Student Life FAQs

Read below for answers to general questions.

Preschool:  8 am – 11:25 am Tuesday and Thursday
PreKindergarten:  8 am – 3:00 pm on Monday and Wednesday, 8 am – 2:00 pm on Friday

Grades K – 8:  8 am – 3 pm Monday through Thursday
Grades K – 8:  8 am – 2 pm Friday

The average class size in 2023-2024 is 22 students in grades K-8. Some classes are larger, and some are smaller, but no class is larger than 27 students. Preschool has a 1:10 teacher-to-student ratio; Pre-K has a 1:12 teacher-to-student ratio.

Holy Family Catholic School policy requires that students wear uniforms.

School hours are from 8 am until 3 pm Monday through Thursday and 8 am until 2 pm on Friday. (Preschool and PreK release at 11:25 am). Students arriving before 7:45 am will be escorted to morning day care, and the family will be charged the appropriate fees. Students may enter the building at 7:45 am. A “warning” bell rings at 7:58 am. Morning Opening prayer begins after the final bell rings at 8 am. Students arriving after this final bell must check in at the office. The first dismissal bell rings at 2:55 pm (or 1:55 pm on Friday), and the final dismissal bell rings at 3:00 pm (or 2:00 pm on Friday). School staff will bring students not picked up by 3:15 pm (or 2:15 pm on Friday) to after-school care, and HFCS will charge the family accordingly.

We love parents! HFCS believes that the parent is the primary educator of their child(ren), and parents are not only welcomed at HFCS but are also expected and required to complete 30 hours of volunteer time. All parents (and volunteers) must comply with the Diocese of Boise Safe Environment policies and complete an annual course and background check every five years to be eligible to volunteer at the school in any capacity.

HFCS affirms the Christian dignity of every person and the right of each person to be treated with respect and is committed to providing a learning environment free from harassment. Harassment of or by any student is prohibited. This is a new and growing concern in all schools, including private and religious, across the country.

We will treat allegations of harassment seriously and will review and investigate such allegations in a prompt, confidential, and thorough manner. Substantiated allegations may result in disciplinary actions, up to and including dismissal.

Harassment is unacceptable conduct that is deliberate, severe, and repeated. Harassment occurs when an individual is subjected to treatment or to a school environment that is hostile, offensive, or intimidating due to, but not limited to, an individual’s race, color, national origin, physical or mental ability, or gender. Harassment can occur anytime during school, during school-related activities, and outside the school. It includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:

● Verbal Harassment: Derogatory, demeaning, or inflammatory words, whether oral or written;
● Physical Harassment: Unwanted physical touching, contact, assault, deliberate impeding or blocking movements, bullying, or intimidating interference with normal work or movement;
● Visual Harassment: Derogatory, demeaning, or inflammatory posters, cartoons, written words, drawings, pictures, web pages, or gestures;
● Sexual Harassment: Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Such behavior includes sexual harassment but is not limited to, includes: sexually demeaning comments, sexual statements, or jokes; suggestive or obscene letters, phone calls, and e-mail; deliberate, unlawful physical touching; leering, gesture, or display of sexually suggestive objects or pictures.

Hot lunches are available five days a week. Milk is included in the hot lunch program. A separate milk-only purchase is available. Menu substitutions may be necessary. Children bringing their lunch should do so in a suitable lunch container consisting of items easily opened by the child and do not need to be heated or cooked in a microwave oven. If your child does not have lunch on a scheduled hot lunch day, HFCS will provide lunch and will bill the family. The hot lunch program is nut free. If your child has a special nutritional need, please get in touch with our office to see what accommodations are possible.

At Holy Family Catholic School, the safety of our students and staff is a priority. We work closely with law enforcement officers to ensure our safety plan is current and effective. Our building is locked during school hours and can only be accessed via video security at our front door. All adults working with children—whether teachers, volunteers, parents, or grandparents—have taken the Diocese of Boise’s Safe Environment program and have passed background checks.

Read below for answers to academics.

Holy Family Catholic School is proud to be accredited by the Western Catholic Education Association (WCEA). All of our teachers are certified and highly qualified to teach.

Parents receive weekly emails in Preschool through 5th grade highlighting important events, curriculum, and expectations for the week. Frequent communication with teachers is encouraged through email, phone calls, or face-to-face visits. In grades 4-8, parents can check student’s academic progress online through our Parent Portal. Parents will find grades, missing work, a school calendar there, and much more!

Our teachers work hard to differentiate content for students so that each individual is challenged appropriately at their level. In middle school, we offer leveled mathematics courses so students can progress more quickly. Placement is determined through a rubric that includes MAP scores, a placement exam, and student grades.

HFCS admits qualified students of any race, color, gender, ethnicity, national origin, or disability (if reasonable accommodations can be assumed by the school and parents in partnership).

Children performing near or below grade level are referred to our Title 1 program based on the Istation assessment (new IRI), MAP testing, classroom performance, and Teacher referrals. This placement is reviewed regularly, and children come in and out of the program based on their needs. Progress monitoring and frequent communication with parents are key elements in the Title I program.

HFCS provides a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) for our students. This tiered approach provides quality instruction to meet the individual needs of all students. This model combines a standard system of assessment with high-quality instruction. Varying levels of interventions and services are designed for struggling students. These levels are called tiers of instruction. The tiers are on a continuum that is fluid, as the student’s level of need dictates the level of support. This movement occurs through data collection and thoughtful analysis facilitated by the HFCS team, including the classroom teacher. HFCS teachers also create learning environments and lessons that address a variety of learning styles and interests. The primary goal is to provide resources for students who require it and differentiation for all learners.  

In grades Kindergarten through 6, there are support reading groups for students that meet specified needs. Students with Tier 2 and 3 supports get pulled out to receive resource support, while students in Tier 1 stay in their homeroom class for core instruction.  

Grades 6 through 8 have two leveled math groups and a third instructional resource group for three of the five school days. These groups are differentiated by readiness. As Tier 2 and 3 students receive resource instruction, Tier 1 students receive core math or accelerated instruction.  

HFCS admits qualified students of any race, color, gender, ethnicity, national origin, or disability (if reasonable accommodations can be assumed by the school and parents in partnership).

School MAP Testing:

Math

• National average–50%
• HFCS average–73%

Reading

• National average–50%
• HFCS average–67%

Language Usage

• National average–50%
• HFCS average–79%

Science

• National average–50%
• HFCS average–81%

Holy Family Catholic School is proud to be accredited by the Western Catholic Education Association (WCEA). All of our teachers are certified and highly qualified to teach.