Catholic school, not Catholic

[Anonymous]

I am not catholic and it’s really not a big deal. Went to catholic schools k-12 and college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In our Arlington K-8, catholic teachings extend way beyond sacrament prep in 2nd and 8th grades. Even beyond weekly mass attendance and daily religion class. Which is why we chose it! Right now, one kid is doing a public speaking assignment for English class and has to speak about a saint. Another is doing a project in Spanish about how they celebrate Holy Week in Spain. Most every class opens with a prayer. There's extra time out of class during Lent for stations of the cross and confession. I'll never understand why non Catholics attend.

Seemed like she wanted to push DH for middle school, so wanted her to know what she's up against. I also have 2 freshmen in high school. It's different, but one sure wishes he had more electives instead of his 4 years of religion. But faith themes aren't as pervasive in high school so far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In our Arlington K-8, catholic teachings extend way beyond sacrament prep in 2nd and 8th grades. Even beyond weekly mass attendance and daily religion class. Which is why we chose it! Right now, one kid is doing a public speaking assignment for English class and has to speak about a saint. Another is doing a project in Spanish about how they celebrate Holy Week in Spain. Most every class opens with a prayer. There's extra time out of class during Lent for stations of the cross and confession. I'll never understand why non Catholics attend.

Other faiths pray, have confession, and do stations of the cross during Lent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In our Arlington K-8, catholic teachings extend way beyond sacrament prep in 2nd and 8th grades. Even beyond weekly mass attendance and daily religion class. Which is why we chose it! Right now, one kid is doing a public speaking assignment for English class and has to speak about a saint. Another is doing a project in Spanish about how they celebrate Holy Week in Spain. Most every class opens with a prayer. There's extra time out of class during Lent for stations of the cross and confession. I'll never understand why non Catholics attend.

What school is this - do you mind sharing? Learning about the 3 schools in Arlington right now and this is too much for us (and we are Catholic)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In our Arlington K-8, catholic teachings extend way beyond sacrament prep in 2nd and 8th grades. Even beyond weekly mass attendance and daily religion class. Which is why we chose it! Right now, one kid is doing a public speaking assignment for English class and has to speak about a saint. Another is doing a project in Spanish about how they celebrate Holy Week in Spain. Most every class opens with a prayer. There's extra time out of class during Lent for stations of the cross and confession. I'll never understand why non Catholics attend.

What school is this - do you mind sharing? Learning about the 3 schools in Arlington right now and this is too much for us (and we are Catholic)

St John’s (McLean)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In our Arlington K-8, catholic teachings extend way beyond sacrament prep in 2nd and 8th grades. Even beyond weekly mass attendance and daily religion class. Which is why we chose it! Right now, one kid is doing a public speaking assignment for English class and has to speak about a saint. Another is doing a project in Spanish about how they celebrate Holy Week in Spain. Most every class opens with a prayer. There's extra time out of class during Lent for stations of the cross and confession. I'll never understand why non Catholics attend.

What school is this - do you mind sharing? Learning about the 3 schools in Arlington right now and this is too much for us (and we are Catholic)

St John’s (McLean)?

Maybe all. It sounds pretty standard for a parochial school. My 7th grader is doing a research paper on a saint for English class. I don’t really care what the topic is actually, I’m just glad they’re learning how to do a research paper. Maybe the public speaking assignment was the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If he thinks 2nd graders are bullying and mocking today in Catholic school, does he then think it evaporates in 3rd grade? The logic fails.

Obviously not, since he wanted to avoid elementary altogether, and OP is talking about HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In our Arlington K-8, catholic teachings extend way beyond sacrament prep in 2nd and 8th grades. Even beyond weekly mass attendance and daily religion class. Which is why we chose it! Right now, one kid is doing a public speaking assignment for English class and has to speak about a saint. Another is doing a project in Spanish about how they celebrate Holy Week in Spain. Most every class opens with a prayer. There's extra time out of class during Lent for stations of the cross and confession. I'll never understand why non Catholics attend.

What school is this - do you mind sharing? Learning about the 3 schools in Arlington right now and this is too much for us (and we are Catholic)

St John’s (McLean)?

Maybe all. It sounds pretty standard for a parochial school. My 7th grader is doing a research paper on a saint for English class. I don’t really care what the topic is actually, I’m just glad they’re learning how to do a research paper. Maybe the public speaking assignment was the same.

At another K-8 in the Arlington diocese and agree that this is pretty standard.

[Anonymous]

What I see are the people that bash the Catholic religion endlessly and then when it comes time for high school or such, they want to put their non-Catholic kid into a Jesuit or other catholic high school, and then they want to know if it will be 'too Catholic'. It's so crazy.

[Anonymous]

I was raised Catholic and went to 19 years of Catholic school. I was not comfortable putting my child in a Catholic elementary school because I wanted to be sure he had a firm foundation in our family's current religion and I wasn't comfortable with some of what he'd be taught in a K-8 Catholic school.
He will be attending a Catholic high school. For many reasons, it's the right choice for him and for our family. At this age, the religion classes are less about teaching the catechism and more about teaching foundational theology and history that is more similar across Christian sects. He's also old enough that we can have some of the more nuanced conversations that will be required so that he can be respectful of his classmates beliefs while also discussing ways in which our beliefs differ.

Based on my experience with Catholic schools and several friends' experiences with this particular school, I'm confident he'll be accepted at the school and that we'll be comfortable with the religious aspect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What I see are the people that bash the Catholic religion endlessly and then when it comes time for high school or such, they want to put their non-Catholic kid into a Jesuit or other catholic high school, and then they want to know if it will be 'too Catholic'. It's so crazy.

I get what you are saying, but honestly, there is just so much disinformation and stereotyping about Catholics, Catholicism, and Catholic schools that this kind of enquiry about "too Catholic" is to be expected. You often see people posting who assume that Catholics are Creationists, biblical literalists, anti-science, conversion-bent evangelicals, all right-wing Republicans, all politically pro-life, all anti-LGTBQ+, etc, etc. etc. All of which is false. But if that is what one incorrectly thought going into the process, I can understand why they'd be cautious. Also, there is a lot of confusion about the difference between parochial K-8 and independent Catholic schools, and in particular what is taught in religion classes and how/why it is taught. And there are people who seem to think every Catholic school is the same and/or identical to the one they attended 50 years ago in their hometown. These are mistaken assumptions that merit questioning and clearing up.

Also, one need not assume that the chronic Catholic haters who post here anonymously are the same people asking questions about Catholic schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH is Catholic and made it clear he didn't DD attending Catholic elementary because of the first Communion prep (we are not raising her Catholic). He can't or won't give me a straight answer about upper grades. I'm guessing middle school is more of the same because of confirmation, but Catholic high school should be more college prep and less sacramental prep, right?

In the Diocese of Arlington, confirmation happens in grade 9.

They may do some prep on religion in grade 8, but it isn't a "teach for the test" model. There is a detailed curriculum and some study of the Saints.
They'd have that whether there was a sacrament or not.

Like others have said, religion is integrated into the school day (rosaries at times, Stations of the Cross, etc.).

What do you think would be good for your child about Catholic school? Why are you drawn to it? Is it possible that your shared values could sync up with one?
Also, if he HATES the idea, it is worth poking around to see if there was some trauma, bullying, or exclusion in his life. Maybe someone in his history used the Church to manipulate or gaslight (which happens in a lot of religions) and this should be dealt with?

I had to do some therapy around religion, and even take a break from the Church, but returned. My kid is more devout than I am, and I am glad they found something that works for them.

I would just hate the idea of your kid putting on a uniform and it making your DH feel weird. May be worth a big talk.

[Anonymous]

Confirmation is 8th grade in Diocese of Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH is Catholic and made it clear he didn't DD attending Catholic elementary because of the first Communion prep (we are not raising her Catholic). He can't or won't give me a straight answer about upper grades. I'm guessing middle school is more of the same because of confirmation, but Catholic high school should be more college prep and less sacramental prep, right?

How many threads do we have on this

IT’s Catholic school they teach the catholic religion they should it’s called catholic school
And while I would never ever send a kid to catholic school given the priest in my town was mr molester and then again next guy no

And as for college omg op seriously yes kids go to college are acceptances as good as public no. Science well that’s a conundrum isn’t it . Math never as good as public .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH is Catholic and made it clear he didn't DD attending Catholic elementary because of the first Communion prep (we are not raising her Catholic). He can't or won't give me a straight answer about upper grades. I'm guessing middle school is more of the same because of confirmation, but Catholic high school should be more college prep and less sacramental prep, right?

How many threads do we have on this

IT’s Catholic school they teach the catholic religion they should it’s called catholic school
And while I would never ever send a kid to catholic school given the priest in my town was mr molester and then again next guy no

And as for college omg op seriously yes kids go to college are acceptances as good as public no. Science well that’s a conundrum isn’t it . Math never as good as public .

To quote you, how many threads do we need to have about science in Catholic schools? Could you explain your statement?