Our Mission
Aquinas Catholic Schools is a Christ-centered family
devoted to nurturing students of all faiths
through educational excellence in its vibrant Catholic tradition.
Our Vision
Aquinas Catholic Schools, through its vibrant Catholic tradition, aspires to be the premier educational choice, empowering students to fulfill their God-given potential for the betterment of all.
Our Core Values
FAITH
Serving Jesus and His Church
INTEGRITY
Cultivating moral character
EXCELLENCE
Pursuing daily improvement through life-long learning
LEADERSHIP
Inspiring achievement and stewardship
DIGNITY
Respecting God, others and self
Principal's Message
Welcome to Cathedral Elementary School where we are proud to be part of the Aquinas Catholic School system! Our school starts with 3-year-old preschool and continues through the 2nd grade. The 3-year-old preschool and 4-year-old kindergarten classes provide educational content for half a day and then students enjoy extended care for those choosing to stay a full day. Students in 5-year-old kindergarten through second grade receive all-day education in core subjects and specialty classes such as art, music, Spanish, technology, library, physical education and guidance. Our students then continue their intermediate level instruction in Grades 3 through 6 at Blessed Sacrament School, followed by grades 7-12 at Aquinas Middle and Aquinas High Schools.
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At Cathedral Elementary School, we strive to offer our families and students a safe and supportive environment for students to be taught with varied learning strategies and guided with a Christ-centered purpose. Our top-notch staff embraces the Aquinas Catholic School’s core values of faith, integrity, excellence, leadership and dignity throughout our teachings in addition to leading by example. We aspire to create not only well-rounded students but disciples of Christ who will grow to become responsible citizens of the future.
It is an honor to serve as the principal of Cathedral Elementary School. I began my career in business administration and later found a calling at Aquinas Catholic Schools. I have had the pleasure of taking on several roles over the last dozen years from after care worker, admissions coordinator, paraprofessional, teacher and now principal all while continuing my education at Viterbo University. Aquinas has provided me and my family a welcoming sense of community, and my hope is for that to be extended to all families.
Mrs. Tara Key
Principal
Cathedral Elementary School
Educational Background
Bachelor of Science: Arkansas State University
Master of Education and Administration: Viterbo University
Educational Experience
Over 10 years as teacher or administrator for
Aquinas Catholic Schools
OUR HISTORY
In 1857, the first Catholic school opened in the Coulee Region. Since that time, as parishes were built, so were the schools, in some cases even before the Church. From these humble beginnings, a strong unified system of quality Catholic education has grown. The Aquinas Catholic Schools united in 2000 to equalize salaries, offer equal opportunities to all schools, standardize curriculum and improve operational efficiency. We believe this cooperation of parishes, schools, families and the community gives us the foundation to be the area's leading educational system.
WHY CATHEDRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL?
As you visit the Cathedral School website, you will explore the wealth of opportunities that we provide to our students and families. Cathedral School offers a "tradition of excellence in Catholic education" that spans 136 years.
The mission of Cathedral School and that of Aquinas Catholic Schools is to offer the opportunity for an excellent Catholic education rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are a family centered school community, which respects the God-given dignity of every person and celebrates the development of Gospel faith and identity through sacrament and service. We are committed to providing a learning focused and student-centered curriculum for the good of the Church and the world.
Our mission and the excellence of our programs will become evident as you view the variety of information available on the Cathedral School website.