Some of you probably remember when most Catholic Parishes in Beaver County had their own Catholic Elementary School serving the children of their faith community. These parish schools were very similar to the neighborhood public schools serving the needs of the children who lived in the community. Much has changed though with our Catholic Schools in the Beaver Valley. Today, our schools include Our Lady of Fatima in Hopewell Township, Saint Monica Catholic Academy (formerly Divine Mercy Academy) in Beaver Falls, and Saints Peter and Paul in Beaver.
While part of their parish operations, our schools serve more than just the families of their parishes. They are regional schools serving both Catholic and Non-Catholic families from every public school district in Beaver County. Our schools educated 397 students from Kindergarten to 8th grade during the 2014-15 school year. Of these students, 12% were from non-Catholic families and 34% were from parishes that do not have a school. The Beaver Valley Catholic Elementary Schools focus on our core values of Faith, Knowledge, and Service. We offer a learning environment that is welcoming to families of all faiths.
Julie Kirik is Presbyterian and had children in the 5th and 8th grades this year at Our Lady of Fatima. She enrolled her oldest child in one of our preschools and fell in love with the atmosphere of family and community fostered in the school. "Our family enjoys the smaller class sizes allowing for more focus on my children's needs. The entire faculty focuses on personal growth and not just academics and reinforced the Christian values I try to instill in my children." Kirik and her family have never felt that they were not a part of the school and community despite not being Catholic.
Katherine Taylor of Beaver is Anglican and had children enrolled in Saints Peter and Paul for Kindergarten and 3rd grade. The Taylor family chose Saints Peter and Paul because of its smaller class sizes and its strong academic reputation. "My husband and I both grew up in Beaver and knew about Saints Peter and Paul. We have enjoyed the ability of the teachers to spend more one-on-one time with our children and wanted them to be able to have religious education in their daily lives. There is such a sense of family and community at Saints Peter and Paul, and I would recommend any family to consider sending their children to a Catholic school."
The Beaver Valley Catholic Elementary Schools are currently accepting registrations for the 2015-2016 school year. Tours are available upon request with additional contact information below. Busing is provided through the public school districts within 10 miles of your school district border. Our schools include 3- and 4-year-old preschool, full-day kindergarten, and 1st through 8th grade. We also offer extended day options. A wide variety of extracurricular activities are also available including academic games, athletics, band, plays, and many more.
We offer an affordable option to the public schools in Beaver County. Financial aid is available to any family through the Bishop's Education Fund and the Diocesan Scholastic Opportunity Scholarship Fund. Additionally, we offer flexible payment plans to spread tuition payments throughout the school year.
Our schools are fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges in addition to meeting all state and diocesan curriculum requirements, and all faculty are certified by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. As with all schools in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, we have not adopted curriculum based on the Common Core. We set higher curriculum standards and work to ensure our students are challenged to exceed them. Please click here to view Bishop David Zubik's statement on the Common Core.
In cooperation with the Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit, our schools offer learning support, reading interventions and speech therapy for children of all learning abilities. We make use of SMART board technology in fully networked classrooms and integrate technology into our curriculum through the use of tablets in the classroom where appropriate.
The greatest investment you can make for your children is to invest in their education. Our schools offer a caring, nurturing environment where each child can grow and learn to the best of their ability. We focus on educating the total person both academically and morally. The best way to experience what a Catholic Education can offer your family is to tour one of our schools. Don't wait any longer, contact one of our schools today to schedule a tour to discuss the educational opportunities available for your family.
Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School
http://www.ourladyoffatimahopewell.org/
724-375-7565
Saint Monica Catholic Academy
http://saintmonicaacademy.org/
724-846-5955
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School
http://ssppbeaver.org/school/
724-774-4450
