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St. Isidore School is a place for kids to thrive
www.DanvilleLivingCA.com @DanvilleLivingCA #DanvilleLivingCA
By Kara Navolio
What began in 1962 as a small private school in Danville has grown into the largest Catholic elementary school in the East Bay. Since its beginning, St. Isidore School has prided itself on academic excellence. The students are inspired to achieve their highest academic, emotional and spiritual potential.
The school features two classes per grade level from TK (Transitional Kindergarten) to 8th grade and continues to add interesting enrichment and extracurricular programs like dance, art, book club, robotics and Makerspace, a STEM-integrated classroom with opportunities for hands-on learning.
At St. Isidore School, the parent and school communities work collaboratively to ensure success for all students. Current Principal, Maria Ward, has been part of the St. Isidore community since 2002, first as a teacher for eight years, then as Vice Principal and Principal. She is also a parent of current and former students, which allows her a unique perspective as an administrator. Her oldest child, Elizabeth, graduated from St. Isidore in 2018 and now attends Carondelet. Her sons, Joe David and Charlie, are in 7th and 5th grades, respectively.
Ms. Ward says, “I love building relationships with the families. I think as educators we are most proud when students grow and thrive. It is always exciting to see them embrace a new concept and lesson. Most students start with us in Kindergarten, and the transformation from early education to middle school is amazing. It’s a gift having them with us so long. It is always wonderful to hear where they go after high school. We feel blessed that many alumni come back to visit.”
Most of the staff at the school have been there for a long time, making it like a second home. “We operate more like family than co-workers,” adds Ward.
St. Isidore invites the community to come for a visit! More information can be found on their website, www.stisidore.org.
