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GUARDIAN ANGELS

Catholic School

About

Tampa

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MORE INFORMATION:

Accreditation

Admissions

Contact/Feeder Parishes

FCC Bishop Vision

History

Mission & Beliefs

Tuition Information

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SPIN

Admissions: Enrollment Process

Initial Application for Enrollment

Parents make the initial application to enroll their child in Guardian Angels Catholic School during January of the academic year before the child begins Pre-K or Kindergarten. When students transfer from another school with a Pre-K - 8 program parents should make the initial application as soon as possible anytime during the calendar year. If the class is filled, parents may include their child's name on the waiting list after the initial application for enrollment has been completed.

Children entering Pre-K must be 4 years old by September 1 of the year they begin.
Children entering Kindergarten must be five-years-old by September 1 of the year they begin. Grade placement for transfer students and home-schooled students will be determined by placement at the previous school of enrollment or by the principal of Guardian Angels Catholic School after consulting with parents, former teachers, and the current Guardian Angels staff.

Pastors of the four feeder parishes determine the priority order for those to be accepted at all levels.

Parents who will be moving into the area should request a letter from their current pastor, which indicates the level of parish participation and whether their children were enrolled in the Catholic school.

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Parent Checklist For The Initial Application For Enrollment (Grades K - 8)

· Pick up application packet from parish office or from the school office.

· Make an appointment to tour the school.

· Return the completed forms to the school office with a non-refundable application for enrollment fee per student.

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Pre-Kindergarten applicants should follow the procedure outlined below:

· Call the office to arrange a tour. You will receive an information packet containing registration information and required paperwork.

· Complete the VPK Child Application online at elcpinellas.net. You may also visit one of the Early Learning Coalition offices in person to complete the application. Locations and hours of operation for these offices can be found at www.elcpinellas.net. Your child will not be officially enrolled until you complete one of these options. You will need "Proof of Florida Residency" and a Birth Certificate/Proof of Childs Age to complete the application process with Coordinated Childcare.

· Children must be 4-years old on or before September 1st of the school year.

· Once you receive your Certificate of Eligibility, bring it to the school office along with the registration paperwork that you received in the information packet during your school tour. This certificate will be needed in order to complete the registration process.

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Withdrawals

When parents wish to withdraw a student from Guardian Angels Catholic School, it is
the responsibility of the parent to provide written notification indicating the date of withdrawal and the receiving school. School records will be sent only at the written request from the receiving school. All financial responsibilities must be settled and all books returned before any school records will be sent to another school. All records are sent from Guardian Angels Catholic School directly to the accepting school.

Recommendation for admission or placement to any schools will be written or completed by GACS staff. Records will be sent upon written request from the receiving school. All high school placements come through the Guidance Office. Copies of all original documents will be sent to the accepting school. GACS keeps the original records a minimum of ninety-nine years. Guardian Angels requires up to five days to complete the necessary information and return it to the qualified professional requesting it. It is the parent's responsibility to enroll eighth grade students in the high school of their choice.

History of Guardian Angels Catholic School

In the fall of 1990, the Diocese of St. Petersburg answered the need for a Catholic elementary school to serve the growing Catholic population of north Pinellas County. After meeting with Bishop Favalora, the pastors of All Saints, St. Michael’s, St. Luke’s, and St. Ignatius, agreed that Guardian Angels Primary School, an inter-parochial ministry, would be established in the existing CCD classrooms at St. Michael’s parish until a permanent site could be located and a school building constructed. It was with great joy that Reverend James Russo was named the first school pastor.

In 1991, after much anticipation, Guardian Angel Primary School opened its doors to 35 kindergarten and first grade students. At the request of Father Russo, the Sisters of Notre Dame of Chardon, Ohio sent Sister Jean Marie Dick to serve as Guardian Angels’ first principal. Two lay teachers, two teacher assistants, and a school secretary joined Sister Jean Marie that first year. No one could have imagined then that from such humble beginnings a prosperous, well-equipped school and campus would emerge.

Due to a dramatic increase in applications for enrollment in 1992, the Diocese decided that Guardian Angels would be expanded from a primary school to an elementary school, and the name changed to Guardian Angels Catholic School.

In each successive year, two classes would be added to reach the goal of having two classes of each grade K-8 by the 2003-2004 school year. A capital campaign throughout the four feeder parishes was initiated to finance this project that was to consist of three buildings to be built in three separate phases.

In 1993 and 1994, two additions were made to the GACS family with Sr. Mary Elizabeth Sakach who succeeded Sister. Sr. Jean Marie as principal and a Spanish teacher that was hired to begin our foreign language program. GACS welcomed almost 200 students into its Phase 1 building at 2270 Evans Road in Clearwater for the 1995 - 96 school year and no one was happier than the new school pastor, Father Joseph Pellegrino and new principal, Mrs. Cindy Mann. The St. Gabriel building, as it is now known, provided 12 classrooms with 6 teacher offices between them, administrative and staff offices, a media center, and a teacher’s lounge. The extended day program was instituted as well as alternative lunch services. An outdoor pavilion was built for the students as a lunch facility.

As important to students as academics is athletics, and our athletic program was initiated in a probationary status with the Pinellas Youth Conference. After a year of successful participation, in 1998 Guardian Angels School was accepted as a permanent member of the league. This year also welcomed its fourth principal, Mr. Robert Yarnell.

Phase II of construction was completed in 1998 with the addition of a middle school building. The St. Raphael building includes six middle school classrooms, two offices, and a multi-purpose room now used for student lunch services as well as meetings and various student activities. In 1999, Guardian Angels celebrated its first eighth grade graduation and in 2004 graduated 2 eighth grade classrooms finally attaining the original goal of having 2 classes at each level.

In 2000, the walls of the existing media center were pushed back to accommodate a new computer lab and the ever-increasing book collection of the library. With all of the wonderful happenings taking place, it was not a wonder that Guardian Angels received its first accreditation through the Florida Catholic Conference in 2001.

Mrs. Cindy Malinski, assistant principal, was appointed principal in 2003 and remains in that position. Over the years, Guardian Angels has grown from a student population of 35 to one of 426; from a faculty of 2 to one of 22 full-time and 6 part-time teachers, 4 full-time assistants, 9 part-time assistants, 6 support staff members, and two administrators. Additionally, aside from the basic academic subjects, instruction and enrichment is offered in music, art, guidance, Spanish, technology, and media. Algebra I and a composition class are part of the middle school curriculum as well. Internet access, wireless capability, and cable TV are all part of our technological offerings. The original playground has been replaced and PE facilities expanded with outdoor basketball and volleyball courts.

In 2006, even more improvements were made to life here at GACS. A modular building with 4 additional teacher offices was added to our campus to house the Fine Arts program, and security fencing was added to enclose the entire property. Also, in addition to the existing grotto, our campus spiritual life was enhanced with the dedication of the Kevin LaPlante Chapel by Bishop Robert Lynch in October of 2006. This beautiful, 100-seat chapel is the center of campus life at GACS. The chapel is used for class masses, First Friday rosary, and student, faculty, staff, and parent prayer.

It is now, after the construction and dedication of the chapel, that the vision of GACS is spiritually enriched. With Christ present in the Blessed Sacrament at the center of the campus, the ministry of faith and education will continue to grow under the spiritual leadership of Father Joseph Pellegrino, school pastor.

Vision for Catholic Schools

November 27, 2013

Catholic schools have been rooted in the Catholic faith since their inception. The immigrant parents looked to the Church not only to reinforce the Catholic values taught at home, but also to provide a secular education that would help their children succeed in a country that they did not fully understand. Catholic schools have continued that tradition by raising standards and preparing our students for college and for their future professions while imparting our religious and moral values.

Catholic high schools across the country have exceptionally high college acceptance rates. In addition, now Catholic schools need to prepare our youth for an “unknown” job market beyond college in a complex, multi-cultural, pluralistic world society. With technology making significant strides and the global market expanding rapidly, we must raise the educational level of all students served by our schools. Our Catholic schools are addressing all of these challenges within the context of our foundational purpose to prepare our students to develop strong Catholic character. In pursuing this goal, teachers must utilize a variety of instructional tools as well as alternative teaching methods to ensure engagement of all students.

The joint collaboration and consultation between the Catholic Colleges and Universities and the (Arch)Diocesan superintendents resulted in the creation of the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools. These standards and benchmarks are now the framework for the Florida Catholic Conference accreditation process for Catholic elementary schools. The adoption of the National Benchmarks has provided the framework for the openness to academic excellence and strong Catholic identity at all levels.

In addition to rigorous curricular content, today’s students must master comprehensive interpersonal skills such as team work, solving complex problems, innovative thinking, etc. Additionally, students must become self-directed learners, and they must develop a positive work ethic as they simultaneously master oral and written communication skills.

We must ensure that students are provided with multiple opportunities to maximize their full potential physically, intellectually, and spiritually. Thus, programs for diverse learners (students who are cognitively challenged, gifted and accelerated students, students affected by attentional disorders, English Language Learners, etc.) are absolutely critical. This will increase the possibility that all students will reach their fullest potential.

Our Catholic faith reminds us that parents are the first, foremost and primary educators of their children. The leaders and teachers of Catholic schools, as partners with parents, continue to examine new ideas, explore new methods and models of instruction as well as continue to infuse our Catholic virtues and values into all aspects of the curriculum.

Catholic schools will continue to “raise the bar,” challenging the status quo, nurturing all learners, supporting parents and imparting to youngsters the mystery and doctrine of our faith and enabling them to share the faith with others. This commitment to growth and excellence is a hallmark of our Catholic educational heritage that cannot, must not, and will not be lost.

About

2270 Evans Road Clearwater, FL 33763 | (727) 799-6724 | (727) 724-9018 Fax

GACS

Guardian Angels Catholic School

NON – AFFILIATED CATHOLIC / NON – CATHOLIC: Non – Catholic family OR Catholic family who cannot show that they have been active contributing members of a parish for a year prior to this year’s subsidy request; Level D on Subsidy Form.