1  

What is the Grading Scale at Holy Nativity?

Holy Nativity Episcopal School

Grading Scale

A...................................100-92

B....................................91-83 

C.....................................82-74 

D......................................73-65

F.............................64 or below 

2  

What age range does Holy Nativity Episcopal School serve?

Holy Nativity Episcopal School begins with three year olds (children must be 3 years old on or before September 1st) and continues through the 8th grade.

3  

What are the school hours?

The school day begins at 8:00 AM and the school office hours are 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Holy Nativity provides before and after school care, BASE, billed on an hourly basis from 7:00 AM until 8:00 AM and after school until 5:30 PM.  Classes end at different times based on the grade. All classes begin at 8:00 AM Jr. Pre-K and Pre-K – 8:00 AM until noon; K and 1st grade – 8:00 AM until 2:45 PM; 2nd grade through 8th grade – 8:00 AM until 3:00 PM

4  

Does Holy Nativity Episcopal School offer financial aid?

All applicants are welcome to apply for our need-based financial aid. These annually awarded scholarships are for tuition only, other fees are the responsibility of the applicant. Scholarship applications are strictly confidential. You can find additional information about scholarship applications in the Financial Aid Section under the Admissions tab or by clicking here.

5  

Do all classes begin and end at the same time?

Classes end at different times based on the grade. All classes begin at 8:00 AM

Jr. Pre-K and Pre-K – 8:00 AM until noon

K and 1st grade – 8:00 AM until 2:45 PM

2nd grade through 8th grade – 8:00 AM until 3:00 PM

6  

How many classes are there at each grade level?

At this time, HNES has 2 classes per grade level, Jr. Pre-K – 5th grade, with small classes guaranteed at each level. In 6th – 8th grades, the number of classes is determined by students’ academic needs, with special attention to small mathematics classes.

7  

What special area classes are offered at Holy Nativity Episcopal School?

Students in Jr. Pre-K - 5th grade have separate teachers for music, technology, Spanish, art, PE and library skills. Middle school students have required special area classes in PE and religion; 6th- 8th students can choose from electives including Art, Performance Music, Running Club, Tennis, Technology, Crafts, Math Counts, Directed Study, Costume and Design, Yearbook, Life Hacks, Strategic Games, Soccer, and Student Government Association.

8  

At what grade level do Spanish classes begin?

Spanish begins in Jr. Pre-K and continues through 8th grade. We embrace and expand our Spanish curriculum with the observance and celebration of Las Posadas, and Cinco De Mayo.

9  

Do the students wear uniforms?

Monday through Thursday Holy Nativity students are required to wear uniforms. Fridays are designated as free choice, allowing students to wear clothing of their choice as long as it is in compliance with the HNES dress code. The dress code policy can be found in the Campus Life Section on our website.

10  

Who accredits Holy Nativity Episcopal School?

With over 2000 private schools in Florida, Holy Nativity Episcopal School is one of only 158 independent schools accredited by the Florida Council of Independent Schools (FCIS). As part of the National Association of Episcopal Schools (NAES), we are proud to join all Episcopal schools in welcoming families of all religions, races and national origin. More information about our accreditation can be found in the Accreditation section on our website.

11  

Does the school provide lunch?

Currently we contract with Golden Corral to provide lunch for our school and the menu is published monthly. Students also have the option of bringing a lunch from home. Parents and grandparents are welcome to join their student for lunch, adult options are also available. The monthly menu and costs for student and adult lunches can be found here.

12  

Do you have to be an Episcopalian to be admitted to Holy Nativity Episcopal School?

You do not have to be Episcopalian to be admitted to Holy Nativity Episcopal School. Our spiritual life is welcoming to all. We proudly provide an exceptional education to students of diverse religious, cultural, racial, and economic backgrounds. At Holy Nativity, we embrace diversity and we do it each and every day

13  

If my child is not enrolled in the school, may I attend chapel service if I want to see what one is like?

Yes, prospective parents are welcome to attend our Wednesday morning chapel program. Please call the office, (850) 747-0060, to make arrangements for a visit to the school.

14  

May I attend chapel with my child?

Many HNES parents and grandparents join their child for chapel on Wednesday mornings, Our first chapel at 8:20 for Jr. Pre-K through 3rd grade and 8:55-9:25 for grades 4th-8th. There are times when families especially like to attend chapel, including a child’s birthday blessing or when the PE teachers are recognizing students with sportsmanship awards. We personally notify each family for these special events.

15  

Is there a way for parents to easily contact teachers?

At Holy Nativity we take pride in the ease of communication with our teachers and administrators. Phone calls and emails are answered promptly, conferences are easily scheduled and our data information system, Ren Web, is accessible 24 hours a day. Our Jr. Pre-K–5th graders bring home folders at the end of each week containing the week’s work and important updates. Also, every Friday an email is sent to parents of middle school students that includes assignments and assessments for the upcoming week.

16  

Does the school have an active parents’ association?

Yes, our parents’ support is central to the excellence of Holy Nativity Episcopal School. We have a very busy and effective Parent Council and a new program that connects the desire to volunteer with the volunteer opportunities school wide; a newly created volunteer handbook defines and explains opportunities; and this year our parent volunteer committee computes monthly totals of hours spent volunteering to post on our website as well as use for grant applications.

17  

What difference does Holy Nativity Episcopal Middle School make in the lives of students?

The middle school education we offer has never been more important. HNES students excel in our rigorous academic environment where personal accountability is stressed and intellectual effort is applauded. Equally important, during this particularly challenging period in students’ lives, Holy Nativity provides a path for middle school students to develop a secure sense of who they are; we welcome and count on strong partnerships between parents and teachers ; and our middle school offers students meaningful opportunities for service to the community. Holy Nativity is the starting point for a lifetime of success.

18  

Does Holy Nativity prepare students for success in high school advanced programs?

All of our students are college bound. After completing our middle school program, 100% of our 8th graders are accepted into the advanced academic programs for high school. Our graduates leave Holy Nativity academically prepared not only in each content area but also with confidence in how to take notes in class, how to manage their time and how to prepare for exams. When our graduates are asked if they were prepared for high school during their years at Holy Nativity the answer is always a resounding “Yes!”

19  

Socially, are students prepared to enter high school after attending a small middle school?

Once in high school, HNES students consistently become school leaders, class officers, outstanding athletes, stars of the arts, accomplished members of the band and top academic members of their class. On our Holy Nativity Facebook page we proudly share photos of some of our students’ high school successes and have now dedicated a bulletin board in the school’s main hallway to display the many photos of our alumni who are in the news.

20  

How is student academic progress measured?

One of our goals is to prepare our students to be successful in the most demanding college preparatory high school magnet programs. Each spring we administer the Stanford Achievement Test -10 (SAT-10) which is a nationally normed achievement test. The SAT-10 provides data enabling us to compare our students’ achievement with that of other students on a national level.