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Our Lady of Loretto School: School Spotlight | Marin Private Schools | Marin Private Schools

Home / Our Lady of Loretto School / School Spotlight

School Spotlight · Novato · TK to 8 · Catholic

Our Lady of Loretto School

Northern Marin's first parish school, teaching TK through grade 8 since 1958

Northern Marin's first parochial school, open in Novato since 1958 and teaching transitional kindergarten through grade 8.

Seen from above, students stand on the field spelling out OLL

Grades: TK to 8
Founded: 1958
Extended care: 7 AM to 6 PM

Inside the story

Built one grade at a time
The school day, grade by grade
A community where every child belongs
Character, confidence and compassion
Preparing students for what comes next

Built one grade at a time

Our Lady of Loretto School opened on September 3, 1958, the first parochial school in northern Marin. The parish was 62 years old by then. Ursuline Sisters led the first staff, and 140 students started in grades 1 to 3.

The school added a grade each year until it served grades 1 to 8 in 1965, and it added kindergarten in 1992. It now runs full-day transitional kindergarten and kindergarten classes, and its faculty are credentialed lay teachers. It is the parish school of Our Lady of Loretto Church and the only Catholic elementary school in Novato.

The school day, grade by grade

Young students in blue sweaters work on worksheets at their desks

Every grade has religion class daily, with Spanish, music, art, technology and PE alongside the core subjects. Classes visit the school library once or twice a week. Grades 1 to 3 have part-time aides in the mornings, when core skills are taught.

The curriculum follows the Archdiocese of San Francisco's standards, which are based on the California State Standards, with Common Core in math and English. Science is taught three to four days a week in the lower grades and daily in the science lab in middle school. The day runs from 8 AM to 2 PM for transitional kindergarten and kindergarten, and to 3 PM for grades 1 to 8.

A community where every child belongs

Five students in blue cardigans and plaid skirts smile in front of a row of blue lockers

Families are part of the school by design. Each family commits to 30 service hours a year, and the Parent Teacher Guild runs the after-school enrichment classes, which change each year and cost extra. Middle schoolers are class buddies to first graders, serve as School Family Leaders and give tours to visiting families.

Admission gives priority to current school families, alumni and parishioners; other places depend on space and a review of the student's records. For the 2025 to 2026 school year, the transitional kindergarten class took up to 15 children, who must be 4 by the first day of school. Keane Care, the extended-care program, runs from 7 to 7:45 AM and from 2 to 6 PM on school days.

Character, confidence and compassion

A student holds a lit candle during a service in a church with stained glass windows

The school's mission names the graduate it works toward: honest, respectful, independent, spiritual thinkers. Religion is taught every day, and middle schoolers prepare for Confirmation and complete service hours.

The Student Council meets every other week with faculty moderators to plan service projects, school spirit events and activities. Our Lady of Loretto admits students of any race, color, nationality and religious affiliation.

Preparing students for what comes next

A student in scrubs and gloves holds up a dissected heart during a science lab

Grades 6 to 8 are taught by subject, as a departmentalized middle school. Middle schoolers take religion, English, grammar, literature, science, social studies, Spanish, art, music, PE, technology and library, with math at grade level or accelerated.

Monthly electives add Junk Box Wars, a STEAM building challenge; Panther Pages, the student newspaper; Speech for Success; iMovie making; and coding Sphero robots. There is a spelling bee, Poetry in the Hall, and a homework club for grades 5 to 8.

Class trips mark the years: Gold Country with Coloma Outdoor Discovery School in grade 4, NatureBridge in the Marin Headlands in grade 6, and CYO Camp at Caritas Creek in grade 8.

View the full profile Visit school.ollnovato.org

Facts checked against Our Lady of Loretto School's own website in October 2026. Photos from the school.

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