Enrollment Continuing to Grow

It is an exciting time to be a part of the Lafayette Catholic School System! Since the beginning of this school year 20 new students transferred to the LCSS.  25 students in grades 1 – 12 have thus far made application to transfer to the LCSS for 2014-15.  And just as many, if not more, are projected to apply between now and August 12.  And with Kindergarten classes at St. Mary and St. Lawrence on track, 2014-15 is looking to be another successful year of continued growth.

With the 2014-15 registration for current students around the corner, available space is anticipated to be tight in some grades. If you know of someone giving thought to choosing a Catholic education for their children, encourage them to call the Admissions Office now. Waiting until the summer could be too late for some grades. 2014-15 looks to be even better than 2013-14, and we would like as many families as possible to experience the great education the LCSS is ready to provide!

There are many exciting initiatives taking place in our school system right now. We have made tremendous progress on our strategic plan which was recently put in place.   We are seeing technology upgrades which will better prepare our students for life after the Catholic schools, such as the one-to-one initiative to be implemented next year at Central Catholic.  Our elementary schools continue to shine with outstanding test scores, increased technology offerings, and exceptional service and outreach opportunities for our students. We have made physical upgrades to Central Catholic with the new entrance area and a chapel professing the reason for our school to everyone driving by.  In addition, we are diligently working on our Central Catholic Athletic Campaign which includes updates to our track & field, soccer fields and much more.

The word is getting around that the LCSS learning environment is truly preparing its students for the next phase of their academic career whether it be on to junior high or off to college in the fall. And more importantly, more and more students are developing a deeper relationship with Christ causing them to give a closer look at living a life of service to others than to self.

March 2014 Admissions Update

April 15 is right around the corner for families considering a Catholic education

for their children next year. Why is April 15 important, besides for filing those 

dreaded tax returns? Students completing an application prior to April 15 receive Priority Placement. This is especially good for families who are registered at a Catholic parish, as they have priority for any open spaces over other applicants if they submit their application prior to April 15. 

You may wonder why this is important. We always have space for new students, right? At the beginning of this current school year, waiting lists had to be started for grade 7 at CC and for 1st grade at St. Mary. Fortunately St. Lawrence 1st grade had openings as there have been several new 1st grade students during this school year! So as you “tell your story” about the Lafayette Catholic Schools to your friends and family, encourage them to make application prior to April 15. After April 15, all applications will be considered on a first come, first serve basis. Application packets are available for all grades at www.lcss.org. 

Priority Placement means: 

When space is available after current LCSS students register in late April, the 

following considerations will be taken into account for priority placement for 

applications received by April 15: 

1. Siblings of current LCSS students and alumni, and children of LCSS 

employees.

2. Children of registered families from the six Tippecanoe County parishes.

3. Children of registered families in parishes within the Diocese of Lafayette.

4. Children of registered families in parishes outside the Diocese of Lafayette.

5. All other students are welcome.

Student Aid Notes

Current LCSS families must file their Student Aid applications with Smart Tuition Aid by March 23, 2014, 11:59 PM. Newly applying families for 2014-15 have no Student Aid application deadline, but are encouraged to apply as early as possible. Earlier application ensures earlier award notification. Notification of all Student Aid awards will begin in late April. www.smarttuitionaid.com

What is YOUR story?

The majority of families who have transferred their children to the Lafayette Catholic Schools have done so because they have come into contact with someone who has conveyed their positive experience with the LCSS to them or a friend.  Word of mouth is at the root of so many of our purchase decisions, especially major purchases.  Think about the last time you made the purchase of a product or especially a service. Who shared their experience with you about that product or service? Were you looking for a dentist, a carpet cleaner, a car, a plumber? The same goes for our schools.  Before putting out a great deal of money in tuition, families are in search of the experience of others. 

So what’s YOUR story?  You are at a restaurant and you run into a neighbor, who introduces you to her friend.  It comes up in conversation, “Your children go to the Catholic schools, right?  What do you like about the schools?” Do you know what you would say? Or would you spurt out a few lines, and then after you walk away wishing you would have said something else. The latter was me in our pediatrician’s office 20 years ago. I love the Catholic schools. The impact it has had on my children and family is enormous, but for the life of me I certainly couldn't remember any of it at the time. If this is you, may I suggest the following simple activity. 

Most parents choose a Catholic education for one of the following reasons: faith formation, challenging academics, caring community and/or learning environment. If I had to base this on the inquiries I receive on a day to day basis, I would say the latter is the most prevalent reason – learning environment.  Choose any one of these reasons; for example let’s say caring community.  Now what is YOUR PERSONAL story when it comes to the Lafayette Catholic Schools being a caring community?  Was there a teacher who went out of their way to do something extra for your child? Was there a fellow parent who came to your aid during a trying time? Or was your child inspired by a lesson at school and expressed compassion to another person? Take a few minutes to think about one or two stories you would want to share.  

The stories about the positive experiences people have had in the Lafayette Catholic Schools are countless.  But what is yours? And will you be ready to share it the next time someone asks? Choose your story now! 

Admissions and Student Aid Notes

•       The LCSS is accepting new student K-12 applications for 2014-15. Priority placement is January 1 through April 15, 2014.
•       The 2014-15 Tuition Schedule and Student Aid instructions will be available the week of February 24.  Student Aid applications for current LCSS families are due no later than midnight on March 23, 2014.
•      Registration of current LCSS students for 2014-15 will be in late April after 2014-15 Student Aid has been   awarded. More details to come.   

Admissions Update for Dec. ED Spotlight

January 1 is an important date for Admissions.  It is the first day new student applications for 2014-15 may be received for grades 1 – 12.  And with enrollment growing, open spaces are filled in a Priority Placement Order for applications received between January 1 and April 15.  After April 15^th, it’s first come, first served.

What is the Priority Placement Order for grade 1 – 12 applicants to the LCSS?

1. Siblings of current LCSS students and CC alumni, and children of LCSS employees.

2. Children of registered families from the six Tippecanoe County parishes.

3. Children of registered families in parishes within the Diocese of Lafayette.

4. Children of registered families in parishes outside the Diocese of Lafayette.

5. Lafayette Christian School and St. James School students (CC only).

6. All other students are welcome.

Last summer was the first time in a long while where a waiting list was started for an LCSS grade, specifically grade 7 at Central Catholic.  With the LCSS retention being at 90.78% (“The mark of a great school is one with a retention rate of at least 90%” -Rick Newberry, Enrollment Catalyst), applicants wanting to ensure they get a space in next year’s classes are encouraged to submit their applications as early as possible.

If you know a family considering the Lafayette Catholic Schools for their children, refer them to Angie Schrader, LCSS Admissions Director, for more information, 765.474.7500 or schrader@lcss.org.   Families interested in K - 6 might also be interested in the attending the Winter Open House on Sunday, January 26, Noon - 2:30 pm at St. Lawrence and St. Mary Cathedral Schools.  

For families seeking Kindergarten enrollment for 2014-15, applications will be accepted beginning at Kindergarten Registration Day, Friday, February 7, 2014, 8 am – 1 pm at St. Lawrence and Mary Cathedral Schools. Current LCSS families and St. Mary and St. Lawrence preschool families will be able to pre-register their kindergarten children in late January.