About St. Paul’s School

History of St. Paul’s Lutheran School
HAMMOND AND MUNSTER
St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church began a school four years after organizing the congregation in Hammond, Indiana in 1882. The first school session began in October, 1886 with grades one to eight located in downtown Hammond. A new facility at 5848 Erie Street in Hammond was built in 1920, separate from the church sanctuary. The school building on Erie was closed to be united with the new school and church sanctuary in Munster in 1981. St. Paul’s Lutheran School began with 23 students and reached an enrollment of 250 students during the baby boom of the 60's. The preschool wing was added in the late-90s to accommodate the growing new ministry.

Mission of St. Paul’s Lutheran School
We view children entrusted to us by their parents as individual gifts of God. Together with parents and congregation we create an educational atmosphere centered on Jesus Christ in which we nurture the whole child spiritually, academically, emotionally, socially, and physically so that all children reach their potential as life-long disciples of the Lord, Jesus Christ.

In the Heart of Munster
Centrally located in Munster, Indiana, one block south of Ridge Road, St. Paul's Lutheran School draws students from Munster as well as from surrounding communities as far away as Crown Point, Whiting, and Chicago. See map for directions.

School Hours
Sessions begin at 8:15 a.m. and end at 3:15 p.m. for grades one through eight. The lunch hour varies for different grades. The morning kindergarten session begins at 8:15 a.m. and ends at 11:30 a.m. The full day kindergarten session begins at 8:15 a.m. and ends at 3:15 p.m.

Tuition
A tuition fee is charged for all enrolled children.  The operation of the Christian Day School is part of the total budget program of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. In this way, every student’s education is subsidized financially in some degree (20-60%) by St. Paul’s Church. (More information about tuition and admissions.)

Extended Care Program
St. Paul’s Extended Care provides a friendly Christian atmosphere where working parents may leave their children before and/or after regular school hours, from 6:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The after–school care is an extension of the Christian Day School which gives the children added opportunities to learn and grow in Christ on an occasional, scheduled, daily or emergency basis.

Any child enrolled in St. Paul’s Lutheran School is eligible for Extended Care services. Kindergarten students enrolled in the morning would be eligible for only before school care. Full day kindergarten students would be eligible for before school and after school care. Child care is available for half day kindergarten students through St. Paul’s Child Care.

Not Merely the 3 Rs plus Religion
In addition to essential school subjects, the Christian faith is taught. However, religion is not just a course added to the secular course of studies. Rather, all studies are presented in the light of God’s Word, and all subjects become meaningful to the child of God as ways of developing talents for greater service to a loving God who redeemed him from sin. As the child progresses through the grades, he learns more and more of the chief doctrines of the Bible. He also learns from memory the chief parts of Christian doctrine, prayers, Bible verses, and hymns.

Children’s Worship Services
Weekly chapel services are held each Wednesday morning at 8:25 a.m. These services are approximately thirty minutes in length. All parents and members of the congregation are invited to attend.

Lunch and Bus Service
Students may bring a complete, packed lunch, or a daily hot lunch may be purchased at school. The lunch program is in cooperation with the School Town of Munster. The cost of the lunch currently is $2.00 for students in grades K-8, which includes a carton of milk. Lunch tickets are pre–purchased on Monday mornings, before 8:15 am near the lunch room; students in grades 1–8 turn in a lunch ticket at the cafeteria counter at the start of the lunch period in exchange for their hot lunch. Kindergarten and childcare hot lunches are brought to them.

Morning bus service only is available for residents through the School Town of Munster.

Dress Code
In general, students are expected to project a respectful and clean appearance, representative of a Christian community. Collared shirts with sleeves, untorn pants or jeans worn at the waist; shoes that have a solid back with socks are appropriate. For specific dress code guidelines, please see a current Handbook, available from the school office.