July 17, 2013 by Shelby Joe

St. Theresa Catholic School

Bishop C. E. Byrne of the Galveston-Houston Catholic Diocese blessed St. Theresa Catholic Church and School on August 10, 1947. In February 1948, after dedication, students in grades one through eight began taking classes under The Sisters of the Incarnate Word. Today, the school consists of 200 students in Pre-K through 8^th grade, and 21 staff members. St. Theresa’s educational philosophy is based on “the development and formation of the total person.”

St. Theresa Catholic School

6623 Rodrigo, Houston, TX 77007 Ms. Melissa Steward, Principal

713-864-4536 Ms. Cindy Clements, Admissions Assistant

www.StTheresa.cc/school/

Religious Affiliation

St. Theresa Catholic School is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. St. Theresa provides an environment in which “students are encouraged to discover their full potential and to generously put their gifts at the service of God and others.” Students receive daily religion instruction and, beginning in third grade, attend weekly Mass.

Location and Facilities

St. Theresa is located on the northeast corner of Memorial Park between Memorial Drive and I-10, built in 1947. The facilities include seventeen classrooms, a library, gym, cafeteria, and playground. The school is surrounded by Memorial Park playing fields, which the school uses for athletics, and an affluent neighborhood of large homes.

Admissions

The application process at St. Theresa includes: 1) online application to print 2) $150 application fee 3) birth certificate 4) copy of baptismal certificate (if applicable) 5) copy of social security card or passport 6) most recent report card and test scores 7) teacher recommendation form 8) test results from any educational or psychological testing 9) immunization records 10) authorization to release records 11) new student procedure form 12) tuition agreement.

Students also participate in a shadow day and take a grade-level entrance exam. Parents and students both complete interviews at the school.

Academic Tracks and Curriculum

St. Theresa’s curriculum is “based on Christian values and authentic Catholic doctrine.” Pre-K through 5^th grade students receive daily instruction in religion, reading, English, spelling, mathematics, social studies and science. Special-area classes include Spanish, computer, physical education, music, band, and speech. Middle school students receive daily instruction in religion, literature, English, mathematics, history and science. Auxiliary classes include Spanish, computer, PE, creative writing, music and art. Electives include band, choir, speech, Spanish forensics, robotics and art.

Special Needs

No information provided.

Foreign Languages

Spanish is offered as a special-area class to students in Pre-K through 5^th grade. Middle school students take Spanish as an auxiliary class.

Arts

Students can take classes in art, band, music, and choir. St. Theresa’s art department “incorporates the liturgical seasons, recycling, current events, and community” as inspirations for the students’ art projects. The students have showcased their work at Barnes and Noble, Whole Foods, and area restaurants.

Students may also practice and compete in the following: acting, impromptu speaking, prose and poetry interpretation, Spanish poetry interpretation, humorous and extemporaneous speaking, original oratory, dramatic interpretation, and Scripture interpretation.

Technology

Students attend a weekly computer class from Kindergarten to fifth grade, in which they learn keyboarding and introductions to Microsoft Office programs. Students attend computer class twice a week from sixth to eighth grade, in which they work with Microsoft Office programs, Movie Maker, and learn computer programming through Visual Basics, Python, and Alice. Middle school students may also take filmmaking and photo editing classes.

St. Theresa’s computer lab is equipped with twenty-two desktop computers. Students are allowed to use laptops and smart phones in the classroom when the teacher permits it. All students learn an Internet Safety curriculum at the beginning of the school year.

Extracurricular Activities

Middle school students participate in academic competitions, such as the St. Pius X High School Academic Rally, Strake Jesuit High School Prep Bowl, St. Thomas High School Speech Tournament, and St. Agnes Math Competition. Seventh and Eighth graders compete in the “Do The Write Thing Challenge,” and seventh graders may qualify to participate in the Duke TIP Program. Eighth graders may participate in the school’s Mock Trial. Fourth through eighth graders may participate in training for liturgical ministry. Students in grades one through eight can join Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.

In the fall, fifth graders attend a School of Environmental Education camp in Texas. In the spring, eighth graders travel to Washington D.C. Special days at St. Theresa include: Grandparents and Special Friends Day, Blessing of the Animals, Fall Festival, Field Day, and Pep Rallies.

Athletics

For fifth through eighth graders, the school fields teams across nine sports: volleyball, soccer, basketball, track & field, tennis, golf, softball, baseball, and cheerleading. Third and fourth graders may also participate in track & field. St. Theresa is a member of the Greater Houston Christian Athletic Association. The school also offers the St. Theresa Memorial Park Youth Sports League for Pre-K to fifth graders from the church, school, or community. This league offers soccer, basketball, baseball, and softball and is a member of the West Houston Christian Sports Association.

Parent Involvement

Parents may volunteer through the Booster Club or the Home & School Association. The Booster club supports athletics through fundraising, concessions, and assistance with Field Day, pep rallies, and the annual Sports Banquet. The St. Theresa Home & School Association exists to facilitate communication between the school, teachers, and parents to “promote the spiritual, emotional, and intellectual growth” of the students. St. Theresa also holds an annual Mardi Gras Dinner, Auction, and Dance. For parents to stay abreast with student and teachers, the school offers an online portal called RenWeb.

St. Theresa Catholic School Fast Facts

Overview
School Type	Religious, Coeducational
Religious Affiliation	Catholic
Uniforms	Yes
Date Founded	1947
Endowment	N/A
Grades Served	PreK – 8
Enrollment	162
Grade 8	18
Grade 7	21
Grade 6	23
Grade 5	14
Grade 4	13
Grade 3	21
Grade 2	18
Grade 1	18
KG	16
Student to Teacher Ratio	11:1
Faculty with Advanced Degrees (#/%)	3/15%
Minorities in Student Body	58%

Curriculum
Academic Tracks Offered	N/A
Advanced Placement Courses Offered	N/A
Languages Offered	Spanish
Calendar (Semester / Trimester / Other)	Semester
Interscholastic Sports Programs	9

Admissions (Private Schools)
Prime Entry Points	K, 6
Tuition Grades PK3-PK4	$7,980
Tuition Grades K-8	$7,620
New Student Application Fee	$150
Students on Financial Aid	N/A