We desire to create an atmosphere of inquiry, discovery, and trust wherein each child has an opportunity to explore his or her talents and grow intellectually.
We strive to provide a safe, positive and challenging environment for effective physical, social, and emotional development and strong cultural awareness.
We seek to provide students with opportunities for practicing and articulating their faith and values with the aim of deepening their spirituality and character.
St. Camillus School was founded in 1954, three years after the establishment of St. Camillus Parish, to serve the needs of families in the Langley Park and Adelphi areas.
The school was originally staffed by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, who also founded Trinity University in Washington, DC. During the 1960s as the Maryland suburbs grew rapidly, thousands of baby boomers attended St. Camillus. At its height, the sisters operated three classrooms of each grade; it is said that as many as 1200 students were enrolled at St. Camillus in one school year during the 1960s.
During the 1980s the early childhood program was opened, and the Franciscan friars took over leadership of the parish.
nationwide recognized that year.
In the early 2000s St. Camillus continued to adjust to demographic changes in the surrounding area and reduced the size of the school to one class of each grade. This move allowed for the expansion of the computer lab, library, science room, music program, Spanish program, counseling program, and tutoring programs.
St. Camillus also warmly welcomed our neighbors from Our Lady of Sorrows Parish when their school closed.
Today, St. Camillus School & Early Childhood Learning Center offers a high quality educational program for children from age 2 through grade 8. Our community is culturally and linguistically diverse with families from many faith traditions and from many areas.
Our school is strongly linked to our larger parish community and we participate in the spiritual life, ministries, and charitable activities of St. Camillus Catholic Church.
Our community is blessed by its many families and supporters ... we invite you to learn more about St. Camillus School and become part of our community!
At St. Camillus we believe in the guiding principle that all are welcome. The task of creating a community that can be truly welcoming of all people means that our community must work to provide the tools necessary to facilitate the welcoming of all students and families. We have designed the following programs to help us be a welcoming community:
- ~ English Language Learning Support
- ~ Student Assistance Team
- ~ Title I Reading and Math Support
- ~ Tutoring and Resource Services
- ~ School Counselor
Our Mission and Spirituality
St. Camillus School & Early Childhood Learning Center is driven by the belief that we are partners with parents in helping children to be all that God intends for them to be.
We accomplish this mission through a whole-person, Christian formation that values each individual child - mind, body, and spirit - and is grounded in a diverse Catholic community inspired by the lives of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Camillus de Lellis.
> Read more about our mission and philosophy
> Read more about our spiritual life
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Our Campus and Facilities
Built between 1954 and 1957 St. Camillus School was designed to accommodate a large student population. Today we utilize this gift of space to provide our students with many additional classes and resources.
Our main school building consists of 12 primary classroom plus a full-size library, computer lab, science lab, art room, music room, counselor's office, health room, and several rooms used for tutoring and small group work. The main building also includes a chapel, the Camillia Room (our cafeteria and auditorium), and our gymnasium as well as several meeting rooms. Our main building also has a large interior courtyard that has a playground and field primary used by preschool students.
Elsewhere on our campus is our large parish church which we use for weekly school masses, the parish offices, and several fields and parking lots which we use for recess and physical education. Our campus is also directly adjacent to Broad Acres Park (a Montgomery County park) which affords us the use of a playground, basketball court, soccer fields, two baseball/softball diamonds, a walking trail, and nature areas which we use for recess and physical education.
Our Preschool Program for Children ages 2-4
We offer a full-day (8:30 am -3:15 pm) preschool program for children ages 2-4.
Our program is licensed by the Office of Child Care of the Maryland Department of Education and is accredited by the Commission on Elementary School of the Middles States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Our program uses the Maryland Model for School Readiness and is a member of National Association for the Education of Young Children.
Our Kindergarten through 8th Grade Program
Our elementary and middle school programs have been serving children for over 55 years. We believe each child is unique and we strive to provide an environment for learning that will meet each child's individual talents and abilities. We also strive to ensure that our education goes beyond the academic and also helps each child to have social, emotional, and physical well being. We work with parents to form young people with the character of a moral person and good citizen.
Our school is guided by the policies of the Catholic Schools Office of the Archdiocese of Washington and is accredited by the Commission on Elementary School of the Middles States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Our school is a member of National Catholic Educational Association, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, the National Middle School Association, and other organizations that help us to constantly improve what we offer.
Our Extended Care Program
Our extended care program is available to assist families in providing children with child care and academic support before and after school. Our extended care program provides child care before school from 7 am to 8:15 am and after school from 3:15 pm to 6 pm. After care includes snack, homework time, and activities outdoors and indoors.
Our extended care services are available for an additional cost beyond regular tuition. Several different packages of extended care are available to meet the varying needs of families.
Our Summer Programs
We recognize that many families need or want to provide their children with structured learning and activities throughout the summer vacation period.
During June and July St. Camillus offers a summer camp program for children age 2 through 8th grade that includes daily academic and physical activities (including swimming at a neighborhood pool) and a weekly field trip.
We also offer a summer school program for students in middle school.
Our Extracurricular Programs - Clubs and Sports
St. Camillus School offers a number of after school clubs and activities including: dance, band, Student Council, WSCS News, conversational French, sewing, and Algebra help.
In conjunction with our larger parish community we also offer: CYO sports (soccer and basketball), girl scouts and cub scouts, youth group, service trips, and a youth choir.
Each year additional clubs and activities are offered based upon student, parent, and teacher interests.
Our Parent Community
As a Catholic school we firmly believe that parents are the first teachers of their children and the school and church's responsibility is to be partners with parents in carrying out the formation of their children.
Our Parent-Teacher-Student Organization is one of the primary vehicles to help facilitate that partnership. The PTSO meets regularly to give parents, teachers, and students a forum to communicate and to plan ways to support and strengthen the community. Each year the PTSO plans many events designed to build up the relationships in our community and support families.
The PTSO acts as one of the stewards of the school school by providing parents and others with opportunities to support the school's mission through volunteerism, fundraising, and spreading the word about the good work that we do.