-8.
What is your technology policy at St. Elizabeth Parish School?
At St. Elizabeth, we utilize technology as an educational tool, complimenting the invaluable development gained from face-to-face instruction and interaction among students, teachers, family members, mentors and friends. We expect our students to utilize technology to think more critically, to communicate effectively, to express their creativity, and to conduct research. Our teachers have access to updated technology in their classrooms to engage our students and challenge them. We empower students with the technical skills necessary to participate in a culture that is increasingly dependent upon technology. We also acknowledge that we sometimes need to “unplug” from technology as it can cause us to become isolated from one another. You can find our full technology policy here.
Each classroom has an interactive Promethean Board for dynamic lessons that incorporate our curriculum in a number of ways for all learning styles. Students in Grades 1 through 8 are 1:1 with iPads or Chromebooks. Our elementary students use SeeSaw for interactive lessons, multimodal tools, and progress tracking for teachers. Students in grades 4-8 use Google classroom streamlining assignments and collaboration, incorporating typing skills, and ensuring effective communication and assignment submission with teachers. It is our school philosophy to emphasize the art of play for Pre-K and Kindergarten students and therefore, students are not given personal devices in these classes. All classes continue to use textbooks, paper and pencil alongside digital resources. Students are not permitted to use cell phones or cellular features on smart watches during school hours. If you need to reach your student, please call the school office.
Do you offer extracurricular activities?
St. Elizabeth has various after-school activities available for students. You can find the full list here.
Do you offer Financial Aid?
Yes! St. Elizabeth Parish School annually awards tuition assistance to families who show financial need through an application process. Aid for the 2025-2026 school year will be processed by FACTS Grant and Aid. All awards will be contingent on the reception of the most recent tax return. To apply to FACTS, please visit FACTS.
Parish school families who find it difficult to meet the established tuition rates may also apply for a limited amount of financial assistance through the Parish Tuition Assistance Fund. Those seeking parish assistance are required to complete both the Facts application and the Parish Financial Assistance application (available from the parish business office).
Eligibility and more info can be found on our Financial Aid page.
Where do St. Elizabeth Parish School Graduates attend High School?
Saint Elizabeth Graduates attend various schools including our local Archdiocesan High School: Bishop Shanahan High School. Alumni also attend Devon Preparatory School, Downingtown East and West High School, Downingtown STEM Academy, Malvern Preparatory School, Notre Dame Academy, Owen J. Roberts High School, and Villa Maria Academy High School.
What are the qualifications of St. Elizabeth Educators?
Saint Elizabeth Parish School employs qualified, faith-filled teachers who are committed to making a positive impact in our children’s lives, while continually pursuing timely professional standards and practices. Meet our dedicated staff.
Who is the best contact if my question is not listed here?
If you have any additional questions, please call Mrs. Teri Golus in the school office at 610-646-6540
or email tgolus@stelizabethparish.org
