FAQ
Why is St. Catherine’s launching a capital campaign?
St. Catherine’s exceptional educational program has continued to be an attractive option for students and families from the greater Houston area. Since moving to the Timberside location in 2006, our student population has increased and our retention is strong as families experience the benefits of a Catholic Montessori education.
The school has outgrown its facilities and has addressed this growth over the years by repurposing space intended for other uses. Through community-wide strategic planning, a design for full utilization of our campus grounds was identified, allowing for an expansion project to address additional critical space needed to accommodate our educational programs and retain our families.
How will this project be funded?
St. Catherine’s is a non-profit, independent school and does not receive funding from the Archdiocese, a parish or any other outside organization. Throughout its 50 year history, the school has been able to acquire the much needed space to meet its growing demands because of the generosity of our families, foundations and private donors, all who believed in the mission of St. Catherine’s. Without this financial support, the school would not be where it is today. In order to achieve our goal to expand our campus, we are relying on our current and past families, friends of St. Catherine’s and foundations to help us raise the capital needed to complete the projects.
What are the goals of the campaign?
The expansion project addresses the additional space needed in two phases; each focused on a specific aspect of the school’s campus. Phase I has a cost of $5.275 million and aims to address our highest priorities with a goal to fund and break ground for these projects no later than June 2017 in celebration of our 50th anniversary.
The Phase II project for the Environmental Science Center is in development and will be finalized once a sustainability model is selected for the Environmental Science Building. The timing of the project will be determined once funding for Phase I is well underway.
Do these additions imply that St. Catherine’s is planning to expand its student population?
The projects for both Phase I and Phase II have been defined to ensure that our current families have adequate space and facilities to accommodate and retain their children. It is not the intention of the school to grow the student population significantly beyond its current numbers. The planned additions can serve an optimum number of students in the Upper Elementary classes; 30 per classroom.
Will the high school be part of the capital campaign?
The high school planned for the 2017-2018 academic year will initially start with a small group of students who wish to continue their education at St. Catherine’s. It is not currently part of the Phase I and Phase II plans for the campus expansion, however, the Building Committee is currently examining short-term and long-term space requirements for the program.
What is the difference between the SCM Fund and the Capital Campaign?
The SCM Fund is an annual fundraising in support of the school’s operating budget. Its purpose is to help bridge the gap between the costs to run the school and the amount of income the school receives from tuition. The school is committed to providing the highest standards in education while maintaining St. Catherine’s buildings and 10.4 acre grounds without raising tuition.
A Capital Campaign is an extraordinary fundraising effort that takes place only at certain points in time during a school’s history. Its purpose is to raise money needed to support capital projects such as the campus expansion. St. Catherine’s last capital campaign raised the capital needed to acquire the land and complete the current Timberside campus in 2006.
How can I make a difference when St. Catherine’s is trying to raise millions of dollars?
With hard work, belief in the school’s mission and the commitment of our entire St. Catherine’s Community, we have demonstrated over and over again in the last 50 years, how much we are capable of accomplishing to support the growth and vision for our school. Every gift to the Capital Campaign, “Building on the Legacy” is greatly valued and can be paid out over time. Groundbreaking for Phase I is scheduled for June 30, 2017.