Frequently Asked Questions

Why should Catholic families send their children to Sacred Heart School? 
Sacred Heart offers its children the fundamentals of their Catholic faith, providing a foundation for their preparation for the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist.  Our children pray every day, empowering them to use its healing and guiding power in their everyday lives.  They are taught to use Jesus’ life as an example for moral conscience and conduct, an example they will follow all their lives.  Children attend and prepare liturgy for weekly mass, as well as special holy days, and receive confession on a regular basis.  Their faith is incorporated into every aspect of the curriculum. We provide an outstanding quality education.

Is Sacred Heart School only for Catholic families?
We do open our doors to families of all faiths.

What does SHS offer in their academic program?
In addition to a curriculum that meets both PA Department of Education and Diocesan certifications, we offer Art, Music, Library, Computer, Spanish and Physical Education.

Are all teachers at SHS certified by the PA Department of Education?
All of our teachers, Pre-Kindergarten through Fifth, have BA/BS degrees in Education and are certified by the PA Dept. of Ed.

What if my child requires special services?
We offer Remedial Mathematics, and the Tuscarora Intermediate Unit which includes Speech and Hearing, Remedial Reading, and an Enrichment Program. If a student is identified as eligible for special education services, the school will develop a Service Plan for the student. In addition, our small student to teacher ratio and supportive, Christian atmosphere allows these children to have every opportunity for success.

What if I can’t afford a private education?
We offer tuition assistance for those who qualify, and a Tuition Dollars Program, which allows families to earn money toward their tuition account.  The Pastor on an individual basis assesses financial needs.

What are the tuition rates?

Affordable Tuition
2007 - 2008 Annual Tuition	Annual	Monthly (10 Months)
Parishioner-1st child	$2,052	$205.20
Parishioner-2nd child	$1,837	$183.70
Parishioner-3rd child	$1,496	$149.60
Non-Parishioner-1st child	$3,212	$321.20
Non-Parishioner-2nd child	$3,031	$303.10
Non-Parishioner-3rd child	$2,442	$244.20

Is busing available to and from Sacred Heart School?
The Mifflin County and Juniata County School Districts offer free transportation to and from SHS in both of these counties. 

What is the average class size at Sacred Heart School?
Class size is limited.  Currently, we average 12 students in grades K - 5. 

What extras are available for my child at Sacred Heart?

We offer:
D.A.R.E.; Field Trips; Holy Childhood Mission Program; Caring Kids Pen Pal Program with Hospice, Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Program, Children’s Choir, After School Program, Ski Club for Grades 4 & 5, and many other Community Service Projects throughout the year.

What kind of parental participation is expected or allowed?
Each family is asked to have at least 28 service hours each year (25 hours related to school activities and 3 hours related to our annual auction). This provides many opportunities for parents to be involved in every aspect of their child’s education.They can help serve lunch, help in the library, serve on committees, help with classroom activities, and so on.  This program allows us to keep service-related costs down while allowing parents to interact with their child their child’s friends and other parents, building the kind of family atmosphere that has become a trademark of Sacred Heart.

When is registration held?
Registration is ongoing. A registration fee of $25 must accompany your registration, which is non-refundable, but will be applied to your tuition. A fee of $50 will be needed for registration in April and May, and a $25 late fee will be assessed for registrations received after May 31. Just call the office at 248-5351 during school hours and all necessary materials will be mailed to you.

Does SHS provide any extra-curricular activities for sports?
There are no extra curricular sports in our school district at the elementary level. However, our community has excellent county youth sporting programs and most of our students are actively participating in those programs. We do offer Ski Club for Grades 4 & 5.

Do SHS students wear uniforms?
Yes, we do offer affordable uniforms. Also, parents donate uniforms that their child has outgrown. These are free to those who can use them.

We hope we have answered most of your questions. 
Please feel free to call any time.

We hope you will consider SHS in 2006-07!