Frequently Asked Questions About Guardian Angels School
Choosing a school for your child is a significant decision, and you likely have many questions. We want to assure you that we are here to support you every step of the way. Our FAQ page is designed to answer the most asked questions about our school, from our curriculum and extracurricular activities to our admissions process and tuition fees.
We hope this page will provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision about whether Guardian Angels Catholic School is the right fit for your family. If you have any more questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to help and look forward to welcoming you into our community.
Guardian Angels currently has students in grades K through grade eight.
We are very proud of the staff we have assembled here at Guardian Angels. All of our classroom teachers hold or are in the processes of obtaining a valid Florida teaching certificate. Our specialists hold a valid teaching certificate or have the credentials required through our accrediting agency, The Florida Catholic Conference. In addition to our teachers, we have teaching assistants in each classroom during various times of the day in K through grade 5.
The Diocese of St. Petersburg currently gives students in grades 2 – 8 the Terra Nova 3. The Terra Nova 3 is a full range of research-based standardized assessments used throughout the country. The Diocese requires we participate in a spring testing schedule. The ARK (Assessment of Religious Knowledge) test is given to students in grades 2 through 8 as well as the staff in the spring of each year. The students at Guardian Angels consistently achieve high scores on these tests. They rank at or above both the national and diocesan averages in most areas assessed. The information gained from these tests helps the staff provide an appropriate educational program for their students.
Guardian Angels is accredited by the Florida Catholic Conference. This agency is responsible for the accreditation of all of the Catholic schools in the state of Florida. The school has a School Improvement Plan (SIP) that contains well – defined goals and an action plan for attaining those goals.
The school hours are 7:50AM – 2:50PM. Students may be dropped off as early as 7:25AM. At this time we do not offer a before school program to supervise students who may need to be dropped off earlier.
Yes we do. Currently our extended day program is available to all students until 6:00PM on most school days. The extended day staff are employees of Guardian Angels and have received all of the necessary trainings and screenings as required by the Diocese of St. Petersburg. This service can be used as frequently as needed. There is an additional fee for this service.
We accept students who are five years of age on or before September first.
The new student application process for K through Grade 8 usually begins the January prior to the academic year you wish to enroll for. The actual date is communicated in the parish bulletins and on the school website.
We are members of the Pinellas County Youth Conference and offer a variety of after school sports for both girls and boys. Students in grades 5 – 8 are encouraged to participate in the athletic program.
We have a program called Alternative Lunch. Participation in this program is strictly voluntary. Students can pre-order and pay for lunch that is brought to the school from a variety of vendors. Alternative lunch usually begins in September and is provided every full school day. If students do not wish to participate, they bring a lunch from home.
Parental involvement is encouraged through the Parent – Faculty Association. This very active group is always looking for willing volunteers to help with the many things they provide the school community each year. Volunteers are also utilized in the classrooms depending on the teachers’ needs. These opportunities for involvement foster the strong community spirit that exists at Guardian Angels.
Language lab (K-5 Spanish, 6-8 various languages), art, general music, physical education, media and STREAM are additional classes offered at Guardian Angels. In providing the students the opportunity to participate and learn in these subject areas, we are educating and nurturing the development of the whole child.
We have a multitude of technological equipment in our school. This equipment includes Smart TV’s, Chromebooks and iPads, 3D Printers to name a few. The students not only have STREAM class where they are learning applications necessary to be successful at the high school level and beyond; they are utilizing technology in their classrooms on a daily basis! Learning has come alive and the students are continually improving their technology skills.
Tuition assistance is readily available for qualifying families. Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, Family Empowerment, The Catholic School’s Tuition Assistance Grant and Wienhusen Scholarships are currently available to new families. For more information about these programs and the guidelines for each, visit our website and look under the prospective parent link.