What are your preschool options? We offer both half-day and full-day preschool options for 3 and 4-year-old children. You can choose 4 half days (Tues.-Fri.), 4 full days (Tues.-Fri.), 5 half days, or 5 full days. Preschool-aged children can use our before and after school CARES program.
Is busing provided? Yes, busing is provided by the public school district. West Chester Area School District, Great Valley School District, Rose Tree Media, Garnet Valley, and Unionville-Chadds Ford School Districts bus to SSJ.
Are the teachers certified? All classroom teachers are PA State certified.
What is the class size? While 25 is the maximum class size, the average class size is 18. Teaching aides assist our teachers in kindergarten and first grade classrooms.
What curriculum do you follow? The academic curriculum is developed and maintained in accordance with the Archdiocesan Guidelines based on national standards for each subject area. In addition to the core curriculum, classes are offered in Spanish, Computer Applications, Library, Physical Education, Music and Art.
Students are also exposed to hands-on science experiments through our state of the art LabLearner science lab.
An accelerated mathematics program is offered to those students, beginning in Grade 4, who meet the criteria established by the Archdiocese for Math Honors.
What are you able to do for students who need remedial services? Remedial math, remedial reading, speech and language, and counseling services are available through the Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU). All these services are provided by the state of PA at no cost to the parents. In the fall of 2022, SSJ added a Resource Room with a full-time teacher to provide additional support. Click here to be directed to our page on Academic Support
Occupational Therapy (OT) and Physical Therapy (PT) are also offered off-site through the public school district.
Is financial aid available? The total cost of educating a child is only partially covered with tuition; therefore, every child under the parishioner plan is receiving a parish scholarship.
Do you offer sports/ extra-curricular activities for students? Saints Simon and Jude offers a wide variety of after school activities and music programs for students at every grade-level. A wide variety of sports are also sponsored by the parish CYO and available for student participation. We encourage our students to participate in one or more of these activities.
Do you provide lunch? Hot lunch is provided daily by the Great Valley School District. Students choosing to purchase lunch order from the monthly menu calendar and send payment into school.
Do your students wear uniforms? Yes, students are required to wear uniforms. Details of those requirements can be found by clicking hereor in the Handbook which is listed under our Parents section of the website.
Uniforms can be purchased at Flynn and O’Hara. Flynn and O’Hara has a local store located at the Festival Shopping Center, Rt. 30, Exton. Shoes can be purchased at either Flocco Shoes in Conshohocken or at Flynn & O'Hara.