Saint Francis International School, Silver Spring

We believe that Catholic schools must offer experiences within an educational environment that enable students to proclaim and celebrate the Good News of Jesus Christ, to build a community of faith, and to reach out in a spirit of service to others with a feeling of fellowship and openness for the sake of peace and justice. We believe that Saint Francis International School prepares its students to understand the message of Jesus Christ, to follow moral standards of conduct, and to achieve integrity of character. Parents and teachers are partners in the challenge of communicating the Word of God to the students and for modeling the primacy of worship, membership in the faith community, and service to all. We believe that Catholic schools must address the spiritual, intellectual, social, and physical needs of students. We believe that Saint Francis International School fosters each child’s understanding of basic Christian values associated with honesty, social responsibility, and tolerance. The academic program acknowledges the intellectual development of students as they learn fundamental skills and develop high-level comprehension and then apply these skills through problem solving activities that inspire self-expression and personal responsibility. Their social development is carefully monitored within an environment which requires a strong authoritative presence, yet one which also affirms the uniqueness of each child. Saint Francis International School also strives to maintain a physical environment which is safe and serves to address various learning styles through such activities as art, music, and physical education. We believe that Catholic schools must develop and maintain positive relationships among students, teachers, and parents. The position of teacher in a catholic school demands constant efforts to interact positively with students, parents, and colleagues. Recognizing that parents are the primary educators of the child, teachers seek parental cooperation and support. Students are expected to respect the authority of the school and be accountable for their actions, yet must also be given respect through methods of positive discipline and shared responsibility for school-wide success. Currently, our school uses the St. Camillus Campus exclusively for academics. The St. Mark Gym is used as the home of our athletics programs. As we move towards the future, the St. Camillus Campus is designated to house the early childhood and primary school programs and the St. Mark Campus is designated to house the middle school program.. Our Preschool Program for Children ages 2-4 We offer a full-day (8:00 am -3:30 pm) preschool/prekindergarten program for children ages 2-4. Our elementary and middle school programs carry on the five decade long legacy of St. Mark and St. Camillus Schools. We believe each child is unique and we strive to provide an environment for learning that will meet each child's individual talents and abilities. We also strive to ensure that our education goes beyond the academic and also helps each child to have social, emotional, and physical well being. We work with parents to form young people with the character of a moral person and good citizen. Our school is guided by the policies of the Catholic Schools Office of the Archdiocese of Washington and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools' AdvancED program. Our school is a member of National Catholic Educational Association, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, the National Middle School Association, and other organizations that help us to constantly improve what we offer. Our extended school program is available to assist families in providing children with child care and academic support before and after school. Our extended care program provides child care before school from 6:45 am to 7:45 am and after school from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm. After care includes snack, homework time, and activities outdoors and indoors. Our extended school services are available for an additional cost beyond regular tuition. Several different packages of extended care are available to meet the varying needs of families.