What is the class size?
Saint Ambrose of Woodbury Catholic School maintains a low class size. Kindergarten classrooms have a class size of 24. Grades 1-8 have a maximum class size of 25. A total of 75 children will be admitted to each grade level.
What is the tuition?
Tuition for the 2020-21 school year is $6,150 per child. Families have the option of breaking down the payment into nine monthly payments or twelve monthly payments.
In addition to tuition, what other fees are required of families?
A non-refundable $125 per child registration fee is required upon admission to Saint Ambrose. This fee does not apply toward the overall tuition.
Are there any fundraising obligations required of families?
There is no fundraising obligation for families. Saint Ambrose does hold some fundraisers, but family participation is optional. Our most significant fundraiser is our Marathon, held in September at the beginning of the school year. Students, parents, grandparents, and friends participate in this fun and worthwhile event! In the spring, Saint Ambrose of Woodbury also hosts a Spring Shindig dinner and auction to raise money to support the Bishop Pates Endowment Fund, which helps provide tuition assistance to many families each school year.
Is there a financial assistance program available?
Tuition assistance is available for qualifying individual students. Saint Ambrose works with Tuition Aid Data Services (TADS) to determine a family's eligibility for assistance.
What are the school’s hours?
Saint Ambrose starts the school day at 9:20 and ends the school day at 3:50.
Is there bus transportation available?
Students who reside in District 833 (South Washington County School District) 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.
Is there a health office or nurses on staff at Saint Ambrose?
Yes, our school has a health office and two Registered Nurses who staff our office daily. These nurses not only handle sick children – they also administer medication to children who have special health care needs, helps manage food allergies and coordinate the vision and hearing screenings for our lower grade levels each year.
Does the school offer an Extended Care program?
The Crusader Fun Club is a before and after school extended day program that offers students a safe, friendly, and fun environment for students ages Kindergarten through 5th grade. Activities include organized games outside or in the gym, art projects, board games, computer time and study time for older students. Parents should complete an extended day application and submit it with a $65 non-refundable registration fee. Applications may be obtained by contacting our Extended Day Director Nikki Nerka at (651) 768-3029. For junior high students (6th – 8th grades), there also is a before school study hall option available for a fee.
What is the school’s uniform policy?
This uniform policy has been established to help provide a non-distracting learning environment. Uniform policy details are available on the school’s website. Students are expected to dress in a way that will be a credit to themselves, their parents and their school. The dress code will be strictly enforced. ALL uniform items must be purchased through Donald’s Department Store, 972 Payne Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55101, (651) 776-2723.
Does the school offer extra-curricular activities?
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 classroom assembles.
Programs offered at the elementary level include: Extra!, Junior Great Books, Academic Triathlon, Geography Bee, Junior Achievement, MathMasters, WordMasters, and Art Adventure. Junior High programs include: Academic Triathlon, Chess Club, Geography Bee, Junior Achievement, MathMasters, Quiz Bowl, and Scrabble Club. Detailed descriptions of the programs may be found on the Enrichment Coordinator's webpage.
In addition, Saint Ambrose has an athletics program for students in 5th – 8th grades. Students can participate in soccer, volleyball, basketball, cheerleading, baseball, softball, swimming, and track. Our teams compete against other non-public schools in the Catholic Athletic Association (CAA).
Does Saint Ambrose have a learning specialist on staff?
Yes, we have two learning specialists on our staff. We have a full time specialist who works with children in Kindergarten through 5th grade and we have a part-time specialist who works with children in 6th grade through 8th grade.
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 learning specialist.
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.
Does Saint Ambrose have a school psychologist on staff?
Saint Ambrose of Woodbury retains the services of a child psychologist, who spends two days per week on campus. We also have a speech therapist who is brought in to work with children on an as needed basis.
How often do students at Saint Ambrose attend Mass?
Students in grades 3-8 attend Mass once a week. Kindergarten - grade 2 students attend prayer services. Mass is held in the church on Tuesdays at 2:30pm. Students participate in Mass in many ways including altar serving, reading, choir and instrument participation. All parents are welcome to participate!
Do students at Saint Ambrose of Woodbury perform service projects for our community?
Yes, our students at all grade levels participate in several service projects throughout the school year. Some projects include meal preparation at Feed My Starving Children, donation of dog food and supplies B.A.R.K., and more.
Is there a foreign language program at the school?
Spanish is a requirement for all students from Kindergarten through 8th grade. Our students see a Spanish specialist twice a week.
What sort of other specialists are available to students?
Beginning in the 5th grade, students may participate in band. Saint Ambrose believes in Music education and is working to rebuild the program that was paused due to COVID.
They will also see an art specialist once a week.