FAQs

Our model provides for closely aligned times to accommodate student transportation across the Pre-K through 8th grade.

Elementary & Middle School Hours (K-8)
School begins at 7:50am. Students typically arrive between 7:30am and 7:45am. Students participating in the Before-School Care program may arrive as early as 7:00am. School dismissal is at 2:10pm. Following dismissal, students may remain on campus for clubs, sports or academic support. The After-School Care program is available for students until 5:30pm daily (excluding half days).

Pre-K Hours (3, 4 & 5 Year Old Students)
School begins at 8:30am. Students may arrive as early as 7:30am if they participate in the Before-School Care program. School dismissal is either at 12:30pm or 2:15pm depending on the program selected. Following dismissal, students may remain on campus for activities. The After-School Care program is available for Pre-K students until 4:30pm daily (excluding half days).

St. Thomas offers Before-School and After-School Care programs. The Before-School Care program is offered free of charge every day from 7:00am to the start of the school day for our K-8th grade students. Our Pre-K students can arrive at school as early as 7:30am for a daily fee. The After-School Care program operates from dismissal to 5:30pm for our K-8th grade students and to 4:30pm for our Pre-K students. The After-School Care program does not operate on half days.

Both programs are staffed by our faculty and provide the students with opportunities to play games and engage in planned activities as well as complete homework during structured time.

For more information, please visit our After-School Care program page.

The spirit of St. Thomas' uniform policy is to place students in the best possible position to succeed in school by respecting the importance of the academic day and by being well prepared for a full day of work without distraction. Pre-K through 8th grade students are required to follow a dress code which lists an academic day uniform and a gym uniform, including shoes.

Uniforms can be purchased online from Liebman’s Uniforms.

St. Thomas is committed to creating a focused, respectful, and engaged learning environment. To support this goal, we are a cell phone, smartwatch, device-free campus during school hours (including after-school programs). All devices must be powered off and turned in at the beginning of each school day. Devices may only be turned on and used after school hours, once the student has left campus. We do not assume responsibility for lost, stolen or damaged devices.

Please click here to view our cell phone and smartwatch policy.

Students who live in Fairfield may ride a bus to school according to the policies and plans of the Fairfield Public Schools District. The bus schedule is released annually and bus service stops are determined by registered rider destinations and are not door-to-door. For car-riders, St. Thomas offers a designated morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up lane.

St. Thomas offers a range of special academic programs designed to meet students' interests and learning needs. These include an advanced track in math for our middle school, including geometry, as well as opportunities for math acceleration through coaches, labs and an incremental weekly 5th grade Magic Math class. STEM is integrated into daily learning, including a weekly middle-school class in our Library Learning Commons. We provide class time and after-school programming in music, visual arts and drama.

Additionally, we provide support programs through our literacy specialist, guidance counselor and math coaches.

St. Thomas accepts students of all faiths who are willing to live by our school mission. All students study religion and attend a monthly mass. Today, approximately 35% of our student body is non-Catholic and their faith traditions enrich our community.

The quality of the teaching and engagement between faculty and students are the most important factors in a successful school. All elementary and middle school teachers are accredited and most hold advanced degrees in education as well as in their designated academic area. Our teachers come from a variety of backgrounds and every teacher is on a path of continual improvement. They seek out and receive professional development led by the Diocese of Bridgeport and school sourced resources as well as through independent programs and grants.

St. Thomas is in compliance with all applicable state and federal laws.

All students in kindergarten through 8th grade will participate in continual testing through our iReady program designed to determine if students have reached performance levels on a specific body of knowledge taught within the school. These tests are used to pinpoint learning opportunities and to identify areas where support may be needed or acceleration is appropriate. It is important to note that these tests, while informative, are not in any way a complete picture of a student’s academic achievement or ability. 

Middle-school students take summative exams in designated subjects at the midterms and finals of the school year. These exams will help students to study comprehensively and prepare them for similar tests in high school.

Lunch is available for purchase ahead of time via a web-based ordering system. The menu is posted monthly, and families may opt in for any number of days each month for their student(s). The menu includes a wide variety of nutritious and kid-friendly options, including salads, sandwiches, pizza and chicken as well as sides such as fruit, chips and cookies. 

The safety of our students, faculty, and visitors is our highest priority. We take a proactive, layered approach to campus security, combining physical safeguards, advanced technology and strong operational procedures while maintaining a welcoming environment.

Our facility has been enhanced with hardened entry points, including ballistic-grade glass and protective coatings on windows and doors. We maintain a state-of-the-art video surveillance system, along with secure locking systems and structured visitor verification protocols to ensure that all individuals on campus are properly identified and authorized. Beginning in the 2026–2027 school year, in addition to our participation in the Town of Fairfield School Safety Program which provides St. Thomas with a shared School Safety Officer from the Fairfield Police Department, we will further strengthen our program by adding a full-time, dedicated security officer on campus.

During the 2025–2026 school year, we partnered with an independent firm specializing in school security to conduct a comprehensive assessment of our campus and procedures. This firm affirmed the actions we have undertaken to date and provided additional recommendations, the majority of which have been implemented. We view security as an ongoing responsibility and remain committed to continually strengthening our approach through thoughtful investments, regular evaluation of emerging risks and the adoption of evolving technologies and best practices.

All classrooms are spacious and modernized to include interactive display boards, student devices (Chromebooks or iPads), and wireless access points are located throughout the buildings for secure and safe student, faculty and staff access to the internet and cloud storage. In addition, students have supervised access to innovative instructional tools including robotics, 3D printing and other coding technology as well as immersive virtual reality headsets all of which allow students to learn in new, engaging ways.

The school has a science lab, a library / innovation center, a full-size gymnasium (newly renovated), break-out rooms and a lunchroom. The school has an outdoor playscape, a sports field, small track, garden and outdoor basketball court for student enjoyment.

Yes, parents are actively welcomed and encouraged to participate in a variety of school activities. We regularly invite families to join to read in the classroom, assist with arts and crafts projects, and volunteer during the school day in the lunch room or at recess. There are also many opportunities to participate in school-wide events such as performances, academic nights, athletic coaching and community gatherings. These opportunities help strengthen the home and school connection while creating a supportive, inclusive environment where students feel encouraged and families feel involved in their child’s education.

We ask families to volunteer 30 hours per year if they have a K-8th grade student or 15 hours per year if they have a Pre-K student only. Hours can be fulfilled outside of school with at-home projects or parents have an option of making a financial contribution in lieu of some of their hours (up to 20 hours for K-8th grade; all hours for Pre-K) at $25 an hour.

No, while many of our students are Fairfield residents, approximately 26% come from surrounding towns, including Westport, Bridgeport, Trumbull and Easton. Families from these nearby areas choose our school for its strong academic reputation, excellent programs and values-based culture.