FAQs
Academics
Is St. Paul's recognized by the State of Washington as an approved private school?
Yes. Each year St. Paul's submits its program, schedule, and staff credentials to the Washington State School Board. We receive our annual approval letter in August.
How do our students do when they move on to public education?
Reports we receive back from parents are very positive. The administration has also received feedback from public school teachers saying they love having St. Paul's students in their classrooms. Take a look at some of our more recent alumni success stories and what they have to say about our school.
Who really is responsible for the program, staff and operation of St. Paul's School?
St. Paul's Lutheran Church owns and operates St. Paul's Lutheran School. The staff and administration of our school are responsible to the school board. The school board is responsible to the church congregation.
Attendance
How does St. Paul's handle classroom attendance?
Regular and punctual attendance is important to the progress of your child. However, absences do occur and parents are asked to follow these steps:
Call the school office at your child's campus on the morning your child will be absent.
Send a written note if your child must be excused during the day.
Call or send a written note if someone other than the regular, designated adult is to pick up your child.
If your child needs to be excused from recess or physical education activities, send a written note specifying the day or days affected.
The office will attempt to reach parents to confirm absences that are not reported. If children must be taken out of school for family vacations while school is in session, students will be responsible for the work missed during these absences. Assignments will be available upon the student's return to class. We are unable to refund tuition for days missed due to illness or vacation.
Tardy Policy
If a St. Paul’s student is not in their seat for roll call, then they are considered tardy. A tardy may be excused under special circumstances such as transportation trouble, weather, etc. Tardies will be recorded, and exceptions will be made, at the discretion of the student’s teacher.
Accumulation of Tardies per Trimester will be addressed as follows:
5 Tardies
A letter which outlines St. Paul’s Tardy Policy will be signed by the student’s teacher and sent home with the student. The letter will indicate it must be signed by the parent/guardian, indicating they've received it, and returned to the school office.
8 Tardies
An immediate phone call will be made from the student’s teacher or the school office. The student’s parent/guardian will be informed the student has only two Tardies remaining for the trimester before a penalty will incur.
10 Tardies
3 PIP hours will be added to the parent/guardian PIP hour requirement for the year.
15+ Tardies (or more)
3 more PIP hours will be added to the parent/guardian (and for every 5 additional Tardies).
Child Safety & Protection
What have you done to address campus security while my child is there?
St. Paul's incorporates the following security measures:
At St. Paul's Childcare Center our doors are locked. Parents of childcare students will be given a code to enter the building. There is a doorbell for other visitors.
At St. Paul's Campus, our school doors are locked. Parents and visitors should come to the School Entrance off of the small parking lot and ring the doorbell.
What if I have a problem? Who should I discuss it with?
Most concerns are best handled at the classroom level with the help of your child's teacher. If you feel your concerns have not been adequately addressed by your child's teacher, you may contact the acting principal, lead ECE Campus instructor, or Childcare Center Director (whichever is most applicable). Should you still not feel your concern has been adequately addressed, you may contact the school board for assistance. We encourage you to take the necessary steps when you have a concern, and are happy to listen to you and do what we can to help. Please keep in mind the administration and school board will check with you to see if the proper channels have been followed. Ordinarily, administration will direct you to the teacher or offer to sit down with you and your child's teacher. In the same spirit, our school board members will direct you to the staff and administration to first address your concern, or offer to sit down with you and the right people to handle the need or question you have.
Do you wish to receive a call if my child is ill or will not be in school?
Yes! Please call the appropriate building if your child will be absent for any reason. Our administrative assistant collects attendance slips each morning and then contacts families who have not let the teacher or the office know of their child's absence. This also provides a measure of assurance for our parents who know they will be contacted if their child does not arrive at school.
What do I do if my child has an allergy?
Allergies are becoming more common among infants and young children. Allergic reactions can range from mild skin rashes to severe, life-threatening reactions with breathing difficulties. It is important to reduce the likelihood these reactions will take place while the child is at St. Paul’s School and Childcare Center. We expect administrators, teachers and support staff to be informed and aware of life threatening allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) and how to deal with the resulting medical emergencies. For children, some common life threatening allergens are peanuts, tree nuts, fish, bee or other insect stings, latex and some medications. Affected children require planned care and support during the school/childcare hours and sponsored events.
Parents/guardians are responsible for informing the school/childcare center about their child’s potential risk for anaphylaxis and for ensuring the provision of ongoing health information and necessary medical supplies. St. Paul’s School and Childcare Center will take reasonable measures to avoid allergens for affected children. We will also train all staff in the awareness of anaphylaxis and prepare them to respond to emergencies. Additionally, child-specific training will be provided for appropriate staff.
Even with St. Paul’s best efforts, staff and parents/guardians need to be aware that it is not possible to achieve a completely allergen-free environment. However, St. Paul’s School and Childcare Center will take precautions to reduce the risk of a child having an anaphylactic reaction by developing strategies to minimize the presence of allergens in the school and childcare center.
Class Size
What do class sizes look like at St. Paul's?
At St. Paul's Lutheran School it is of paramount importance to maintain a high standard of quality education. One way to do this is to maintain low teacher/student ratios. A limit on how many children will be allowed in each class will make it possible for your child to receive the maximum attention required for guidance and growth. Once this limit has been reached, a waiting list will be established. Our Pre-Kindergarten & Youngs 5’s classes employ both a teacher and a full-time aide. Kindergarten and upper grades utilize floating classroom aides and some parent involvement.
Pre-Kindergarten (age 4): 15 per class
Young 5 (age 5 by Dec. 1): 15 per class
Kindergarten (age 5): 18 per class
1st Grade - 8th Grade: 20 per class
Increases to the maximum class size numbers may only be made with School Board approval.
Classroom Pages
Where can I find my child's classroom web page?
On the navigation bar at the top of the website, select Programs, and then select the appropriate Program (either Early Childhood Education or Elementary School.
On the Program page, select the classroom page you wish to view from the menu that appears. The menu may appear to the right, or on the bottom of the page, depending upon the device you are using.
Discipline
How do you handle discipline?
It is in the best interest of your child that we implement an effective classroom management program. We do not want a child to keep other children from learning or the teacher from teaching.
Discipline is designed to guide the child in developing a sense of responsibility. St. Paul's believes discipline should be firm, but loving, consistent and fair. Above all, it should be centered around the Gospel of forgiveness.
Parents will be asked to meet with the teacher and/or the administrator in cases of repeated classroom disruption or misbehavior. Persistent and inappropriate behavior may lead to probation or suspension. St. Paul's does not endorse the use of corporal punishment or any form of student discipline which can result in physical injury or emotional harm to the child. Our school utilizes "Incident Reports" which require parent and teacher signatures.
Beginning with the 2009-10 school year, St. Paul's implemented a Positive Behavior Support Program. The acronym, SMART, is the format decided upon to present these expectations. The letters in the acronym stand for:
Crusaders are S.M.A.R.T. (click here to see the S.M.A.R.T. Matrix)
Safety Always
Make Responsible Choices
Always Follow Directions
Respect Yourself & Others
Try to be Like Jesus
The students at St. Paul’s Lutheran School will learn about the school-wide behavioral expectations. These expectations have been agreed upon by the staff as an effective way to be proactive in managing behaviors. For more detail on St. Paul's Discipline Policy and Practices, please see our policy manual on our School Board page.
Dress Code
Is there a dress code?
St. Paul’s adheres to a uniform dress code. Use the links below to review the dress code.
Funding
Where do the funds come from?
The costs of operating St. Paul's Lutheran School are met through a combination of sources:
Each school family assists through their tuition, fees, and donations.
School and church families assist through support of our fund-raising projects with the help of our PTL program.
St. Paul's Lutheran Church directly supports the school through the church's budget and through gifts and donations from its members and friends.
Donations from community businesses, organizations, and other private supporters.
If you our your organization are considering donating to our school, please see our Donations page for additional information.
How Can i Help?
Join St. Paul's PTL!
St. Paul's Parent Teacher League meets on the first Tuesday of each month, at 5:45 PM in the ECE Campus building (St. Paul's Church fellowship hall). PTL plans and staffs fun events such as the Harvest Festival, Advent Fair, and Apple Blossom Float as well as organizing many school fundraisers. Members decide how and where to distribute funds as needed in the school. The PTL has a significant positive impact on our school, providing funds for art & music programs, various student assemblies, family fun events, library books, computers, and other enrichment programs.
Join St. Paul’s Marketing Committee!
Our Marketing Committee works to promote St. Paul’s school in the community. This group has been responsible for organizing events like singing the National Anthem at the Wenatchee Wild and Apple Sox games; putting together and distributing posters, flyers, window stickers, and newsletters; facilitating registration specials and discounts; etc. The ideas and talents of our Marketing Committee members have a direct effect on enrollment and the future growth of St. Paul’s School.
Medicine & Illness
What do I do if my child is ill or requires medication?
Teachers and childcare workers will not administer medication to students without written instructions from the parents or physician. Parents Instruction for Medication forms are available in the school office. This applies to all forms of medication, including over-the-counter drugs, such as Tylenol, cold remedies, and medicated cough drops. All medicine must be delivered directly to the school office or childcare worker as a safety precaution.
If a child becomes ill, parents will be notified and requested to make arrangements for their child to be picked up immediately. It is imperative that at least two additional local contact names and phone numbers be listed on the emergency form on file in the school and/or childcare offices. We must be able to reach a designated adult if a child becomes ill.
Children running a fever are to stay home until they have maintained a normal temperature for at least 24 hours. Children who have vomited due to illness are to stay home for at least 24 hours.
Payment
How and when do I make my monthly tuition and childcare payments?
Financial transactions are handled through the FACTS Management Student Information System. Once a student is enrolled, families will receive information to login to the FACTS Family Portal to choose billing options & a payment plan, and to set up payment information.
School Closure
How do I find out if there is a school closure?
During the school year, St. Paul's follows the school closure decisions made by the Wenatchee School District when they close due to inclement weather. St. Paul's always begins at the regular time of 8:30 AM (8:15 for Prep School), even if the Wenatchee School District announces a late start. School closure information is broadcast on KPQ (102 FM and 560 AM). We also try to send out emails, texts, and post updates to the school Facebook page.
Special Programs
What special programs do you offer?
Our childcare program serves three-year-old and older students with before-and-after school care. When space is available, full-time care for non-students is also available.
St. Paul's also offers part-time classes for home-schooled students. See the current application for information about class offerings and costs: https://www.stpaulslutheranschool.com/s/Application-for-Part-Time-Enrollment-2023-24.pdf
Contact the school office for more information about these classes.
