St. Philip’s Episcopal School
A Nurturing School. St. Philip’s was founded in 1953 through the vision and leadership of Marian Krutulis to provide early childhood education as a preschool and Kindergarten. As the preschool program developed and matured, School parents dreamed of adding a full elementary division. In 1979, with the support of the Church Vestry and the guidance of the Principal, Mary Ellen Payne, the School expanded by adding one grade per year through Sixth Grade. The first graduation was celebrated in the spring of 1984. St. Philip’s Episcopal School is an inclusive community of encouragement, exploration, and enrichment, where children develop character, integrity, compassion, and respect as they strive to be the best they can be. Through exploration, an understanding of one’s individuality and place in today’s world are discovered and celebrated. A modern and integrated curriculum that reaches across disciplines and age levels provides our students enrichment that fosters a lifelong enthusiasm for learning. We provide a nurturing and supportive environment, surrounding each student with the encouragement vital to becoming an engaged citizen in a challenging world. Our school is a starting point that guides, teaches, and creates inspired individuals who may grow in grace and lead productive and meaningful lives.
ADMISSIONS The school’s admission policies flow from the broad context of the values, traditions, and tenets of the Episcopal Church. Thus, in addition to academic, developmental, and personal qualifications, the Admissions Committee may consider a number of other factors. Among them are the following: • As an Episcopal parish school, we take into consideration whether an applicant’s family is an established and active member of St. Philip’s Parish. • As a school that understands the value of family participation, we acknowledge
A Faithful Heart.
the importance of admitting those who have brothers and sisters already enrolled in the school. • In each class, the school will enroll as equal a number of boys and girls as is possible, and the maintenance of this balance will be considered in the admission of new students. • Consistent with the principle of inclusiveness established by the Episcopal Church, the school incorporates into its constituency children and their families of diverse racial, cultural, creed, and economic groups.
MISSION STATEMENT St. Philip’s Episcopal School, the largest and most expansive outreach of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, provides an excellent educational experience, guided by outstanding professionals, in a safe, caring community. Our mission is to educate each child intellectually, physically and spiritually in an atmosphere of acceptance and inquiry.
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS St. Philip’s Episcopal School is the educational outreach arm of St. Philip’s Church, and the ministries of School and Parish are integrally united in spirit and purpose. As a faith-based school, St. Philip’s provides a strong academic program grounded in the broad and inclusive values, traditions, and tenets of the Episcopal Church. It is in this context that the appreciation of the dignity and worth of every member of the community is nurtured. • St. Philip’s consistently seeks to develop and to challenge its students in a loving and supportive environment. • The School provides a rigorous, traditional academic
RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL LIFE Since its beginning in 1953, St. Philip’s has been committed to the moral and spiritual development of its students and to the education of the whole person. There are several ways in which the values and ideals of the Episcopal Church are fostered including regular participation in weekly chapel services, Sacred Studies, and community service and outreach programs. Imbedded in the culture of the School are clearly defined
program, and produces young scholars who excel in reading, mathematics, and foreign languages. • Teachers are dedicated to the formation of the whole child. • St. Philip’s program stresses intellectual, aesthetic, and physical development; social involvement and accountability; and moral and spiritual understanding in a God-centered community. • Students develop confidence and poise as young
standards of loving and responsible behavior that are high-
public speakers, thespians, artists and musicians through
lighted in themes explored in Chapel and the School’s
the School’s wide variety of co-curricular opportunities.
Character Education program, and in the ways that adults and children respect and treat one another.
STUDENT LIFE In addition to the rigorous academics that the students engage in daily, they have a wide variety of co-curricular activities in which to participate. Those interested in leadership opportunities and outreach projects are particularly attracted to Student Council. Each year Fourth Grade students vie for executive positions on the Council. The officers serve for one year, with a particular focus on planning fundraising events to support their outreach programs. Fifth Grade students participate in the Honors Choir and Chorister Program. They also serve as acolytes and chapel leaders during Wednesday Eucharist services. Fifth Grade students lead Monday morning flag ceremony and work as safety patrol during arrival each morning. There are also girls’ and boys’ scouting troops that meet on campus after school.
BEFORE CARE, AFTERCARE, ENRICHMENT, AND SUMMER CAMP A full range of enrichment classes and activities are offered each trimester. Activities include Ballet, Chess Club, Soccer, Piano, Irish Dance, Gymnastics, Yoga, Basic Photography, Basketball, Karate, Spanish, Creative Art Work, Running Club and Tennis. Before and Aftercare Programs are also offered. Lunch Bunch is an after school enrichment program offered for Preschool children. An early morning Math Lab is free and open to all Fourth and Fifth Grade students, and a free math enrichment program is offered two days each week for students in Second and Third Grades. A daily Language Lab is also available before school. St. Philip’s Episcopal School Summer Camp provides children with a memorable experience as they embark on new adventures.
FACULTY St. Philip’s is blessed with an extraordinary and dedicated faculty and staff who in fundamental ways are the backbone of the School. A core of distinguished long-serving teachers, 25% of whom hold advanced degrees, has ensured the continuity and strength of a curriculum that balances rigorous and traditional academic preparation with a rich mixture of co-curricular offerings. The faculty is passionate about teaching and strives to inspire students to stretch their minds and imaginations, in the context of an Episcopal ethos that also emphasizes moral and spiritual development.
A Life of Greatness. ST. PHILIP’S AT A GLANCE • Founded in 1953
• Science
• Class Size Limited to 22 Students
• After-School Team Sports
• Two Teachers per Grade
• Art
• Faculty, Staff, and Administration: 40
• Music
• Faculty with Advanced Degrees: 25%
• Violin Program for Sr.K–5th Grade
• Classroom Student-Teacher Ratio: 11 to 1
• Chorister Program for 3rd–5th Grade
• Enrollment: Nursery (age three) – 5th Grade
• Field Trips: St. Augustine, Florida (4th Grade);
• Foreign Languages: French and Spanish
Washington D.C. and Williamsburg, VA (5th Grade)
• Technology/Laptop Program
SCHOOLS AFTER ST. PHILIP’S Saint Philip’s graduates are well prepared to succeed in academically rigorous middle school programs. Our alumni are accepted to their first-choice schools including Belen Jesuit Preparatory, Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart, Gulliver Academy, Palmer Trinity, and Ransom Everglades.
ACCREDITATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS St. Philip’s Episcopal School is accredited by the Florida Council of Independent Schools and the Florida Kindergarten Council. Memberships are held in the National Association of Episcopal Schools, the National Association of Independent Schools, the Florida Council of Independent Schools, the Florida Kindergarten Council, the Dade Association of Academic Nonpublic Schools, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, the National Council of Teachers of English, the National Council of Teachers of Science, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the Geographic Alliance, the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, and the Diocese of Southeast Florida.
St. Philip’s Episcopal School
1121 Andalusia Avenue | Coral Gables, FL 33134 Phone 305.444.6366