FAQ's

Q. What is the school/student profile of BSS?

A.  BSS is a K-8 coed school with 500 students.  There are 3 classes per grade in K-5, averaging 20 students per class, and 4 advisories per grade in 6-8.  Aids assist the classroom teacher in grades K-2.  The boy/girl ratio is 50/50.

Q. What are the school hours?

A.  BSS operates from 8:10 am-3:10 pm on full days and dismisses at 12:30 pm on half days.

Q.  Is BSS an accredited institution?

A.  BSS is accredited by the Middle States Association, Commission on Elementary Schools.

Q.  What is BSS’ current tuition?

A. Tuition for parishioners for the 2009-2010 school year is:

 

                        1 child                                      $7,650.00

                        2 children                                 $ 15,000.00

                        3 children                                 $ 21,225.00

                        4 children or more                    $26,200.00

 

 

Tution for non-parishioners is $11,400 per child.   

Q. Does BSS provide before/after school care?

A.  While before-school care is not offered, there is after-school care until 6 pm. To learn more about our after care program, please click here.

Q.  Does BSS offer transportation for its students?

A.  Car pools and walking are the general means of transportation to/from school as there is no bus/van service.

Q.  Do you have to be a Catholic or a parishioner of BS to attend the school?

A.  BSS welcomes children of all religious backgrounds as well as out of parish; however, siblings and parishioners receive priority in admittance to the school.

Q.  Does BSS have a formal dress code?

A.  Yes, BSS students wear a uniform. For uniform guidelines, please refer to our school handbook . 

Q.  Does BSS offer a hot lunch program?

A. Hot lunch is offered to every day for an additional cost. A lunch menu  is distributed monthly and varies each month. 

Q.  What resources/supports are available for students?

A.   There is a resource program in place for students with specified needs as well as a school counselor, school psychologist, and school nurse.

Q.  What specials does BSS offer as part of their regular curriculum?

A.  BSS offers Art and Music classes once a week for all the students. Physical Education classes are offered twice a week to all the students.  French classes are offered to students in grades 4th-8th and Spanish to students in 1st-8th grade. Grades 1st & 2nd have Spanish once a week, 3rd & 4th have foreign language twice a week, 5th graders have foreign language three times a week and middle school has foreign lanugauge four times a week.

Q.  What after-school programs/activities does BSS offer?

A.  BSS offers after school art for students in K-8th grade, cooking classes for students in K-5th, Irish dancing classes for all the students, golf lessons for grades K-8th, flag football for grades 1st-5th, Mad Science for grades K-6th, choir to all grades, band classes for grades 3rd-8th,  Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Brownies.

Q.  Does BSS participate in a standardized testing program?

A.  BSS students in grades 2-8 take the Terra Nova Achievement Test in the spring annually.

Q.  What sports activities are offered to students?

A.  BSS sponsors CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) soccer and basketball in grades 4- 8.  

Q.  Does your school have a band program?  What grades?  Is it during or after  school?

A.  BSS offers band to grades 3rd-8th. The band is grouped into beginners, intermediate and advanced. Beginner band meets Monday mornings for 30 minutes.Intermediate and advanced band meet Tuesday mornings for 30 minutes and Tuesday afternoons from 3:15-4:15pm.

Q.  How does BSS emphasize student/community faith formation?

A.  The school community begins each morning in prayer. The entire school attends Mass together at least once a month. Individual classes also attend regularly scheduled Masses. Students in grades 3rd-8th attend Reconciliation four times a year. BSS also participates in fundraisers such as Pennies for Patients, Operation Rice Bowl, the Greg Gannon Food Drive and the St. Jude's Mathathon to name a few.

Q.  Does BSS have an honors or program for advanced students?

A.Upper level students are grouped by ability in mathematics and language arts classes. Honors classes are offered to those in the highest levels. 

Q.  What percentage of BSS graduates is accepted into a Catholic high school?

A. At least 95% of our graduates are accepted to a Catholic high school. Frequently this number is 100%.