Overview
At Saint Ambrose School, we proudly embrace the truth of the Gospel and our Catholic tradition and teachings, fostering each child’s beliefs and relationship with Jesus through our virtue-based education.
Exceptional academics delivered through personalized experiences ensure each student receives what they need to be the best they can be. Deep parent involvement and rich connections between teachers and students of all ages reinforce understanding, accountability and respect within our community.
Our faculty and staff bring joy and caring to the school every day. Coupled with the natural fellowship developed among families, we create a loving “home away from home” for our students. Our small class sizes ensure each child is genuinely known and supported, with teachers and staff serving as advocates for each student’s unique experience.
Along with inspiring intellectual curiosity, we are dedicated to nurturing students and families along their faith journeys. Our highly qualified, faith-filled teachers guide a strong, holistic education through instruction and personal example by living our Catholic values in the classroom every day.
In turn, we are blessed with a respectful, kind, vibrant student body who strive to offer their best selves each day, in service to each other, their teachers, families and the broader community.
This is who we are. This is the Saint Ambrose Way.
Mission and Vision
Mission (what we offer)
We at Saint Ambrose School are part of a vibrant Catholic community supporting and nurturing each child on their journey with Christ.
Through exceptional academics, embracing each child’s unique strengths and needs, and joyfully engaging in prayer and service, we take a holistic, virtue-based approach to student education and experiences. This is the Saint Ambrose Way.
Vision (what we aspire to)
As a thriving Catholic school, we create meaningful impact though each family we support and student we send into the world.
By helping form the whole child, students are not only prepared well for the next level of education, but life as Christian adults living the Saint Ambrose Way.
Philosophy
The Saint Ambrose of Woodbury community recognizes the partnership between parents, students, staff, administration and parishioners in providing for the development of its members as people of faith who worship, learn and grow together. As a community we have a responsibility to support families-as the primary educators of their children-while providing enriching experiences that promote a sense of belonging and responsibility to a community.
The Mission and Philosophy Statements of Saint Ambrose of Woodbury Catholic School are derived directly from the mission statement of Saint Ambrose of Woodbury Catholic Community. The school and parish communities are one in their common mission of worship, education and outreach.
History
Saint Ambrose of Woodbury Catholic Community was founded on March 17, 1998 to serve Woodbury, which was, at the time, Minnesota’s fastest growing city. The parish traces its roots to the original St. Ambrose, an Italian National Parish, located since 1911 on St. Paul’s near East Side.
Founding pastor, Msgr. Richard Pates, held a strong belief in Catholic education and, from the inception of the parish, there was no doubt that a Catholic school would be part of the plans. The Saint Ambrose Parish community used Woodbury Sr. High School as its place for worship while the current facility was being designed and built.
When the Saint Ambrose of Woodbury Catholic Community opened its doors in of its new facility in the fall of 2000 it was the first new Catholic parish/school combination to be built in the St. Paul/Minneapolis Archdiocese in more than 30 years. The school was originally designed to accommodate 450 children in grades K-8 as well as 175 preschool children. Saint Ambrose of Woodbury Catholic School quickly reached that capacity and, in 2006 fourteen additional classrooms were added to the building which increased the capacity of the school to 675 children in grades K-8.
Now in its third decade of offering a high quality Catholic education to the East Metro area, Saint Ambrose of Woodbury School enjoys a reputation for academic rigor and strong Catholic values. Saint Ambrose is renowned for its exceptional educational standards. Graduates from Saint Ambrose have successfully gained admission to prestigious colleges such as the University of Minnesota, the University of Wisconsin, Gonzaga University, the University of St. Thomas, the College of St. John’s, the College of St. Benedict, and many others.
General Information
Accreditation
Saint Ambrose School is fully accredited by the Minnesota Non-public Schools Accrediting Association (MNSAA). Saint Ambrose will comply with all MNSAA requirements in order to maintain accredited status through 2023 when the cyclical, structured evaluation, and planning process will be repeated. More information about the Minnesota Non-public Schools Accrediting Association is available here.
Athletics
Saint Ambrose of Woodbury Catholic School offers a variety of sports for students in grades 5-8. In the fall we offer boys’ soccer, girls’ soccer, and girls’ volleyball. In the winter we offer both boys’ and girls’ basketball and swimming. We offer boys’ baseball, girls’ softball, and boys’ and girls’ track in the spring.
Class Size
Saint Ambrose of Woodbury Catholic School will maintain a low-class size. All-day kindergarten classrooms will maintain a class size of 22. Grades 1-8 will maintain a maximum of 25 students per classroom with a total of 75 children admitted to each grade level.
Enrichment
Saint Ambrose of Woodbury School employs an Enrichment Coordinator to direct programs that are apart from but complementary to the school curriculum. There are countless enrichment events that classroom teachers offer to classrooms as a whole; however, the Enrichment Coordinator facilitates those activities that occur outside the school and/or classroom day, involve small pull-out groups during the school day, or involve multiple classrooms assemblies. Programs offered at the elementary level include:
Extra!, Junior Great Books, MathMasters, WordMasters, and Art Adventure. Jr. High programs include: Quiz Bowl, Math Masters and Scrabble Club. Detailed descriptions of the programs may be found on the Enrichment Activities webpage.
Hot Lunch
Hot lunch is available each day. Students may choose the daily entree, a “grab & go” sandwich, or a salad bar meal for $3.45. We are working hard to offer healthy options and to limit the processed food served to our children. If students choose to bring cold lunch they may purchase milk for $0.60.
Recess
Students in Kindergarten through 5th grade have at least one recess per day. Students spend 25 minutes playing outside.
School Schedule
The school day currently starts at 9:20 AM and ends at 3:50 PM.
Special Education
Saint Ambrose of Woodbury School employs two full-time K-5 special education teacher, as well as a special education teacher for grades 6-8. Most special education services are delivered in the classroom; however, our instructors work together to formulate a plan for success for individual students who qualify for special education services. This might include small group or individual work time with the special education teacher. Families whose students have an Individual Education Plan will have the opportunity to discuss service options available and make the best choice for their student.
School Counselor
Saint Ambrose of Woodbury School employs a school counselor one day per week. Our counselor works with individuals, small groups, parents and school staff. Our counselor’s expertise is an excellent resource for our school community.
Transportation
Students that reside in District 833 are eligible for bus transportation at no additional cost. Families living outside of the district must transport their children to and from Saint Ambrose of Woodbury School. You can learn more about District 833 transportation here.