Celebrating 25 Years Celebrating 25 Years
OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION IN THE VALLEY OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION IN THE VALLEY
Dear Friends of St. Clare’s,
This year marks an incredible milestone 25 years of Catholic education in the Valley. We are deeply grateful for your continued collaboration and support, sharing in our mission to provide faith-centered education in our community. As we reflect on our history, we are filled with gratitude to God for bringing Catholic education to this Valley, and for all who have helped build and sustain this vibrant community of faith We are so excited to celebrate this special accomplishment because of your commitment to Catholic education
St. Clare of Assisi Catholic School was envisioned by Archbishop Stafford in 1994 through his pastoral letter The Heights of the Mountains are His. Inspired by the needs he identified, the school opened in August 2000, serving grades K–6, expanding to K–8 by 2003. In 2008, our religious community, the Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Michigan, began serving at St Clare We are blessed to have our Religious Sisters serve this community, and we are committed to continuing to work together to strengthen our mission in line with the Holy See’s charter for Catholic education, fostering both our Catholic identity and academic excellence.
Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it."
Proverbs 22:6
St. Clare is a school that offers a firm foundation in the Catholic faith and fosters the spiritual growth of our students.
This year, St. Clare’s was blessed to witness five of our students enter the Church during the Easter Vigil, receiving the sacraments of Baptism, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation. In addition, fourteen of our students celebrated their First Holy Communion and Confirmation during a special Mass with Bishop Rodriguez in May
Our commitment to deepening faith extends well beyond the classroom This year, our 4th and 5th grade students had the special opportunity to visit the Cathedral, where two of our students were honored to serve at Mass a proud and memorable moment for our school community For our middle school students, the Girl Genius program (grades 6–8) included a meaningful lock-in retreat, while our 8th grade class participated in the “Ignite Your Faith” Rally in Denver. In addition, our 7th and 8th graders attended the St. John Paul II Outdoor Lab during the winter a three-day science camp that provided an experiential education rooted in Catholic teaching. Through hands-on learning and reflection, students explored the wonder and beauty of the Rocky Mountains while learning to integrate faith and reason. We are truly grateful to offer our students these rich and formative spiritual experiences.
For our youngest learners, Kindergarten through 3rd grade, the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program continues to offer a rich, hands-on approach to encountering Jesus and learning about the liturgy and Scripture In middle school, our Theology of the Body curriculum includes resources from Ruah Woods and instruction from Sister Mary Sophia, helping our students understand the dignity of the human person and God's plan for love a relationships.
Additionally, St Clare’s joyfully celebrated “The Friendship of Saints” at th 2025 Spring Concert! Students performed songs from around the world, recit poetry, and brought to life inspiring scenes that highlighted the friendshi between saints and the wide reach of the Universal Church across vario cultures, languages, and times. The evening concluded with a school-wide rendition of “O God Beyond All Praising.”
Through all these programs and experiences, St. Clare strives to be a place where faith is not only taught, but lived and celebrated. We are grateful for the ways God continues to bless our school community.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future Jeremiah 29:11
At the heart of St. Clare’s success is the incredible dedication of our teachers, who give of themselves daily to form and educate our students with love, purpose, and excellence.
Deeply committed to our mission, St Clare’s teachers bring not only strong pedagogy but also a sincere investment in building meaningful relationships with each child Their work goes far beyond academics they foster a safe, caring, and faith-filled environment where students feel seen, supported, and part of our St Clare family. This spirit of community is what truly sets St. Clare apart.
We are proud to share some of the remarkable growth taking place at St. Clare as we build on a legacy of academic rigor and faith formation. In 2022, we began a comprehensive curriculum renewal to uphold and elevate the high academic standards our families expect.
Every grade from Kindergarten through 8th has adopted the internationally acclaimed Singapore Math program.
This curriculum is known for developing deep conceptual understanding and strong problem-solving skills.
Research shows students using this method perform a full grade level above their peers nationally and internationally.
The program is already strengthening student achievement in math at St. Clare.
In partnership with the Archdiocese of Catholic Schools, we have introduced Fundations, a research-based K–3 reading program developed in the science of reading.
This Structured Literacy approach supports essential skills: phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. The program is grounded in the science of reading and was created by nationally recognized literacy expert Barbara Wilson.
Wilson has received awards such as the Legacy Honoree from the International Dyslexia Association and the Friend of Education Award from Drexel University.
Additionally, St. Clare’s curriculum enhancements are supported by extensive teacher professional development, made possible through strategic partnerships and programs including:
Collaboration with the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education (ICLE), has provided on-site workshops and intensive training through the Catholic Educator Formation and Credential Program. Participation in The Writing Revolution training for all of our English and Science teachers, further strengthening our advanced Rod & Staff literacy curriculum. This research-based approach enhances students’ writing and critical thinking skills across all disciplines.
All of this is made possible through the dedication of our teachers, who pour their hearts into forming and educating students each day. As we look to the future, we remain steadfast in our mission to lead in academic excellence while staying deeply rooted in our core values with Christ at the center of all we do, guiding every step of our students’ formation.
Meet Our Religious Sisters of Mercy
The Religious Sisters of Mercy are deeply dedicated to the mission of education and service, bringing their rich tradition of faith and compassion to our school community Founded in 1831 by Venerable Catherine McAuley in Dublin, and refounded in 1973 in response to the renewal called for by the Second Vatican Council, the Sisters commit themselves to living the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy through their teaching and care
In addition to the traditional vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, the Sisters profess a fourth vow of service a lifelong commitment to works of mercy carried out primarily through education and health care At St Clare of Assisi Catholic School, this vow is lived out daily in their dedication to the spiritual, intellectual, and personal formation of each student. Their presence strengthens our mission and creates a compassionate, faith-filled environment where Christ is at the center of all we do. https://www.almamercy.org
Our mission at St. Clare continues to grow and flourish as we strive to be completely faithful to the Church’s charter for Catholic education. In the Vail Valley, cultivating and recruiting talented and faithful educational professionals can be quite a challenge due to the high cost-of-living. The annual cost to educate each child is around $14,500. This year we have increased our tuition rate to $6,800. Our desire to offer affordable Catholic education for our families creates a gap in our annual budget. Operating a Catholic school in this high-cost environment poses a significant obstacle. We kindly ask for your support this year, and we hope you will consider a gift to St. Clare of Assisi Catholic School. Thank you and God bless.
We invite you to consider a donation to support our Tuition Assistance Program. Thank you and may God bless you and your family.
MAIL:
bit.ly/BelieveInSCA St. Clare of Assisi Catholic School, 31622 Hwy 6, Edwards, CO 81632
St. Clare is a designated 501(c)(3) organization in accordance with federal tax law and, as such, is eligible to receive tax deductible contributions. The parish Federal Tax Identification number is 84-1237387. Please consult your tax adviser as to the eligibility of your contribution as a tax deducation.
Rev. Jose Maria Quera Pastor
Sister Regina Marie Connor, RSM Principal
Michelle Parenti Development Director