What is going on at PVI?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well I don't think that is the change people seem to be talking about. The old admin was certainly arrogant. I don't see the wealth at all. I think those families head toward the DC privates. But the new admin is very accepting and kind.

My daughter shadowed there last year and said the seniors she met were consistently very friendly, asked her questions about herself and wished her good luck. Meanwhile she felt like she was being judged by the freshmen and sophomore girls, among other things for where else she was applying and the fact she wasn’t into sports.

The DC private schools are a long commute from South Riding and we saw lots of very nice, very new cars in the student parking lot when we toured. There are definitely more displays of wealth there than at the other diocesan high schools. Even my daughter, who was only there for a day and had no idea that there wouldn’t be a consistent culture across the school, sensed the difference between the old and new communities.

Private school sitting in one of the best school districts in the country is full of rich kids. That's absolutely shocking

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are families demanding to know what percentage of the school is catholic. They are so upset that lcps students are there changing the culture. Very unaccepting.

I’m not at PVI but am at a catholic k-8 and it’s interesting bc lifers like me are asking the same question at our school. The influx of non catholic kids during covid changed things, and not for the better. I hadn’t considered that was “unaccepting”, but I guess you’re right. At the same time, these kids and families are just so different. We chose catholic school to join a community of the faithful and because our family is grounded in some values we felt were emphasized at the school (and the haters can stop- I know that’s not for everyone and that’s fine!). So when these families balk at discipline and dress codes and time in prayer, it causes conflict.

We have had a different experience with the new families at our Arlington Diocese school. The new families have been a huge support of the school and help with all the functions and activities. Sure, like in year’s past, there have been families that have trouble fitting in, but it’s been more positive than not.

[Anonymous]

I think that's great that new families have been welcomed at your school. And it's what I expected at PVI, an inclusive culture. But there are a lot of vocal complainers.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s a good school if you’re an athlete. Otherwise, you may have trouble fitting in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are families demanding to know what percentage of the school is catholic. They are so upset that lcps students are there changing the culture. Very unaccepting.

I’m not at PVI but am at a catholic k-8 and it’s interesting bc lifers like me are asking the same question at our school. The influx of non catholic kids during covid changed things, and not for the better. I hadn’t considered that was “unaccepting”, but I guess you’re right. At the same time, these kids and families are just so different. We chose catholic school to join a community of the faithful and because our family is grounded in some values we felt were emphasized at the school (and the haters can stop- I know that’s not for everyone and that’s fine!). So when these families balk at discipline and dress codes and time in prayer, it causes conflict.

We have had a different experience with the new families at our Arlington Diocese school. The new families have been a huge support of the school and help with all the functions and activities. Sure, like in year’s past, there have been families that have trouble fitting in, but it’s been more positive than not.

I am thankful for all of the new families. Our school population was on a steady decline. We were close to losing a second class in a few grades. It’s not an issue any longer. I love the energy of the school now.

[Anonymous]

So, the walkout was protesting a failure to disclose % of catholic students? My catholic H.S. in the DMV (not Paul VI) must've been 99% catholic. I know I was not + one Jewish student in my grade. Seems fair to expect a catholic school to have mostly catholic students.

[Anonymous]

Well, keep in mind that the #1 priority of PVI is to recruit talented athletes from across the nation. Particularly for basketball. I mean, do you really think their basketball team is made up of loudoun county Catholics?

The culture is all about sports. If you are a great athlete, you will do well at that school. But honestly, this is THE culture of loudoun county. It makes sense that the school changed when it moved out there.

[Anonymous]

The school culture does revolve around sports thats true. The new class has around 350 kids, whereas the old school had about 200 kids per class. So it's just exploded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are families demanding to know what percentage of the school is catholic. They are so upset that lcps students are there changing the culture. Very unaccepting.

I’m not at PVI but am at a catholic k-8 and it’s interesting bc lifers like me are asking the same question at our school. The influx of non catholic kids during covid changed things, and not for the better. I hadn’t considered that was “unaccepting”, but I guess you’re right. At the same time, these kids and families are just so different. We chose catholic school to join a community of the faithful and because our family is grounded in some values we felt were emphasized at the school (and the haters can stop- I know that’s not for everyone and that’s fine!). So when these families balk at discipline and dress codes and time in prayer, it causes conflict.

+1 I can completely relate to this
when you decide to have your child attend a Catholic school you should be clear on what that entails
I know a non-Catholic family that was both surprised and quite upset at "all the crucifixes on the walls" at their new Catholic school!

[Anonymous]

I'm not too familiar wit PVI really but I am very familiar with other WCAC schools and they seem to do just fine in both sports and maintaining a Catholic identity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, the walkout was protesting a failure to disclose % of catholic students? My catholic H.S. in the DMV (not Paul VI) must've been 99% catholic. I know I was not + one Jewish student in my grade. Seems fair to expect a catholic school to have mostly catholic students.

No it doesn’t.

They lost that when the Catholic Church decided to use Catholic schools as a means to convert local populations worldwide. Can’t have it both ways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

My daughter shadowed there last year and said the seniors she met were consistently very friendly, asked her questions about herself and wished her good luck. Meanwhile she felt like she was being judged by the freshmen and sophomore girls, among other things for where else she was applying and the fact she wasn’t into sports.

And so your daughter picked up on typical psych-social development In adolescents girls.

Sure. But she shadowed at three other schools and PVI was the only one where the difference in friendliness between the grades was so noticeable. We had no reason to expect the school would be any different now than it used to be when it was the most popular choice for kids coming from her K-8 and she still picked up on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, keep in mind that the #1 priority of PVI is to recruit talented athletes from across the nation. Particularly for basketball. I mean, do you really think their basketball team is made up of loudoun county Catholics?

The culture is all about sports. If you are a great athlete, you will do well at that school. But honestly, this is THE culture of loudoun county. It makes sense that the school changed when it moved out there.

How could this possibly be accurate? The basketball team is what 12 kids? This is a large school, 12 kids does not make up the culture of the school. Yes, they are proud of the basketball teams success but how is that the number one priority for the other 99% of the school?

Even if you allow for other sports which are good but not nationally elite, there is not a sports first culture. If anything, PVI is more like a public school with crosses. Most parents want the catholic school experiences for the kids and that is still the top priority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s a good school if you’re an athlete. Otherwise, you may have trouble fitting in.

100% AGREE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, the walkout was protesting a failure to disclose % of catholic students? My catholic H.S. in the DMV (not Paul VI) must've been 99% catholic. I know I was not + one Jewish student in my grade. Seems fair to expect a catholic school to have mostly catholic students.

No it doesn’t.

They lost that when the Catholic Church decided to use Catholic schools as a means to convert local populations worldwide. Can’t have it both ways.

Isn’t PVI in Virginia? There have been Catholics in the region since before the founding. You’ll need a different argument for the local Catholic schools.