Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Charlotte Mason?

Charlotte Mason was a British educator who lived in the 1800s. As a Charlotte Mason school, her educational philosophy informs our curriculum, classroom design, and view of the child. You can read more about her life and philosophy here.

What are your class sizes?

SCCS is committed to offering small class size as part of our student experience. Our class sizes vary based on grade level. Please reach out to our admissions team for the latest class size information.

Do you offer childcare before and after school?

Our play-based Extended Day Program offers care for students beginning at 7:30 a.m. through 5:30 p.m. Before Care is offered for all students from 7:30 a.m. – 8:15 a.m. After Care is offered for Pre-K3 – second grade students from 1:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Late Care is offered for all students from 3:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Pricing and registration are based on frequency of use.

What do you do for recess and P.E.?

All students from PreK 3 to eighth grade spend time each day playing outside at recess. Classroom teachers also build indoor wiggle time and stretching into the day to honor children’s need for movement. Students begin having P.E. twice a week in second grade, continuing through eighth grade.

Do you have a uniform or dress code?

At SCCS, we do not wish to inhibit a child’s individuality or creativity or cause undue financial strain upon the clothing budget. We require that clothing and outerwear be appropriate for the season and weather. Shoes must be closed toe with a closed or strap heel. Clothing should be free from writing and pictures (designs like plaid, stripes, floral, and repeated patterns are permissible).

Where do students eat lunch?

Students eat snack and lunch in their classroom with their teacher. We ask that parents send a snack, lunch, and water bottle with their child to school each day. Parents are encouraged to send nutritious food items for their child, including a protein source. In order for parents to make food choices for their child, as well as to decrease instances of allergic reactions, the sharing of food is not permitted.

What time does school start and dismiss?

We begin welcoming our students at the front doors at 8:15 a.m. each day. The school day officially begins at 8:40 a.m. Preschool, kindergarten, and first grade students are dismissed at 1:00 p.m. Second grade is dismissed at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons, and have a longer school day on Tuesday and Thursday when they are dismissed at 3:15 p.m. Third through eighth grade are dismissed at 3:15 p.m. every day.

Does SCCS serve students with special needs?

Our application process is an open conversation with each prospective family. We determine on a case-by-case basis whether or not our program has the resources to meet the individual needs of each child. At this time we can only accommodate a limited number of students with mild disabilities.

What extracurricular activities are available?

 SCCS offers a variety of opportunities for students to be engaged with activities outside the classroom. Some of these include: soccer, a variety of intramural sports, choir, chess, and Shakespeare. Grade eligibility varies per activity and some additional fees apply.

Do you welcome children and families from other faiths or beliefs?

At SCCS, our teachers, administrators, and board members are Christians and the Christian faith is at the core of our community life, identity, and perspective. However, members of our staff come from different streams of Christianity, and as a missional school we welcome children and families from all backgrounds, whether from different Christian denominational affiliations, other faith confessions, or non-faith, secular backgrounds. We ask that during the enrollment process all parents familiarize themselves with our faith perspective and the role that it plays in student life. SCCS students attend a short weekly chapel service, study the Bible as part of the curriculum at every grade level, and begin taking theology once a week in seventh and eighth grade.

How do you do enrichment trips?

Taking learning outside the walls of the classroom through regular enrichment trips is an important part of the SCCS student and parent experience. Our aim is to consistently supplement our curriculum with experiential learning. Each class typically goes on six to eight off-campus excursions per year. One of the primary ways that our families support the learning experience at SCCS is by being driver-chaperones on class enrichment trips. We rely on SCCS staff and family volunteers to partner with us in transporting and supervising our students during these experiences in and around the St. Louis area.