Saint Andrew's School (Saratoga, California)

Saint Andrew's School is an American private co-educational day school, which teaches pre-kindergarten to grade eight in Saratoga, Santa Clara County, California. It was founded in 1961, as a department of Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church, in the Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real. The school is organized into two divisions: the Lower School (pre-kindergarten – 5th grade) and the Upper School (grades 6 – 8).

Both the National Association for the Education of Young Children's National Academy of Early Childhood Programs and the California Association of Independent Schools [http://www.caisca.org] accredit the school. Saint Andrew's School is also a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS).

As of 2005, approximately 435 students were enrolled, and the average class size was roughly 20-22. The head of the school as of 2007 is Mr. Harry V. McKay, Jr. The school newsletter is called "The Oak".

In 2005, Thomas Kinkade created a painting of the school entitled Saint Andrew's Memories. It was a plein air painting created in memory of the school before its demolition as part of its ambitious Building a Brighter Future program. [ [http://www.st-andrews.org/web2_files/kinkade/sa_kinkade.html "Saint Andrew’s Memories" by Thomas Kinkade] - Announcement of event that unveils the painting to the public.]

This program is responsible for creating the new gymnasium and Saint Andrew's Center. As part of the program, school officials also aim to rebuild all the classrooms in the coming years. [ [http://www.st-andrews.org/web2_files/bbf/bbf_main.html Saint Andrew's Church and School construction] - Explanation of development designed to be ready for the 2006-2007 school year. It involves construction of a new " Saint Andrew’s Center" building and rework of the existing "Saint Andrew’s Hall".]

Technology

Technology is integrated throughout the school curriculum; Upper School students use Apple laptops in all of their classes. [" [http://www.svcn.com/archives/saratoganews/20030305/sn-education1.shtml Mexican visitors get to core of Apple use at St. Andrew's] " (March 5, 2003) - Article By Gloria I. Wang in "Saratoga News" discusses adoption of computer technology at the school, in particular the policy of having one laptop for every student.] All the campus has wireless internet coverage which is one of the tools used in the Laptop Program. The school also has a computer lab which has thirty desktop computers. Students attend technology class in the lab at least once a week. Each of the Lower School (Kindergarten through 4th grade) classrooms have two to three desktop computers and 5th grade has a cart of laptops for students to use in the classroom. Students are encouraged to use technology as much as possible, as it is heavily integrated into the school curriculum.

Athletics

Saint Andrew's is fairly competitive in the realm of school sports and are considered rivals with the neighboring Roman Catholic Sacred Heart School. The school supports Cross-Country and Track, boys and girls Basketball, boys and girls Volleyball, boys Flag Football and girls Softball. As well the school's Physical Education program exposes children to multiple types of sports. As well, in the PE course, each week students in 6-8 grades participate in the unique Race Across the Country Program. In this program children run 2-4 miles.

References

*" [http://www.svcn.com/archives/saratoganews/06.05.96/awards.html Students win national awards] " (June 5, 1996) - Article discusses winners from school of the "Scholastic Writing Awards by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers Inc.", which is a nonprofit group based in New York City.

External links

* [http://www.st-andrews.org Official web site of school]