FAQs
- Do I have to be a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church?
No: we welcome families from all, or no, faith backgrounds. Our curricula includes religious education from the Seventh-day Adventist worldview. - Will an Adventist school try to turn my child into a Seventh-day Adventist?
We highly respect and nurture each students' freedom to think for themselves. Students are encouraged to learn how to make good and moral choices regardless of the religious background of their home. It is a key tenet of Adventism, that an individual is not pressured into church membership. Children of Adventist parents only become baptized members of an Adventist church once they are old enough to consciously make the decision for themselves. - What do Seventh-day Adventists believe?
Seventh-day Adventists believe in the Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three make one God. Seventh-day Adventists believe that salvation comes through the death of Jesus Christ, the Son. Seventh-day Adventists believe in a live, personal God who is interesting in the lives of His people. We believe in a God who loves more than we can fathom, who allowed Himself to be crucified to restore His connection us, who forgives and yearns for each of us to know Him.
To read more about the Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, please click here. - Tell me about your religious programming.
- Students participate in class worship, Bible Classes, and prayer time each day.
- Pastor Jon from the Wisconsin Academy Seventh-day Adventist Church comes each week for Chapel.
- Each semester we have a "Week of Prayer," featuring a special speaker during a daily Chapel program.
- Through our Students Engaged for Eternity (SEE) programs, students get the chance to show the love of Jesus through outreach projects. - Do you have a non-discrimination policy?
Petersen Adventist School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of color, national, and ethnic origin in the administration of its admission processes, educational policies, financial aids, student aid, or any other school program. - How long is the school day?
Mondays - Fridays: 7:50 am - 3:10 pm
Early Release Days, as published in the school calendar, end at 12-noon. We do not have a lunch-period on early release days. - Do you provide transportation?
For students living in the Columbus or Fall River city limits, the local public school district provides bussing services.
While we do not offer any additional routine transportation, we are happy to help facilitate a ride-share plan between families. - Do you require a uniform?
Our dress codes states that boys wear a collared shirt with jeans or slacks. Girls wear a collared shirt with jeans, slacks or skirts. Shorts are allowed at the beginning and end of the school year. Please see the School Handbook for more information on dress guidelines. - What is Tuition?
For the 2023 - 2024 school year, tuition is $325 per month September - June, with discounts available for multiple children from the same home.
A registration fee is due at the time of registration. This fee is nonrefundable and based on the student's entering grade:
Kindergarten: $310 / student
First - Fourth Grade: $325 / student
Fifth - Eighth Grade: $350 / student - Do you participate in the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program?
Yes! More information available here. - Do you offer tuition assistance?
Our primary source of tuition assistance is the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program. At times, generous donors may be able to offer tuition support for families that do not qualify. Please contact the school for more information. - Do you have a Parent Organization?
Yes! Our parent organization is called Home & School: Yenifer Baartz is our Home & School leader.
Home & School is involved in major fundraising activities, field trips, and many of our school programs. - Do you provide a breakfast or lunch?
We do not have a food service program. Students bring lunches from home.
We request students abstain from bringing shellfish and pork or ham products in their lunches.
Periodically, our Home & School program will run a Hot Lunch fundraiser. The schedule, fully vegetarian menu, and meal pricing is posted in the weekly family newsletter. - What about a nutrition break or snack time?
Our daily schedule includes a break for a healthy mid-morning snack. Students bring their healthy snack along with their lunches. Healthy snack must be healthy. Items such as raw fruits, raw vegetables, cheese sticks, yogurt, or hard-boiled eggs are all fantastic options. Items such as crackers, chips, candy, granola bars, or gummies are great lunch-time treats. - Tell me about the use of technology at Petersen?
Petersen students are connected: Students in grades K - 4 have a class-set of iPads. Students in grades 5 - 8 each have a school-assigned Chromebook. Technology devices are used for collaborative assignments, facilitating research, developing presentation and word processing skills, learning keyboarding skills, distance education when medically indicated, and more. - What curricula does Petersen use?
Grades 1 - 8:
- Bible : Encounter Adventist Curriculum
- Mathematics : Big Ideas Math: Modeling Real Life via Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
- Language Arts : Pathways 2.0 via Kendall Hunt.
- Science : By Design: A Journey to Excellence via Kendall Hunt.
- Social Studies : Impact (K - Grade 4) or Voices & Perspectives (Grade 5 - 8) Social Studies via McGraw-Hill
- Physical Education : Teachers design engaging activities to support a healthy, active lifestyle and physical development.
- Fine Arts, Music & Visual Arts : Teachers design engaging activities to explore music and art.
Kindergarten:
- Stepping Stones: A Journey to Excellence through Discovery via Kendall Hunt.
For more information, see our Curricula page.