What’s going on with St Mary’s?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work with someone whose kids go there. It sounds like a 1950s/60s Catholic School for the 2020s. Strict rules. What do people think of the academics there?

+1
It has always been that way. I grew up here (and went to church and ccd there) and the stories from when I was growing up and today from my friends kids are awful. We know a few families who have moved from there to public, and the kids have been behind academically

LOL. Nonsense. As if the public schools around here are so strong academically. They’re not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work with someone whose kids go there. It sounds like a 1950s/60s Catholic School for the 2020s. Strict rules. What do people think of the academics there?

+1
It has always been that way. I grew up here (and went to church and ccd there) and the stories from when I was growing up and today from my friends kids are awful. We know a few families who have moved from there to public, and the kids have been behind academically

LOL. Nonsense. As if the public schools around here are so strong academically. They’re not.

+1. Hilarious to read the DCUM crowd brag about the academic prowess of DMV public school, which were SHUTTERED for almost two years. While criticizing Catholic schools, which were at least OPENED.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work with someone whose kids go there. It sounds like a 1950s/60s Catholic School for the 2020s. Strict rules. What do people think of the academics there?

+1
It has always been that way. I grew up here (and went to church and ccd there) and the stories from when I was growing up and today from my friends kids are awful. We know a few families who have moved from there to public, and the kids have been behind academically

LOL. Nonsense. As if the public schools around here are so strong academically. They’re not.

That was my point exactly. At least the public schools have standards for teachers. St Mary’s does not. My point was the students from st Mary’s are academically behind the public school students, and that’s a pretty low bar.

[Anonymous]

We have 3 children there. Discipline is normal. Academics are fine. I know many of the admin staff who are leaving. Most have been there for many years and are moving to positions that seem like great fits for them. I haven’t heard any complaints or negative vibes from any teacher, admin or parent. We are and remain very happy there.

This year less boys went to Gonzaga, maybe 6, but last years there were 20. It always seems to ebb and flow. Girls I think there are ~ 10 to Visi. Most kids going to BI. I think 4 or 5 to SJC this year.

[Anonymous]

We’ve been at the school for a decade. There is turnover every year. Many teachers are military spouses so move on after a couple years. Others move on to teach at the Catholic high schools, like Gonzaga or Visi. Some have babies and stay home with them. Some stay in parochial education but move further out into the suburbs, I assume for lower cost of living. There are still a fair number of teachers that have been there a very, very long time.

If you know the details of the front office departures this year, each of them makes perfect sense in terms of opportunities presented and reasons for leaving, although so many departing at the same is certainly a loss. The school is not perfect, but it’s been a better educational environment than what my kids would’ve gotten in our zoned public. I don’t think they’re necessarily getting a better education, but I think they’re getting an equal education in a smaller, more structured environment, which works for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did you call the front office staff to ask them, OP?

There is always movement during the summer months of staff as they retire, get new jobs, move to a new location, etc. Why should your child's school be any different? Especially after a pandemic?

My advice? Relax, stop assuming the worst, and call the front office. I assume you a kindergarten parent?

15 is a lot no matter how you cut it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work with someone whose kids go there. It sounds like a 1950s/60s Catholic School for the 2020s. Strict rules. What do people think of the academics there?

+1
It has always been that way. I grew up here (and went to church and ccd there) and the stories from when I was growing up and today from my friends kids are awful. We know a few families who have moved from there to public, and the kids have been behind academically

LOL. Nonsense. As if the public schools around here are so strong academically. They’re not.

+1. Hilarious to read the DCUM crowd brag about the academic prowess of DMV public school, which were SHUTTERED for almost two years. While criticizing Catholic schools, which were at least OPENED.

You can be “open” and still a lesser academic school.

[Anonymous]

OP:
Have you asked the pastor or powers that be about what they are doing to retain teachers or reward those who have multiple years of service/multiple areas of certification?

[Anonymous]

Principal sent out an email. It looks like most of the people leaving have been there fewer than 10 years. Only one person with 20+ years of experience.

[Anonymous]

It’s hilarious how the DCUM crew thinks that middle schools are somehow teaching particle physics and that there’s such a huge difference in “academic quality” among the schools around here. Gimme a break — 80 pct of learning is done at HOME. There’s very little variation among NOVA middle schools in terms of academics.

“Academic quality” is just a euphemism for “minimal diversity.” Just be honest about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work with someone whose kids go there. It sounds like a 1950s/60s Catholic School for the 2020s. Strict rules. What do people think of the academics there?

+1
It has always been that way. I grew up here (and went to church and ccd there) and the stories from when I was growing up and today from my friends kids are awful. We know a few families who have moved from there to public, and the kids have been behind academically

Reall?? both my kids went though St. Mary's and are now at Ivies. Same with many of their St. Mary's friends (now at Ivies or UVA).

[Anonymous]

I see the Catholic haters are out in full force on this one. My daughter went through St. Mary's pre-K through 8th, went to Visitation and is now at UVA. She got an excellent education at St. Mary's and made lifelong friends because of the excellent family environment the school embraces. No school is perfect, but I can tell you with 100% certainty that the majority of kids going there are happy, well adjusted and very successful in life going forward.

[Anonymous]

Our kids go to another neighboring Alexandria parochial, but I have NEVER heard of anyone complaining about the academics at St. Mary’s. Many, many of our children’s friends attend, as do many neighbors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have 3 children there. Discipline is normal. Academics are fine. I know many of the admin staff who are leaving. Most have been there for many years and are moving to positions that seem like great fits for them. I haven’t heard any complaints or negative vibes from any teacher, admin or parent. We are and remain very happy there.

This year less boys went to Gonzaga, maybe 6, but last years there were 20. It always seems to ebb and flow. Girls I think there are ~ 10 to Visi. Most kids going to BI. I think 4 or 5 to SJC this year.

Did a lot of boys get into Gonzaga and just choose to go co-ed (SJC or BI) instead or did they want Gonzaga and not get in? Big difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have 3 children there. Discipline is normal. Academics are fine. I know many of the admin staff who are leaving. Most have been there for many years and are moving to positions that seem like great fits for them. I haven’t heard any complaints or negative vibes from any teacher, admin or parent. We are and remain very happy there.

This year less boys went to Gonzaga, maybe 6, but last years there were 20. It always seems to ebb and flow. Girls I think there are ~ 10 to Visi. Most kids going to BI. I think 4 or 5 to SJC this year.

Did a lot of boys get into Gonzaga and just choose to go co-ed (SJC or BI) instead or did they want Gonzaga and not get in? Big difference.

I heard many fewer applied to Gonzaga for whatever reason, which was noticed by Gonzaga. Many, many went to Gonzaga the year before.