About Saint Ambrose Catholic School
Saint Ambrose School is an integral facet of Saint Ambrose Parish, whose life flows to and from the Sunday Eucharistic Worship.
This worship proclaims our beliefs and provides the energy for our mission to know, love and serve Christ and to transmit the Person and Message of Jesus.
The staff at Saint Ambrose School is dedicated and committed to assist and cooperate with you in accomplishing the tremendous task of educating your child while providing parents with the means to assist them in their role as primary faith educators of their children. The Catholic environment at Saint Ambrose School is focused on educating the whole child. We aim to foster each student’s moral purpose; their social, emotional, spiritual, intellectual and physical growth; their artistic and cultural sense; their humility and sense of service to others; and their ability to respect others and to be personally accountable. Since we are a Catholic school, we model and teach values that are based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We do more than merely teach academics; we teach the Catholic way of life.
Accreditation
Saint Ambrose School received full accreditation from the Ohio Catholic Schools Accreditation Association (OCSAA) in May 2021. Saint Ambrose School meets or exceeds all OCSAA Standards and all State of Ohio Department of Education Standards. In addition, all educators at Saint Ambrose School possess and maintain the appropriate licensure required by the Ohio Department of Education for their teaching assignments, and meet all Catechetical Certification requirements required for teaching religion as set forth by the Diocese of Cleveland and the OCSAA.
We are also a member of the National Catholic Education Association.
Religious Education
The primary purpose of Saint Ambrose School is to provide instruction in our Catholic faith with practical application of lived Catholic social principles. Since the primary faith educator of children is the child’s parent, Saint Ambrose School acts as an extension of the Catholic home in supporting the instruction of Catholic values.
Religious Instruction
In addition to daily Morning Prayer, students receive religion instruction for a daily minimum of 30 minutes in grades K through 4 and a daily minimum of 40 minutes in grades 5 – 8. However, Catholic ideas and Gospel values permeate instruction throughout the school day and are not limited to the students’ religion class. Religion instruction, including instruction in human sexuality, follows the Diocese of Cleveland Religion Curriculum.
Liturgical Celebrations
At Saint Ambrose School, the school week begins with weekend Mass. Although Saint Ambrose School families are expected to attend Mass weekly and receive the sacraments regularly, we provide additional liturgical and sacramental worship opportunities for the school community. Liturgical, sacramental, and prayer opportunities include All School Masses, Communal Penance Services, Eucharistic Devotions, All School Rosary, Stations of the Cross, May Crowning, and seasonal prayer services. Parents and families are welcome to join us in these celebrations.
Practice of Student Service
Saint Ambrose School provides students of all grade levels with Catholic service opportunities. Students are given an opportunity to live the message of Catholic social justice and compassion through various service programs, such as Student Ambassador programs, Student Council, and other all-school service opportunities in conjunction and in addition to the parish.
Sacramental Preparation
Our second-grade religion program focuses on preparing the students for the reception of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. Sacrament preparation is orchestrated by the Saint Ambrose Parish Religious Education Staff with a united preparation of both day school and PSR parents and students.
Our parish’s sacrament preparation program focuses on assisting parents in preparing their children in the reception of the sacraments. Attendance at evening parent meetings and Saturday workshops are required. Specific details regarding second-grade sacrament
preparation will be sent home to parents of second-grade students in the early fall.
At Saint Ambrose Parish, high school students (grades 9 – 12) may prepare for and receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Information regarding Confirmation Sacrament Preparation will be sent home to eighth-grade students during the spring of their eighth-grade year.
If you have questions regarding the Confirmation program or FIAT (Faith in Action Team) Youth Group, please contact Caitlin O’Neil in the Religious Education Office (330-460-7326).
Academic Curriculum and Programs
Saint Ambrose School follows the Curriculum of the Diocese of Cleveland that meets National, State of Ohio and OCSAA Standards. Textbooks and other learning resources are selected in order to meet the needs of our students and curriculum requirements.
Saint Ambrose School is the first STEAM designated school in the state of Ohio, and one of 18 schools to receive a P21 Designation as a 21st Century School for Excellence.
We believe in hands-on learning, think outside the box and REACH for our goals! We are training up leaders for tomorrow in faith, academics, service, and character.
We are proud to be a 5 STAR (5/5) Step Up To Quality Preschool through the Ohio Department of Education.
Saint Ambrose School offers many other educational and extra-curricular programs to our students. Please visit the links from our home page to learn more about some of these programs, clubs and ministries that we can offer to your child(ren).
