The St. Anastasia Catholic School Mission and Beliefs statements are prominently displayed in the lobby of the school. Copies of these statements can be seen in every classroom, on all school published documents, on our website www.stanna.org, and throughout the buildings in our school.

Communication between the school and the community of St. Anastasia is accomplished using a number of tools. Student and Parent Handbooks are distributed at the beginning of each school year. These handbooks contain explanations for policies and procedures followed by the school. Parents and children are required to sign and return the agreement, indicating that they understand what is contained in the handbook and agree to adhere to those policies.

The school’s administration is in constant communication with the Pastor, the School Advisory Board, parents and students, the Diocesan Educational Office, and the local community. In weekly meetings the administration informs the pastoral staff of school activities and programs. The pastor informs the administration of parish activities that he would like the school community to support and attend. The church bulletin also publishes school activities that involve our parents and students.

Administration meets monthly with the School Advisory Board. The Board consists of parents, the pastor and the principal. The pastor and the principal present programs and explain school activities, and solicit the board’s participation and support.

School, parent and community relationships are considered to be one of the strengths of the school. Generations of families and community members have formed a school in which Catholic values are taught and upheld. Without these relationships it would be difficult to improve the facilities and services to students.

a. Enrollment

The total enrollment at St. Anastasia for the 2006-07 school year is 661, with nearly an even division of boys and girls. This is down from the all-time high enrollment of 691 in 2003-04. Over the past several years, there has been an attempt to keep the primary classes smaller than the maximum standard set by the Florida Catholic Conference. Recent redistricting by the county may also have affected the 2006-07 enrollment in the primary grades. The fact that 60 students were enrolled in the 4 year old program in 2005-06, left about 60 spaces to fill in 2006-07 for the pre-school. This situation may have also affected the total 2006-07 enrollment.

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About 84% of the students attending St. Anastasia are Roman Catholic. The Non-Catholic families attending are seeking the Christian values, high academic standards, and good discipline for which St. Anastasia is known. (Source: informal survey of parents) There is a history of Non-Catholic students enrolling in the school, dating back to the late 1920’s when Father Beerhalter would admit Non-Catholic families seeking the values that St. Anastasia had to offer. (Source: informal interviews with both parishioners and Non-Catholic families).

It can be noted that there has been an increase in Hispanic students from 4% in 2002 to 10% in 2006. The Asian population hovers around 3-4%, with these students being of Philippino heritage. The Black population is from 2-3%, a reflection of the parish. About half of these students are African-American, while the other 50% are Haitian. In each of the past 5 years, 3-4% of all students are multi-racial.

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The diverse groups of the school mirror the parish population, according to the Pastor. Father also commented that as funds become available, more scholarships will be offered to both the Haitian mission and the Spanish mission students.

At a SIP faculty meeting in the fall of 2006, the staff discussed the diversity of the student population. It was noted that the school’s student population does not reflect the diversity the children will see outside the school. Because of this, several programs have been implemented to help students understand and relate positively to other races, religions, and cultures. For example, children in all grades are exposed to guest speakers of various races and nationalities. These guests share their religions, foods, holiday celebrations, and ways of life. In social studies classes, teachers initiate discussions that help children compare and contrast various cultures, standards of living, and general understanding that "real people" live in the places they study.

1. Enrichment

There are various pupil services provided for all types of students at St. Anastasia. There are "pull out" enrichment services for grades kindergarten through 6, based on teacher referrals and K-bit testing as well as demonstrated ability on standardized testing. In grades 7 and 8, math honors classes are offered.

Additional extra-curricular activities are offered to interested students. These classes include scholastic team chess and music lessons for grades 5 through 8, along with art lessons for classes 5 through 8. There are multiple opportunities for students to participate in various sports programs. These include the following: fifth through eighth grade competitive teams and first through fourth grades are offered intramural sports. Scouting and sign language are also offered at various times throughout the school year. Academic tutoring is also offered upon request and through the Homework Club twice per week.

Saint Anastasia School offers a multitude of enrichment courses for high achieving students. They are listed below:

Pre-K: Classroom teachers provide enrichment for small groups as needed.

Kindergarten: Beginning in January (the second semester) a monthly project is designed by the teachers for any student wishing to participate. These are "at home" projects.

Grade 1: Language Arts Enrichment is offered 2 times per week.

Grade 2: Math Enrichment is offered two times per week.

Grade 3: Two sixty minute periods for Social Studies is provided.

Grade 4: Science pull-out is 5 times per week

Grade 5: Math pull-out is 5 times per week.

Grade 6: Math pull-out is 5 times per week.

Grade 7 and 8: Honors Math (pre-algebra and algebra) are scheduled five times per week.

Students identified with a learning disability in grades 1-4 are taught in smaller groups outside their classroom three times per week for approximately an hour per session.

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Students identified with a learning disability in grades 5-8 are taught by a certified Learning Disabilities teacher in a pull-out setting for 4 periods per week.

The following services are also offered:

Title One Reading: for grades K-5 (remedial reading)

Speech and Language: Classes for grades Pre-K - Grade 5

2. Student Placement

The identification process to determine student needs and programs includes:

A referral is initiated by the teacher, parent, or administration.

The Student Support Team (SST) is composed of the coordinator, guidance counselor, principal, teacher, and parent. A school psychologist is invited if a staffing is necessary.

SST meetings are held for any child in pre-school through grade 8.

A follow up meeting is scheduled to review results and progress.

A Psycho-educational evaluation is administered and a staffing is held with the parents.

Children with special needs are placed in the appropriate programs and given appropriate accommodations in the classroom, such as small group teaching, extended time on standardized testing, extended time for class tests, and/or oral testing.

3. Student Promotion

There are a variety of ways in which the school determines a student’s ability to succeed after promotion from one grade level to the other:

Progress reports – quarterly basis

Report cards – quarterly basis

Parent teacher conferences – parental request

End of year teacher evaluation list for academic promotion

Student Study Team

Review of Portfolios

Curriculum Checklists

 

4. School-Based Counseling Programs and Services

Students at St. Anastasia have access to a variety of individual and group counseling programs. A full-time guidance counselor is on staff 5 days per week. There are individual and group counseling opportunities as well as community education awareness programs and Rainbows for All God’s Children (for children experiencing loss due to death or divorce).

Through the Diocese of Palm Beach, a school psychologist is employed for 3 hours per month. This program, "Helping All Students Succeed", enables students to achieve their

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potential. The psychologist focuses on the student, and assists in developing strategies and solutions to students’ needs. Additionally, the psychologist attends student support team meetings, reviews and interprets test results, administers screenings, and provides Psychological Educational testing if necessary.

The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Department has assigned a school resource officer to St. Anastasia to be shared with John Carroll High School. The Deputy teaches classes in safety, good citizenship and anti-bullying. In grade 4, students have several weeks of G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education and Training). All grade 5 students are enrolled in D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) for 12 weeks. Grade 6 students take the second phase of G.R.E.A.T., which teaches life skills, socialization, and conflict resolution.

5. Tutoring and Mentoring Programs

There are various tutoring and mentoring programs organized at St. Anastasia School. Homework Club has been set up to assist students not only with homework but also with specific areas of study that the students may find challenging. Homework Club runs twice per week and is conducted by a certified teacher.

This activity is further enhanced for the eighth grade students with a program at Indian River Community College. The C.P.I. Lab supplies certified high school teachers to tutor students with academic difficulties.

Each class or grade has at least one teacher assistant assigned to assist in tutoring smaller groups of students that may not meet the desired level of achievement covered in class by the teacher. Private tutoring is also offered by teachers after school hours.

St. Anastasia’s school library has many computer tutorial aids for the students to work with on an individual basis.

St. Anastasia School accepts adult volunteers to visit certain classes to mentor students. For example, there is a retired accountant who assists in various math classes.

St. Anastasia School accommodates its students with an annual "mentor day", in which parents volunteer to speak to the students about their professions.

6. Title I and other Federal/State Programs

Title I funds are used for remediation in reading by providing a teacher, needed materials, and some classroom furniture. These services are available to students in grades K through 5. In September of 2006, there were 35 students, or 9% of the K – 5 students, involved in the Title I program, meeting approximately 40-60 minutes per session. Acceptance and participation in this program is based on academic need. This program serves children who live in areas of Title I schools, as designated by the public school system.

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Title II funds provide monies for teacher and staff development in all areas. Two benefits derived from this program are that teachers are given the opportunity to attend state conventions and to participate in staff development workshops as well. These workshops benefit the students by providing up to date training on best practices. In turn these practices provide the scaffolding upon which students can participate in integrated learning, bringing together a variety of learning skills.

Title V is designed to enhance student learning and provide instructional materials to assist classroom instruction and to facilitate hands-on learning with the students. This program has enabled the school to purchase consumable and multi-media materials in order to enhance teacher methodology and student learning. Library books are also purchased to complement teacher/student use in curriculum areas. Title II and Title V funds impact all students in the school.

7. Daily Attendance Records

Daily attendance is recorded by each teacher on a weekly attendance sheet and sent to the office each day for inputting into the main computerized attendance program. The program records the following: date, absence, tardy, time arrived, half day, and time "checked out". This information is updated at the end of the day.

At the end of each quarter, the teachers and administrators are provided with printouts of their classroom attendance to be utilized for completion of individual student report cards.

8. Disciplinary/Referral Data

The assertive discipline program is in place a St. Anastasia. Students are rewarded for good behavior and there are consequences for breaking school or classroom rules.

In Kindergarten through Grade 5, the classroom teacher handles most disciplinary problems. Procedures vary by grade level. For example, students may be given "time-out", no recess, or silent lunch. At the Middle School level, students are given silent lunches and after-school and Saturday detentions. For serious infractions, parent/teacher/administrative conferences are scheduled and may result in an in-school suspension or, with pastoral approval and diocesan communication, expulsion.

On average, about three students per day are referred to the assistant principal for extreme or excessive classroom misbehavior.

9. Student Health

Health issues on St. Anastasia’s campus are handled case by case by the main office staff. Children who are identified as ill or injured, recuperate in the office while parents are contacted immediately. The school has a teacher who is trained and licensed as a

registered nurse. One of the assistants in the pre-school is a Licensed Practical Nurse. They are called to attend to those cases that require immediate medical attention.

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The school, along with St. Lucie County Health Department, requires that all students are up-to-date on inoculations upon entering the primary grades and again in the sixth trade. Hearing and eye tests are completed at the beginning of the school year for various grade levels, and upon teacher request.

Parents are encouraged to report all cases of strep throat and head lice to the office to ensure that it does not become an epidemic on campus.

10. Crisis Management

St. Anastasia School has implemented a crisis response plan mandated by St. Lucie County to ensure that the utmost safety measures are taken at all times so that the students attend a secure facility. A "Crisis Response Plan" has been drawn up to be initiated in the event of any disaster/crisis. Examples of crises range from hostage situations to accidental death, which may impact the campus. The faculty and staff are trained to recognize crises situations through faculty meetings and staff development days.

Procedures for school personnel during a crisis:

Principal’s role is to be visible, provide direction to teachers and staff, and communicate with central administration.

The counselor should be available to make decisions as to whether outside counseling is necessary, contact is made with parents and students involved, and counseling is provided to all parties involved.

The teacher’s role is to dispel rumors, model a suitable response for students, and discuss the issue and reaction deemed appropriate for students.

A manual has been prepared to denote zones, trauma centers, post crisis situations, and intervention checklists.

A general emergency plan for St. Anastasia School has been introduced in the teacher’s handbook. All of the following topics are dealt with in this section: fire, tornado, hurricane, flood, bomb threats, major medical emergency, and intruders on campus.

Mock fire and tornado drills are executed throughout the school year to meet all school, diocesan, and county guidelines.

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11. Cafeteria and Food Services:

St. Anastasia offers both a nutritious weekly and a’la carte lunch program. Milk, juice, and snacks may be purchased daily. No candy or soda is allowed during lunch, and children are complimented on the "smart food" (fruits and raw vegetables) found in their lunches. There are two areas designated for outside lunch, while the auditorium is used during inclement weather.

c. Alumni Data

John Carroll Catholic High School, which is adjacent to St. Anastasia’s campus, is a natural progression for the graduating eighth grader. The John Carroll guidance department provided the following data:

Interviews with parents of St. Anastasia alumni indicate that families opt for high schools other than JCHS for reasons such as the International Baccalaureate Program at a local public magnet school, lack of finances, and to enroll in academies in the public sector in fields such as veterinary medicine, nursing, teaching and business.

St. Anastasia encourages enrollment at John Carroll by providing limited scholarships to graduating eighth graders, and educating the middle school student about the academic and extra curricular opportunities available at John Carroll.

The JCHS guidance department was also able to share the number of St. Anastasia students graduating from 12th grade in 2004, 2005 and 2006.

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Some St. Anastasia graduates attend area public high schools and continue there for 4 years, graduating from their respective public high school.

The academic successes of former student are certainly noteworthy. Alumni include priests, religious sisters, teachers, engineers, doctors, lawyers, business leaders, a public defender, a public school associate superintendent, nurses, police officers, firemen, and university professors to name a few. Many alumni remain in the tri-county area and serve in leadership positions within the community.

The Catholic identity programs that St. Anastasia Catholic School students are involved in are numerous, rich and varied. All-school liturgies are held monthly and prepared by each grade in turn. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and grade level Reconciliation are included in the students’ class schedules. The Living Rosary, May Crowning, attendance at daily Mass, and daily classroom prayer complete the circle of prayerful activities.

The eighth grade class begins their year with an all-day retreat that includes liturgy, community building, and varied opportunities for faith sharing. Second grade students participate in a retreat prior to their First Communion. All grades are involved in the Thanksgiving Food Drive and the Christmas Toy Drive, while some classes visit a nearby nursing home, and seventh and eighth graders participate in a full day of service in the fall through their Advisory group.

All seventh and eighth graders participate in the Advisory Program, which is a bi-weekly scheduled time where students have the opportunity to interact with about 12 of their peers and a school staff member in areas that are school-oriented, social, behavioral, or spiritual. There are opportunities for students to understand themselves and others, explore careers, practice decision-making and provide service to the school and the larger community.

The school forms its student government through the Advisory Program, with each group selecting a leader to meet with other Advisory group leaders to help the school administration solve student problems and offer suggestions for school activities.

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