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Welcome to St. Francis School
Greetings! They have also gone on to the highest achievements in professional life. Yet academic achievement is only one of our community's primary values. We believe it is just as important to human development and to the good of society to foster compassion, creativity, and joy. Indeed, we believe these qualities are the essential building blocks of lifelong learning and responsible citizenship. St. Francis is a school in the progressive tradition. That means we promote critical thinking over rote learning, authentic understanding over textbook mastery, and real-world application of knowledge over test score performance. Our tradition also leads us to emphasize environ- We sincerely hope you will want to learn more about St. Francis. The web pages contained here convey the essential features of our school. However, we believe you need to visit our campus in person to grasp the value of our program. I hope to meet you soon and look forward to sharing the St. Francis experience with you and your family.
Our StudentsSt. Francis students are some of the most interesting kids around. We profit from their unique viewpoints every day in the discussions, performances, and constructive energy that make St. Francis exciting. Our students know each other and their teachers well. Students have a voice at St. Francis, and they are encouraged to make use of it, to speak out and speak up when necessary. Our students enjoy the challenges they are given and thrive on working hard to achieve their goals. In the Lower School, students eagerly dive into constructive play and active class participation, developing skills that will serve them well throughout their school experience. Because they are encouraged to be curious and thoughtful from their earliest days, St. Francis students of any age are unusually engaged with the world around them. More than half of St. Francis students remain here from Kindergarten throughout their school years, testifying to the commitment they and their families make to the School. Many others became Eaglets back in their preschool days! But we are not insular: new students are always welcome, and after a few weeks it's hard to tell newcomers from "lifers." We could boast about our Preschool Transportation Day, our Lower School Fine Arts Program, the Middle School Science Olympiad team, or our graduates' exceptional performance in public, parochial and independent secondary schools, but suffice it to say that St. Francis students at every age use all the resources available to them, achieving great things in the classroom and beyond. An atmosphere of delight and exploration prevails at St. Francis, spurring students to do their best while supporting them as they grow. 
Our Goshen CampusLocated in beautiful Goshen, Kentucky, St. Francis School's JK-8 campus has a unique atmosphere. Our unusual architecture reflects the mid-century modern style but we are comfortably at home in our student-centered building featuring spacious classrooms, workspaces, and laboratories. Our athletic complex, including extensive playing fields, has added space for sports. With support from our Parents' Association we continually refresh and renovate our sprawling fields and playgrounds. St. Francis is a great blend of a rural and a neighborhood school. Goshen is a lovely, spacious residential community lined with black horse fences as well as exquisitely planned subdivisions. Just down Highway 42, back toward Prospect, is the timeless Goshen Store, a general store in business since the 1800s. 
Inside, St. Francis is a mix of the best of old and new. Lower School classrooms have spacious play areas, sturdy worktables and reading lofts where students feel at home. Cheerful colors and the multitude of student work on the walls create a truly welcoming environment conducive to learning. Middle Schoolers have well-lighted rooms equipped with computers and comfortable age-appropriate workspaces. In the Math/Science wing, modern science laboratories and a fully equipped and up-to-date computer lab complement the casual 7th and 8th grade locker bays and the cozy and art-print laden Humanities area. At the center of the school, the expansive art studios are flooded with natural light from the many windows that seem to bring the outdoors in, giving students a view of rolling fields and woodlands. Preschool at Harrods CreekAbout ten minutes' drive back down Highway 42, at Wolf Pen Branch Road, is our beautiful preschool campus. St. Francis Preschool is cradled in the back of a lovely, Frederick Law Olmsted-designed church campus with a colorful playground where young children from 2 to 4 years of age take advantage of a shaded garden environment with swings, slides and climbing equipment. Our preschool classrooms are warm and welcoming, filled with inviting play centers and exuberant artwork. Every teacher at St. Francis understands that working with children requires the development of a close and positive relationship with each child. These relationships are evident in the bright surroundings, where every child's abilities are expressed through art and language. The Commons Room, a large open space with room for movement, is perfect for the bikes and scooters preschoolers can ride when the weather is too cold or stormy for playground time. Another roomy space is the Music Room, where all students have the benefit of Music and Creative Movement classes with Ms. Cindy. This cozy, happy environment is the perfect setting for busy preschoolers. 
Our DivisionsSt. Francis School is actually three schools in one, providing a comprehensive education for students in preschool through eighth grade. Parents are attracted to St. Francis in the early years by the lively warmth and encouragement our teachers provide to every one of their young pupils. They stay through the elementary and middle years for the deep motivation, independence, high-order thinking and unsurpassed creativity we inspire in our older students. St. Francis alumni attend local high schools, fine colleges and preeminent graduate and professional programs after leaving our campus, but they never forget the school out in Goshen where they learned to love learning. | |
