Room for the things that make school worth remembering
Students in the upper grades can join a concert band, a jazz band, two different choirs, and a spring theater production.
These are the parts of a school day children talk about at dinner, and they're a real part of the week here rather than something squeezed in when there's time.
Music class, all the way through
Music is part of the regular schedule for every student at St. Francis, from preschool through eighth grade. Children sing, learn rhythm and notation, meet instruments, and build the musical vocabulary that makes later study possible.
Mr. Josh Crowl teaches our general music curriculum. He also directs the PMO Choir, leads the St. Francis Solanus Youth Choir, and teaches music at Quincy Notre Dame, so students who continue in music at QND often arrive already knowing their teacher. Students who join PMO Band have band class during the school day here at St. Francis.
Band and choir through the Parochial Music Organization
The Parochial Music Organization brings together students from all the Quincy Catholic schools to rehearse and perform at Quincy Notre Dame. It's a genuinely serious program: concert band, jazz band, and two choirs, taught by QND's own music faculty, with access to IESA festivals and competitions at the state level.
For a student who loves music, it means playing in a full ensemble rather than a handful of classmates, and being taught by the people who will teach them in high school. And joining doesn't mean giving up a sport. Many of our students play a sport and take part in PMO in the same season, and coaches and directors are used to working around one another.
PMO Concert Band and Jazz Band
Concert Band and Jazz Band rehearse at QND after school, beginning in late August. Beginners are welcome. A Beginner Band Night each summer covers instrument rental and purchase options with The Music Shoppe and introduces students to their teachers.
PMO Concert Choir and Cadet Choir
Concert Choir and Cadet Choir rehearse at QND after school, beginning in late August.
To register or ask questions, contact Jill Steinkamp at (217) 257-2253 or jsteinkamp@quincynotredame.org.
Registration opens each summer, and rehearsals begin the last week of August.
Singing and staging
St. Francis Solanus Youth Choir
Open to grades four through eight, rehearsing several Fridays a month. Our choir sings at school Masses and at parish Masses through the year, which means these students are leading worship for the whole community, not performing at it. It's a separate group from the PMO Choir, and students may join either or both.
The spring theater production
Every spring, students in grades four through eight put on a full theatrical production at St. Francis. Students have an opportunity to participate in all roles, from acting to backstage roles. We've done a variety of musicals and plays. Auditions, rehearsals, sets, costumes, and a real audience.
Where art happens
St. Francis doesn't currently have a full-time art teacher. What we have instead is art woven into regular classroom work: drawing, painting, and making tied to what students are studying, taught by the teachers who know them.
For families who want more, an after-school Art Club runs at St. Francis in six-week sessions for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. It's led by professional instructors through Pop Up Art Studio, all certified and degreed in art or education, with previous teaching experience at the Quincy Art Center and in area schools. Students paint, draw, sculpt, and work in mixed media, with a new technique and challenge introduced each week.
More than 10,000 books, and a librarian who knows them
Our library holds over 10,000 volumes, from classics to books that came out this year, and every class visits weekly.
Erin Carey, our library coordinator, helps students find the next thing they'll love and guides the checkout process so children learn to choose and return books on their own. Teachers plan with her, so what students find on the shelves connects to what they're studying in class. For a school that has rebuilt how it teaches reading, having a library that's actually used every week isn't incidental.
How we teach reading →
Music, art & library questions
Don't see yours? The school office is glad to help.
(217) 222-4077Does every student take music?
Yes. Music is part of the regular schedule for every student from preschool through eighth grade, taught by Mr. Crowl. Students who join PMO Band have band classes during the school day at St. Francis.
What is PMO?
The Parochial Music Organization brings together students from the Quincy Catholic schools for band and choir, rehearsing and performing at Quincy Notre Dame and various locations in the area. PMO Band is open to grades five through eight and PMO Choir to grades four through eight.
How do we sign up for PMO band or choir?
Contact Jill Steinkamp at (217) 257-2253 or jsteinkamp@quincynotredame.org. Registration opens each summer and rehearsals begin at QND in late August.
My child has never played an instrument. Can they still join band?
Yes. Beginners are welcome, and a Beginner Band Night is held each summer at QND where families can discuss instrument rental or purchase with The Music Shoppe and meet the teachers.
What's the difference between PMO Choir and the St. Francis Youth Choir?
They're two different groups. PMO Choir rehearses at QND with students from across the Quincy Catholic schools. The St. Francis Solanus Youth Choir rehearses here and sings at our school and parish Masses. Students may join either one, or both.
Does St. Francis have an art teacher?
Not currently a full-time art teacher. Art is part of regular classroom instruction, and an after-school Art Club led by professional art instructors is offered each year for students in kindergarten through fifth grade.
How much is the after-school Art Club?
$125 for a six-week session, meeting Wednesdays after school until 4:30 p.m. Registration is handled by Pop Up Art Studio at popupartstudioquincy.com.
Is there a school play?
Yes. Students in grades four through eight put on a full production each spring at St. Francis.
Does the school have a library?
Yes. Our library holds more than 10,000 books and every class visits weekly with our library coordinator, Erin Carey.
Can students take part in music at the high school level?
Many do. Because PMO rehearses at Quincy Notre Dame with QND faculty, students who continue into high school music often already know their teachers and the program.
Can my child do band or choir and play sports?
Yes, and many of our students do exactly that. Music and athletics both meet after school, and families work out the overlap every year with the help of directors and coaches who are used to sharing students. One of the advantages of a school our size is that children don't have to specialize at eleven years old. A student here can be in the concert band, sing at Mass, play basketball, and be in the spring musical in the same year, and quite a few are.
What our families say
Faith & Tradition
Our family's love for St. Francis Solanus School is deeply rooted in faith and tradition. With Joe's family having attended for generations, it is incredibly meaningful to now watch our children walk the same halls and grow in the same values-rich, faith-centered environment.
Joe & Alexis Darnell FamilyKnown at every stage
St. Francis Solanus meets the individual academic needs of all our children at every stage of development. Our older kids recognized the "St. Francis Solanus difference" during an initial school visit and were ready to start the next day! The parent-teacher partnership is collaborative and focused on helping students do their best, and the Catholic influence of the priests, deacons, DRE, and staff is focused on fostering a true and lasting relationship with Jesus Christ.
Aaron & Karen Weiman FamilyTo be Jesus to others
St. Francis provides a quality Catholic experience. They learn not only how to add and subtract but to know Jesus, love Jesus, and to be Jesus to others. We are proud of our choice to have provided a faith-based education for our children and that our children have continued to choose St. Francis for their children. It is important to celebrate the privilege of a Catholic education and we have been blessed to have been supportive of continuing this legacy.
Deacon Dennis and Pat HolbrookAccountability with grace
The culture is one of partnership. Students are truly known by their teachers and staff. There is accountability paired with grace. Leadership is present and engaged.
The Friye Mamdani FamilyEnthusiasm and dedication
The teachers of St. Francis are observing and always seeking ways to improve the abilities of our students. The enthusiasm and dedication from the teachers has helped our children gain confidence and excel in multiple areas.
Brad & Makenzie Holtmeyer FamilyLessons come to life
The teachers at St. Francis bring lessons to life, creating engaging classrooms where students feel excited about learning. What stands out most is their strong training in literacy instruction, ensuring that every student grows as a confident, capable reader and communicator.
John & Lindsey Kelly FamilyWe felt the pull
We never thought we would be the family transferring our children to a new school. After being parishioners for a few years, we felt the pull to enroll our children at St Francis school. As soon as we took a tour, our girls' faces lit up and they said they wanted to start the next day.
Brad & Amanda Genenbacher FamilyLoving, caring & nurturing
Mrs. Wiewel has taught both of our girls over the last two years. She is so loving, caring and nurturing and with her help, our child was able to succeed in an academic area she was previously struggling in.
Brad & Amanda Genebacher FamilyAcademic excellence
St. Francis School offers a welcoming and nurturing environment where academic excellence is paired with strong values rooted in the Catholic tradition.
Dr. Samuel & Danielle Healy FamilyInviting family-feel
The school is small which gives it a warm, inviting family-feel. Staff and students alike begin to know everyone within the building. This brings a sense of comfort knowing our children are being well taken care of while growing in academics and in faith.
James & Tera Terwelp Family
Come hear them.
Our students sing at Mass most weeks and put on a show every spring. Ask when you schedule a visit and we'll tell you what's coming up.