Student Life FAQs

Questions?

Finding a school can be daunting, and we know you have many questions. To help, we’ve created a list of frequently asked questions so you can peruse the answers at your leisure. If you still don’t find what you’re looking for or want clarification, feel free to contact us.

We would love to have you visit our school! Tours are a great way to meet some staff, experience the atmosphere, and see what we offer in action and in person. Above all, we hope you feel welcomed by the loving atmosphere and can see our mission in everything we do. We desire to reflect the love of Jesus in all aspects of our school and hope that you will feel the love and peace of Jesus Christ in our hallways and our classrooms–and you will see the unique and engaging educational opportunities that Holy Family Catholic School offers its students.

Please click the button below, fill out the form, and we will contact you to schedule a convenient time.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

Read below for answers to general questions.

School Hours

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

Average Class Size

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.

Before & After School Care

We know that families have many responsibilities – including work – that fall outside the confines of a regular school day. To that end, we provide care for students from 7:45 am and 3-5:30 pm. Holy Family offers staff supervision from 7:45 am to 3:15 pm to alleviate drop-off and pick-up line congestion. Students arriving before 7:45 am or still on campus after 3:15 pm will be taken to our childcare program. Parents will be billed in line with current year childcare rates. Parents must sign children out of daycare. Parents requesting childcare must complete an application available in the school office.

School staff brings students not picked up by 3:15 pm to after-school care, and HFCS will charge the family accordingly.

Extended Daycare Hours

Morning Care:  7 a.m.—7:45 am  (208) 765-4327 Ext. 200
Extended Care: 11:30 am— 3 pm  (208) 765-4327 Ext. 219
After School Care:  3 pm— 5:30 pm (208) 765-4327 Ext. 230

Uniforms

Holy Family Catholic School policy requires that students wear uniforms.

Class Times

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.

Parental Involvement

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.

Harassment

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

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.

Safety Measures

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.

Academics

Read below for answers to academics.

Accreditation

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.

Student Progress

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!

Accelerated Courses

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.

Additional Student Support

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.  

IEP/504 Plan

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).

Testing Scores

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%

Teachers Certification

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.

Spirituality

Read below for answers to spirituality.

Local Parish Affiliation

Holy Family Catholic School is the only Catholic school in North Idaho. It is unique because we are the only elementary/middle school tri-parish school in the Diocese of Boise. We are affiliated with three parishes in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Boise:  St. George’s in Post Falls, St. Thomas the Apostle in Coeur d’Alene, and Pope St. Pius X in Coeur d’Alene.

HFCS is proud to be considered an Idaho “model” Catholic school: we are the first to be completely self-supporting and strive to be forward-funded annually. We take pride in our founding mission and vision statements, philosophy of education, and school-wide “Parental Covenant.”

Mass

HFCS has Mass weekly on Wednesdays at 10:00 am. Mass is celebrated by priests from our affiliated parishes:  St. George’s parish, St. Thomas the Apostle, and Pope St. Pius X. We welcome you to attend Mass with us!

Bible Study

All of our students are required to participate in Religion classes; every year, focusing on an ever-deepening understanding of and relationship with God. Part of that is hearing and learning about God’s Word in the Scriptures. We have Morning Opening prayer, which usually incorporates a daily reading, in addition to Religion classes and weekly Mass. In all of these places, students have the opportunity to learn and grow in their faith.

HFCS is now offering BLAZE, a Walking with Purpose ministry that helps reach the hearts of girls with the love of Christ and the truths of our Catholic faith.

Religion

HFCS welcomes all families, regardless of faith denomination, who are seeking a high quality, faith-based, academically excellent educational option. During Mass, we welcome non-Catholic students and guests to come up to the minister at Communion and receive a blessing. All students are required to attend Religion class daily and Mass weekly at the school.

Daily Prayer

Holy Family Catholic School is primarily a parochial school; we infuse Religion and spirituality throughout our day–in the classroom and curriculum, in the hallways, in the lunchroom, and at recess. We begin our days with Morning Prayer, which includes daily readings and reflections. We pray together in the classroom, before meals, before meetings, before performances, and before games – prayer is a way of life here.  

Students have the opportunity to be leaders when it is their classroom’s turn to host Mass – they prepare the readings, bring up the offertory gifts, and lead the school prayer. We pray the Rosary together as a school on the First Friday of each month. We end every day together with a closing prayer led by our fifth grade and projected over our intercom system.

Athletics

Read below for answers to athletics.

Sports Offerings

We offer the following competitive sports programs:

  • Cross Country
  • Volleyball
  • Basketball

Athletic Volunteers

We always need volunteers for our sports program – from coaches, and team parents, to concessions! To volunteer, you must have completed the Diocesan Safe Environment program and passed a background check.

Participation Allowance

Students are allowed to participate in more than one sport as long as practice and game/meet times do not conflict.

Tryout/Cut Policy

We do not hold tryouts for our teams. However, we do ask parents to sign up on time so that we can appropriately staff the coaching team for students. Late registrations will be accepted. However, athletes may not be able to fully participate on the team (depending upon numbers). We do not cut students from the team.

Registration

You must complete a registration form and pay athletic fees to register for a sport. In addition, students need to have a current well-child check (annually, up through 5th grade) or a sports physical (every two years, middle school) on file at the school to participate.

Activities

Read below for answers to Activities.

Activity Detail

Holy Family Catholic School offers music classes to all grades. Students also have the opportunity to learn recorders in 4th grade. Starting in 4th grade, students can also choose to participate in the HFCS choir. In middle school, students can choose to participate in choir. There are also opportunities to participate in the annual Christmas program, Spring concert, and Missoula Children’s Theatre. 

Recorder Lessons

Our 4th graders learn to play the recorder in music class.