To Know Better
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It Takes St. Thomas
We do our best to give them better—every day in every way. Through research-backed, 21st-century teaching practices, a welcoming community of families of all backgrounds, and a deep commitment to Episcopal values, St. Thomas builds a foundation for children to become better learners, better people, and better leaders.
St. Thomas by the Numbers
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3
Sections per grade -
7:1
Student–teacher ratio -
6
Acres of fields, playgrounds, studios, and flexible learning spaces -
148
Professional development hours per year -
40
After-school athletics and enrichment programs -
8
Years of student public-speaking and leadership opportunities
To Know Better
List of 1 items.
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It Takes St. Thomas
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Join us in Welcoming our New Head of School!
Please join us in welcoming our new Head of School, Ms. Sarah Kemeness! We are so excited for this new chapter and look forward to her leadership and guidance.Read More
Starting today, you can officially find her on campus. Ms. Kemeness will be working closely with our Administrators, Faculty, and Staff, preparing for the upcoming school year. If you find yourself near North Kendall Drive, please stop by and say hello! Her door is always open, and she looks forward to getting to know our families. We hope you enjoy the rest of your summer break and come back to school renewed and refreshed. It’s going to be a great year! -
Congratulations to our ISSF Star Award Winners!
Congratulations to our 5th-grade students, Sebastian, Marina & James, on receiving the prestigious ISSF STAR AWARD! These three greet everything with a positive attitude, kindness, & determination. We are proud to recognize, honor, & celebrate them for their numerous accomplishments.Read More
Way to go! -
2022 Spelling Bee
Read MoreWhat an incredible Spelling Bee! Congratulations to all of the Spelling Bee participants for their hard work, dedication, and confidence today! We had such fantastic spellers this year that we finished the words on the studied spelling list packet, and moved into an unstudied word list. What an accomplishment and testament to these incredible students!The final three contestants had the additional challenge of spelling words they had never seen before. Kudos to Wyatt, Julien, and Noah for taking on the very difficult challenge.
Special congratulations to our School Spelling Bee Champion, Noah Veras! -
New Head of School Appointment 2022-2023
Read MoreSARAH KEMENESS APPOINTED HEAD OF SCHOOL AT
ST. THOMAS EPISCOPAL PARISH SCHOOL
Tenured Educator, Tasked with Leading All School Aspects and Supporting Vestry and Church, Set to Join in July 2022Dear St. Thomas Family,
CORAL GABLES, FL - (January 25, 2022) - St. Thomas Episcopal Parish School (STEPS), one of Miami’s elite schools for Preschool-Grade 5 is proud to announce the appointment of Ms. Sarah Kemeness as new Head of School beginning July 1, 2022. Kemeness joins STEPS from Palm Beach Academy where she has served as Middle/Upper School Head (Grades 4-9) since 2015. She succeeds Mrs. Lillian Issa who is continuing on to the next chapter of her life together with her husband and family, after successfully leading STEPS for the past six years and more than forty years in education. We are grateful to Mrs. Issa and thank her for her leadership and valuable commitment to St. Thomas during her time with us and wish her the very best. Kemeness was selected after an extensive nationwide search led by The Education Group and an in-depth interview process with STEPS’ Search Committee and key constituents.“We are thrilled to welcome Sarah to our school and community! When we embarked on this search, we had a clear sense of the type of leader needed to drive forward the school’s mission and vision,” said Kurt Bauer, “Sarah not only has the experience needed to take on this role, but she possesses strong leadership and management skills, a warm and approachable personality, and a passion for faith-based education, that will continue to set St. Thomas apart from other institutions.”
In this role, Kemeness will be responsible for the school’s strategic planning and implementation, establishing a long-term vision to build upon the success of the current administration, supporting faculty and staff, nourishing the school’s community, and collaborating closely with the Board of Trustees, Vestry and Church. “At St. Thomas, our School is a ministry of our Parish,” said Reverend Timothy Fleck, St. Thomas’ Priest-in-Charge. “Educating children is what we are called to do, and I know Sarah understands that.” She will also be instrumental in upholding St. Thomas’ standards of excellence, honoring the school’s mission, and strengthening the schools’ Episcopal identity.
“I’m excited and honored to lead this strong community known for student-centered education, a deep ecclesiastical tradition, and academic excellence,” said Sarah Kemeness. “I look forward to working with a dedicated faculty who during my visit, made it clear that they love their students. Finally, I am thrilled to be partnering with St. Thomas’ Board of Trustees, the clergy, and families to bring our mission to life.”Kemeness comes to STEPS with more than 25 years of experience in education. Prior to serving as Middle/Upper Head at Palm Beach Academy, Kemeness was the Upper School Head at Lake Mary Preparatory School, where she oversaw the revamping of the AP program and always kept one foot firmly in the classroom by teaching a tenth-grade English class. Passionate about teacher development and the faculty community, she created a new model for teacher professional development. Rather than bring in outside professionals, Kemeness tapped faculty members for professional development days and began a “teachers teaching teachers” movement that helped ignite new ideas in veterans and new faculty alike, while showcasing talent on campus.Additionally, she held various positions at Palmer Trinity School – a stronger feeder school for St. Thomas – including Upper and Middle School Dean of Students, Lead Advisor, English Teacher, and Varsity Soccer Coach.Originally from Long Island, NY, Kemeness earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami and a Master of Arts in Education Administration from Florida International University. She currently resides in Palm Beach but will be relocating to South Miami in order to be close to the St. Thomas community. When she’s not working you won’t find her sitting still but rather paddleboarding or out on the golf course.About St. Thomas Episcopal Parish SchoolLocated in Coral Gables, Florida, St. Thomas Episcopal Parish School (STEPS) was founded in 1953. Now in its 69th year, St. Thomas has grown to include grades junior preschool through 5th grade and has 425 students. St. Thomas is a loving, secure, and inclusive community that nurtures, challenges, and inspires children to honor God, care for their world, and develop a passion for discovery and learning. STEPS equips children to better navigate and lead in a rapidly evolving world through an innovative and proven education grounded in Episcopal values. For more information on St. Thomas, please call 305-665-4851 or visit www.stepsmia.org. -
St. Thomas Top Fundraiser in Nation-Kids Heart Challenge
St. Thomas is the top fundraiser in the nation for the American Heart Association's Kids Heart Challenge! We are so proud of our students for raising these life-saving donations & learning how to keep their hearts healthy. Huge thanks to Coach Love & Coach Dayssi for spearheading such a worthwhile cause. Thank you to the American Heart Association for sending a representative to our campus today to let us know the good news!Read More -
2021-22 Student Government Elections
Read MoreSt. Thomas students recently voted in the new members for our Student Government. After campaigning with posters and speeches, the new officers were elected by the 4th and 5th graders. Congratulations to our new student leaders! Co-Presidents, Girl’s Vice President, Boy’s Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Historian, Chaplain, and Sergeant at Arms.We are looking forward to working with this incredible group of students!Kudos to all of our exemplary students who ran for office! The speeches were well done, and everyone invested time and hard work in the election process.
Of course, none of this would be possible without Mrs. Fran Rosen and Mrs. Debby Rogero, our Student Government Advisors. Thank you both! -
Parish School Sunday
It was a gorgeous Parish School Sunday where the Church and School community came together for an outdoor service. Followed by coffee hour & the Book Fair launch! We were so happy to see so many familiar faces and to welcome new ones as well. #ComingBackSTRongerRead More -
Fostering Global Leadership in the Classroom
St. Thomas is an international community, one that welcomes and celebrates all.Read More
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