St. Lawrence Elementary School was established in 1961 by the founding pastor, Rev. Victor Wilkiemeyer. Staffed by the Sisters of Loretto, the school grew from grades 1-3 to include grades 1-6. A kindergarten was added followed by an extended care program for the students of working parents and a computer lab to develop technology skills for students. In 1993, St. Lawrence Elementary School opened the first licensed PreK program in the diocese of San Jose. The following year grade 7 was added with grade 8 following the next year. The Elementary and Middle School is part of St. Lawrence Education Center, operated by St. Lawrence the Martyr Parish. The Education Center includes separate Pre-kindergarten and St. Lawrence Academy schools, offering Pre-K and grades eight through twelve.

The school serves one class of each grade in elementary school, grades preK - 5, and two classes per grade in the departmentalized middle school, grades 6 - 8. Classes in the fine arts, physical education, music and art are offered in addition to the academic program; and technology is integrated throughout the curriculum. An extended care program is available for students whose parents cannot pick them up at the end of school. During the after-school time, piano and string lessons are available, the St. Lawrence Swim Team practices, Homework Clinic is available, and after-school athletic teams practice and play.

The St. Lawrence student community is diverse, and the school serves students from both the parish and surrounding communities, both in and outside of Santa Clara County. Ethnic diversity mirrors that of Santa Clara County. The student body is approximately 80% Roman Catholic with other major religions well represented.

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St. Lawrence has pioneered and offered many unique facilities and programs, several of which have been adopted by our peer schools. Take a look at some of those firsts that constitute the St. Lawrence Advantage:

• Licensed Pre-Kindergarten
• Science lab
• Teen Center
• Summer Camp/Winter Camp
• Separate Middle School
• Computer center in each classroom
• Swimming pool
• Wireless campus for technology
• 1 to 1 computer initiative in the Middle School
• SchoolOne on-line grade access
• Year-round extended care with separate facilities for Pre-K, grades K-5, and grades 6-8
• Parent workshops for navigating the high school application process

The well-prepared faculty and staff are dedicated to the philosophy, mission and schoolwide learning expectations of the school, which focus on preparing the students spiritually, intellectually, and personally to Believe, Achieve, and Succeed both today and in the future.

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Rich in diversity, we, the faculty, staff, and clergy of St. Lawrence Elementary and Middle School, believe in…

• Living out Gospel values through our actions and instruction to develop personal faith within the context of a Catholic community.
• Pursuing academic excellence in a challenging and nurturing environment to prepare students for high school and beyond.
• Collaborating with parents who are the primary educators of their children.
• Being part of a Catholic community that leads all members toward spiritual growth, wholeness, and a responsibility for self, others, and the environment.

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Graduating students of St. Lawrence Elementary and Middle School will:

Believe

• Develop personal spirituality
• Experience opportunities for spiritual growth through participation in the St. Lawrence community
• Exemplify Gospel values
• Demonstrate knowledge of the teachings and practices of the Catholic Church

Achieve

• Increase and demonstrate academic skills
• Display critical and creative thinking skills
• Demonstrate effective communication skills
• Apply technology as a learning tool
• Express a desire for continued learning

Succeed

• Take responsibility for their own actions
• Display respect for themselves, others and the environment
• Work cooperatively with others
• Participate actively as a member of the community
• Apply Church teaching in response to social justice issues

These learning expectations focus on the three areas—spiritual, academic, and social— we wish to develop in students in order to create the St. Lawrence Advantage.

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St. Lawrence Elementary and Middle School is accredited by the Western Catholic Education Association (WCEA) and by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The school received the maximum 6 year term of accreditation following the last accreditation visit in 2010.

Each year the school faculty updates the Schoolwide Improvement Action Plan and records progress toward the goals set as well as completing an in-depth study in one area of curriculum and updating the religion in-depth study.

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