Frequently Asked Questions

In this section we will answer the most frequently asked questions about St. Thomas the Apostle Preschool.

Where are you located?

St. Thomas Preschool (MAP)
5150 N Valley View Rd
Tucson, AZ 85718-6121
(520) 577-0503

St. Thomas the Apostle Church is located at the corner of Valley View and Camino del la Pantera and the preschool is on the southeast corner of the church property. The main cross streets are Swan and Sunrise road.

What are the staff qualifications of the teachers at St. Thomas the Apostle?
Teachers are required to have a Bachelors Degree with an Early Childhood emphasis. This emphasis could include a early childhood endorsement, teaching certificate for elementary education, or child development. In addition, teachers are required to have teaching experience in the early childhood field. Finally, all teachers meet the state requirements according the Arizona Department of Human Services, including reference checks, fingerprinting and background checks, negative T.B., proof of current immunization for MMR and Tetanus, and all staff are CPR and 1st aid certified.

Teachers and assistants are constantly learning. We attend many workshops and read current research in the field of education. We believe that we must continue our own education to provide the best environment for your child.

How old does my child have to be?
The children at St. Thomas need to be 3 by September 1st and fully potty trained to begin school. We offer a 4 year old program for children who will be attending Kindergarten the following year. The four year old program is set up to insure the children will be exposed to all the things they need to enter a kindergarten program and be successful.

What is the staff/child ratio in the classrooms?
Our staff/child ratio is much lower than the state of Arizona’s requirement of 1:13 for 3 year old children and 1:15 for 4 year old children. We have a teacher and a full time assistant teacher in each room and the class sizes range from 16 to 18 per day. The class dynamics and girl/boy ratio play a part in determining the size of the class.

How do I visit St. Thomas the Apostle Preschool?
The easiest way to visit our preschool is to call the office at (520) 577-0503 and set up an appointment. This way we can be sure to have the time set aside to give you a tour of the classrooms and playground and answer all your questions. If your time is limited please feel free to stop in and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

Are parents able to volunteer in the classroom?
We love to have parents in the classrooms! St. Thomas has an open door policy – if you want to be in the classroom we want you there! If a parent would like to be a regular volunteer we ask and the state requires that you go through a training program run by the director and assistant director. The training program takes about 3 hours of time and is done while the children are at school so you do not have to find childcare. In addition, all regular volunteers are required to be fingerprinted and meet the state mandated requirements, but we make it as painless as possible! If a parent would like to volunteer in the classroom less often (1-2 times a semester) you simple see the teacher and sign up.

We have an ongoing program to try to have 100% parent participation every year!
There are many other ways to be involved at St. Thomas also if the classroom does not work for you! We have a very active Advisory School Board, many fundraisers throughout the school year, a Parent Dinner with Silent and Live Auction, many working parents help out by cutting things, and we have several parents who work as office aides. There are many ways to be involved and we strongly believe that if a parent takes their child’s education seriously so will the child!

Is St. Thomas the Apostle Preschool licensed?
Absolutely, St. Thomas meets all the state of Arizona licensing requirements. The state makes yearly visits to verify we are in compliance. All licensing records are available for review.

Does St. Thomas have a curriculum?
We have developed an in-depth curriculum that was adopted by the Diocese of Tucson for all other Catholic preschools to follow. It focuses on the development of the individual child and is implemented throughout the school day to insure all children are encouraged in their individual journey. The curriculum is also available in the office for review.

Do you have to be Catholic to attend St. Thomas preschool?
No, you do not have to be Catholic to attend our preschool. However, we are a Catholic preschool and teach the children daily about how to live as Jesus did. In addition we study Advent, Lent, Saints, Jesus’ family, and many of the old testament heroes like Noah and Daniel. These subjects are all taught at the development level of the children.

Can the children nap?
We provide a nap room for those children who need to nap. The room is quiet with some great classical music and a back rub! Nap time is from 12:30pm – 2:30pm or until the child wakes up. If the children do not need a nap a stimulating afternoon program is available.