FAQ

GENERAL

Do you have to be Roman Catholic to attend Immaculate Conception?

• While we follow the teachings of the Catholic faith, we are happy to welcome students of any faith into our IC family.

How often do the kids go to church?

• Currently, the students attend Mass twice a week; once for an all-school Mass; the other with their grade level. This allows for age-relevant teachings to be presented.

What grades are taught at IC?

• IC offers grades Pre-K through 8th grade

What is the average class size?

• We are proud to say that our student to teacher ratio is around 15:1. This allows our teachers to give individualized attention to our students.

What high school would an IC student attend?

• St. Francis Borgia is the regional Catholic High School
• Students can also choose to go to their local public school (such as Union High School)

Would we be able to tour the school

• Yes, we would love for you to come and let us show you around! Just call our school office to arrange a convenient time – 636-583-2641.

EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING CENTER

What ages are taught in the ECLC?

• We offer classes for 3-5 year-olds.

What hours/days does the ECLC run?

• The ECLC offers full time or part time (M, W, F) option. It follows the same academic calendar and school hours as our K-8 program. 

Do ECLC students wear uniforms?

• No, they may wear their regular clothes.

CURRICULUM AND ACTIVITIES

What subjects are taught?

• Our curriculum includes science, math, social studies/history, reading, language arts, spelling, religion, and handwriting. In addition, students learn art, music, and computer technology. 

What if my student is not an “A” student?

• We recognize that not all students are “A” students. However, we strive to make sure that all students have the tools and resources to be successful. We will work with them and their family to come up with a plan that will fit their needs. 

What extracurricular activities are offered?

• There are many activities available based on age and preference, below are some that the students may choose from: 
  • Athletics (basketball and volleyball)
  • Cheerleading
  • Trend
  • Kiwanis Builder’s Club
  • Guitar Lessons
  • Mad Science Program
  • Book Club
  • Craft Club
  • Youth Worship
  • Choir
  • Volunteer Opportunities
  • Field Trips
    • Local and national trips are taken, below are some examples
      • Bowling Alley
      • Movie Theater
      • Zoo
      • Meramec State Park
      • Jefferson City
      • Washington DC

SCHOOL EVENTS

What events are available for my child and/or family to participate in?

• IC has many events throughout the year that students may be a part of such as:
  • Trunk-or-Treat
  • Ice Cream Social
  • Family Fun Night
  • Breakfast with Santa
  • Christmas Concert (Even numbered grades)
  • Spring Talent Show (Odd numbered grades)
  • Spelling Bee, Geography Bee
  • Easter Egg Hunt
  • Grandparents’ Day
  • Science Fair
  • Field Day
  • Dinner Auction
  • Fall Festival

 

UNIFORMS

What about uniforms?

• Our uniform requirements are detailed in our handbook, but typically children wear polo style shirts and pant, shorts, skirts or jumpers. We don’t require that our logo be on tops and you can purchase uniforms at any retailer of your choosing. Which allows them to be extremely affordable. 

How much do uniforms cost?

• You can find tops and bottoms on sale at many major retailers for $5 to $15. And, our Home & School hosts a uniform sale every year that the majority of families participate in. Pricing is kept low (around $1 to $5 per piece) so you can outfit your child for very little out-of-pocket.

Do the students wear them every day?

• Yes, except for jeans day, holidays, the student’s birthday, or other special events.

TUITION AND RELATED

How much is tuition?

• IC is more affordable than you might think. However, because everyone’s situation differs, we prefer you give us a call so we can discuss pricing for your family.

Do you offer any discounts?

• Yes! We offer discounts based on several different situations. Give us a call so we can go through all available discounts and get you firm pricing on tuition.

How do I pay?

• You can choose to pay yearly or monthly. Payments are made through the FACTS system which allows you to pay by ACH or Credit card.

Is financing available?

• Absolutely! You can choose to pay your tuition a year at a time or you can take advantage of a monthly payment option. When you pay monthly, you have the option to choose payments drafted on the 5th or 20th of each month.
• Also, check with your financial or tax advisor, you can now use money deposited into your 529c plan towards tuition.

Are scholarships available?

• Scholarships are available through the Today and Tomorrow Educational Foundation which assists schools in providing quality education opportunities to families. Don’t worry, the annual online application process is quick and easy! 
• There may be other funding available, just check with our staff when discussing enrollment.

Is there a way to reduce my cost?

• Yes! IC has partnered with local and national stores to offer a SCRIP program to students’ families. Through the SCRIP program, you are simply exchanging cash for gift cards to the merchants you patronize. The cash value you give is the value you receive for the card. Purchasing these cards will give our school a percentage of the money you are spending with that merchant. Then half of the amount the merchant provides to the school goes directly to reduce your costs, such as for tuition. The other half goes to benefit the entire school! It is a win-win for everyone.

Are there any hidden costs?

• We work to keep the cost of our school as low as possible. There is a yearly registration fee of $50 per student and an incidental fee of $150 per family. And, our Home & School pays for the majority of out-of-pocket expenses like skating, reading counts parties, and Catholic schools week, so parent costs are minimal. 
• You may choose to donate to our selected charities on the first and third Friday of every month or help with classroom parties at your own expense or be asked to send in money for your child’s field trip, but again, those costs are low. Our Home & School also hosts a uniform sale every year that the majority of families participate in and pricing is kept low (around $1 to $5 per piece) so you can outfit your child for not a lot out of pocket.

What if I can’t make my payment?

• Unfortunately life happens, most of us have been there at one point in our lives, an unexpected bill, an unforeseen layoff, a lower paycheck than expected, etc. If you ever feel you can’t make a payment, we will be happy to walk you through your options. 

HOURS, BEFORE/AFTER CARE, TRANSPORTATION

What are the hours of school? 

• Normal school hours are 7:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Is before or after care available?

• Of course, we have a busy parent’s back! We will provide a safe, well-supervised environment for our school children while parents are at work. Our program is available on school days starting at 6:00 a.m. until school starts and then from the end of school until 6:00 p.m. There is a small registration fee each year to enroll your child in the program, then you only pay for the days/hours you use the care. Breakfast and afterschool snacks are included in the low fee. The program allows for your child to socialize, participate in activities and get some exercise all in a safe environment on school grounds.

Is there a bus?

• At this time, we do not have a bus. However, many parents will take turns carpooling or take advantage of the before/after school program.  

What are the drop-off and pick-up procedures?

• Parents may either use the drop-off/pick-up car lane entering from Main Street by the playground or they can park in the lot to assist their smaller children into school. Each teacher is with her students at pick-up to ensure that they are in the safety zone and only release to a designated pick-up person. The safety of your child is important to us!

PARENT INVOLVEMENT

What opportunities exist for parent involvement?

• There are numerous ways a parent can be part of the IC family. They may attend school events, be a room parent, chaperone field trips, belong to the Home and School Association, and volunteer on various committees just to name a few. 

Am I required to volunteer?

• IC asks its parents to volunteer throughout the year to help make our school events successful. We ask that parents provide 8 hours of their time to make our school great. Most parents find it rewarding and even fun!

What I can volunteer for?

• In order to keep costs low, IC has two major fundraising events each year. The first is our Fall Festival which is open to everyone in the community. We serve dinner, and have games, a beer garden, and other fun activities for the whole family. IC also has a dinner auction once a year which is very popular. However, there are many other events where we could use your help, so you will have a wide range to choose from.