St. Catherine of Siena
JULY St. Catherine of Siena
Saint Catherine of Siena Catholic School is a private, Catholic school dedicated to integrating faith and community-based learning for its 230 students in grades PK-8. With a student-teacher ratio of 24 to 1, St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School ensures every student receives the Catholic education Arizona students need to succeed.
Founded by the Sisters of St. Catherine’s Convent
Established in 1949, St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School was founded by the Sisters at St. Catherine’s Convent. Sisters Mary Felix Clarey, Rita Marie Hokamp, Olivia Hamilton, and Marie Elizabeth Leonard commuted from Chandler, Arizona, to teach the children of St. Catherine of Siena parish in Phoenix during the summers of 1948 to 1949 at which point Sr. M. Macaria Nestor became the principal of the new parish school.
The school originally opened with 100 students and the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill would continue to serve as teachers, religious education directors, principals, and administrators in the parish for several years. The Sisters at St. Catherine’s embraced the cultural heritage of the region and, in December 1986, the Sisters celebrated the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe with the local community. The school’s students made decorations and luminaria for the celebration.
The Sisters withdrew from St. Catherine’s in 1988 with Sr. Mary Denise Diethrich serving as the last principal. Now headed by principal Xochitl Ramirez, the school teaches 230 students in a safe, connected environment dedicated to developing students intellectually, emotionally, and socially.
Extracurriculars to broaden the mind and spirit
St. Catherine’s mission is to educate students and families to integrate knowledge and traditional Catholic faith to help them know, love, and serve God. The school encourages students to pursue knowledge as a way to improve and support their local communities. Extracurricular offerings include robotics, creative arts, band, sacred music, Spanish, Service to Others, and yearbook to expand the students’ minds and spirits.
Support a student’s education
There are approximately 5.8 million students attending private schools, including Catholic schools, in the U.S. to receive an optimal educational experience. By directing a portion of your Arizona state taxes to Catholic Education Arizona for the Private Education Tax Credit, you can help to support the Catholic education of students at St. Catherine of Siena. To learn more about how to contribute through Individual Tax Credits and how they work, contact Catholic Education Arizona today at 602 218-6542 or visit www.ceaz.org.
