Best Catholic schools in FXCO for middle grades

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it true that students have to miss math and English class for Strings at the Alexandria Catholic k-8? Really? Why not do it before or after school? Or better yet, during MUSIC class?

Which Alexandria Catholic K-8? There are multiple: Blessed Sacrament, St Rita, St Mary, St Louis, and Queen of Apostles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St. Mary’s

Funny how there are so many “walkers” at st Mary’s during half days. Does half the student body suddenly live within a 2 mile radius of get school?

Off topic, PP! But I’ll bite since you are being such a busy body:

Maybe the middle schoolers are walking to King Street for lunch? Walking seems more environmentally friendly than having their parents drive to get them in the carpool line and drop them off 4 blocks away, no?

Not allowed. To be a walker, you must live or work within a certain radius of the school. You can’t be a walker just bc you want to “go to lunch.”

Which demonstrates how stupid the policy is. The school has no business telling you HOW you get to school or what you do after school is out. The school is the “busy body,” not me.

And sorry if you live nearby and don’t like parents parking on your precious street. Boo hoo - it’s a public street. If you don’t like it, move.

Students are permitted to be walkers on half days when the adjustment is made properly in pickup patrol. That’s an adjustment to the policy that isn’t well known but confirmed by the front office. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St. Mary’s

Funny how there are so many “walkers” at st Mary’s during half days. Does half the student body suddenly live within a 2 mile radius of get school?

Off topic, PP! But I’ll bite since you are being such a busy body:

Maybe the middle schoolers are walking to King Street for lunch? Walking seems more environmentally friendly than having their parents drive to get them in the carpool line and drop them off 4 blocks away, no?

Not allowed. To be a walker, you must live or work within a certain radius of the school. You can’t be a walker just bc you want to “go to lunch.”

Which demonstrates how stupid the policy is. The school has no business telling you HOW you get to school or what you do after school is out. The school is the “busy body,” not me.

And sorry if you live nearby and don’t like parents parking on your precious street. Boo hoo - it’s a public street. If you don’t like it, move.

Students are permitted to be walkers on half days when the adjustment is made properly in pickup patrol. That’s an adjustment to the policy that isn’t well known but confirmed by the front office. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Where can they walk to? My car parked a few streets over?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St. Mary’s

Funny how there are so many “walkers” at st Mary’s during half days. Does half the student body suddenly live within a 2 mile radius of get school?

Off topic, PP! But I’ll bite since you are being such a busy body:

Maybe the middle schoolers are walking to King Street for lunch? Walking seems more environmentally friendly than having their parents drive to get them in the carpool line and drop them off 4 blocks away, no?

Not allowed. To be a walker, you must live or work within a certain radius of the school. You can’t be a walker just bc you want to “go to lunch.”

Which demonstrates how stupid the policy is. The school has no business telling you HOW you get to school or what you do after school is out. The school is the “busy body,” not me.

And sorry if you live nearby and don’t like parents parking on your precious street. Boo hoo - it’s a public street. If you don’t like it, move.

Students are permitted to be walkers on half days when the adjustment is made properly in pickup patrol. That’s an adjustment to the policy that isn’t well known but confirmed by the front office. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Nonsense. There’s nothing in the handbook that changes walker eligibility based on half days versus full days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St. Mary’s

Funny how there are so many “walkers” at st Mary’s during half days. Does half the student body suddenly live within a 2 mile radius of get school?

Off topic, PP! But I’ll bite since you are being such a busy body:

Maybe the middle schoolers are walking to King Street for lunch? Walking seems more environmentally friendly than having their parents drive to get them in the carpool line and drop them off 4 blocks away, no?

Not allowed. To be a walker, you must live or work within a certain radius of the school. You can’t be a walker just bc you want to “go to lunch.”

Which demonstrates how stupid the policy is. The school has no business telling you HOW you get to school or what you do after school is out. The school is the “busy body,” not me.

And sorry if you live nearby and don’t like parents parking on your precious street. Boo hoo - it’s a public street. If you don’t like it, move.

Students are permitted to be walkers on half days when the adjustment is made properly in pickup patrol. That’s an adjustment to the policy that isn’t well known but confirmed by the front office. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Where can they walk to? My car parked a few streets over?

PP, if a car is involved in transportation, you have to use the carpool line. This is clearly stated in the BSSM student-parent handbook which you agreed to when you signed your child up to be a student at the school. Why are you so special to think the rules don’t apply to you? I am a carpool parent, so I know the carpool line isn’t so bad, sheesh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which are the top Catholic schools in the middle grades in FXCO and/or NoVA. I hear high teacher turnover is the norm in almost all the schools.

OP, that is a huge area! What part of Fairfax County are you looking at mainly?

Focusing on McLean, Vienna, Herndon, Reston, Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Springfield, or Annandale will give different recommendations.

Please know all the K-8 Catholic schools use the same curriculum guidelines by the Arlington Diocese Office of Catholic Schools. These are posted on their website btw. Yes, the schools will differ in how they meet those guidelines - as they all don’t use the same textbooks and materials, but the topics/information covered is the same.

Attending your parish school (or the one closest to your parish if there is no parish school!) is a good choice if you are interested in Catholic education for your middle schoolers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it true that students have to miss math and English class for Strings at the Alexandria Catholic k-8? Really? Why not do it before or after school? Or better yet, during MUSIC class?

Why would you be relying on the school music program to teach your child a string instrument? I’d be fine with school art lessons but my kids are definitely going to go to a private teacher for violin lessons when we start later this school year. String instruments really cannot be effectively taught in a group setting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St. Mary’s

Funny how there are so many “walkers” at st Mary’s during half days. Does half the student body suddenly live within a 2 mile radius of get school?

Off topic, PP! But I’ll bite since you are being such a busy body:

Maybe the middle schoolers are walking to King Street for lunch? Walking seems more environmentally friendly than having their parents drive to get them in the carpool line and drop them off 4 blocks away, no?

Not allowed. To be a walker, you must live or work within a certain radius of the school. You can’t be a walker just bc you want to “go to lunch.”

Which demonstrates how stupid the policy is. The school has no business telling you HOW you get to school or what you do after school is out. The school is the “busy body,” not me.

And sorry if you live nearby and don’t like parents parking on your precious street. Boo hoo - it’s a public street. If you don’t like it, move.

Students are permitted to be walkers on half days when the adjustment is made properly in pickup patrol. That’s an adjustment to the policy that isn’t well known but confirmed by the front office. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Where can they walk to? My car parked a few streets over?

PP, if a car is involved in transportation, you have to use the carpool line. This is clearly stated in the BSSM student-parent handbook which you agreed to when you signed your child up to be a student at the school. Why are you so special to think the rules don’t apply to you? I am a carpool parent, so I know the carpool line isn’t so bad, sheesh.

A previous poster said this doesn’t apply during half days. No?

In any event, it’s none of the school’s damn business what my kids do once school is out and they’re off school property. I consider that provision of the Handbook to be null and void. It’s stupid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St. Mary’s

Funny how there are so many “walkers” at st Mary’s during half days. Does half the student body suddenly live within a 2 mile radius of get school?

Off topic, PP! But I’ll bite since you are being such a busy body:

Maybe the middle schoolers are walking to King Street for lunch? Walking seems more environmentally friendly than having their parents drive to get them in the carpool line and drop them off 4 blocks away, no?

Not allowed. To be a walker, you must live or work within a certain radius of the school. You can’t be a walker just bc you want to “go to lunch.”

Which demonstrates how stupid the policy is. The school has no business telling you HOW you get to school or what you do after school is out. The school is the “busy body,” not me.

And sorry if you live nearby and don’t like parents parking on your precious street. Boo hoo - it’s a public street. If you don’t like it, move.

Students are permitted to be walkers on half days when the adjustment is made properly in pickup patrol. That’s an adjustment to the policy that isn’t well known but confirmed by the front office. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Where can they walk to? My car parked a few streets over?

PP, if a car is involved in transportation, you have to use the carpool line. This is clearly stated in the BSSM student-parent handbook which you agreed to when you signed your child up to be a student at the school. Why are you so special to think the rules don’t apply to you? I am a carpool parent, so I know the carpool line isn’t so bad, sheesh.

A previous poster said this doesn’t apply during half days. No?

In any event, it’s none of the school’s damn business what my kids do once school is out and they’re off school property. I consider that provision of the Handbook to be null and void. It’s stupid.

Is the policy part of an agreement with the county to control traffic in the neighborhood?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:St. Mary’s

Ha! I don’t know a single current or alum family that has anything good to say post the very early grades.
Maybe st louis or st Agnes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St. Mary’s

Funny how there are so many “walkers” at st Mary’s during half days. Does half the student body suddenly live within a 2 mile radius of get school?

Off topic, PP! But I’ll bite since you are being such a busy body:

Maybe the middle schoolers are walking to King Street for lunch? Walking seems more environmentally friendly than having their parents drive to get them in the carpool line and drop them off 4 blocks away, no?

As an annoyed neighbor, I’ll tell you that many parents claim their children are walkers and either park under the Wilson bridge and walk to get them or annoyingly double park and block neighbors in, then walk to collect their children. It’s one thing to lie about walking, but it’s another to be a horrible neighbor and block residents in. I’ve emailed the school with no response. I see the same cars doing this over and over, and they all have those basilica magnets on their cars and return with kids in uniforms. It’s not just on half days either, and is also at arrival, not just dismissal.
My kids go to a private k-12, and you can’t register as a walker unless you or your sitter is verified to live walking distance. St Mary’s families have been violating this for years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St. Mary’s

Funny how there are so many “walkers” at st Mary’s during half days. Does half the student body suddenly live within a 2 mile radius of get school?

Off topic, PP! But I’ll bite since you are being such a busy body:

Maybe the middle schoolers are walking to King Street for lunch? Walking seems more environmentally friendly than having their parents drive to get them in the carpool line and drop them off 4 blocks away, no?

Not allowed. To be a walker, you must live or work within a certain radius of the school. You can’t be a walker just bc you want to “go to lunch.”

Which demonstrates how stupid the policy is. The school has no business telling you HOW you get to school or what you do after school is out. The school is the “busy body,” not me.

And sorry if you live nearby and don’t like parents parking on your precious street. Boo hoo - it’s a public street. If you don’t like it, move.

Wow - that’s such a rude attitude. No one is saying anything re having an issue w/ people parking legally in public parking spots. As neighbors, we do have issues with the parents consistently double parking and blocking us in. They put their flashers on but are usually gone about 30 mins round trip. I’ve been blocked in and unable to get my kids from their bus stop multiple times. It’s infuriating. It’s also ironic that these supposed walkers generally have waynewood or BH of gunston soccer or fort hunt stickers on their cars, so don’t even live in the city of Alexandria. That would be quite a walk!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St. Mary’s

Funny how there are so many “walkers” at st Mary’s during half days. Does half the student body suddenly live within a 2 mile radius of get school?

Off topic, PP! But I’ll bite since you are being such a busy body:

Maybe the middle schoolers are walking to King Street for lunch? Walking seems more environmentally friendly than having their parents drive to get them in the carpool line and drop them off 4 blocks away, no?

Not allowed. To be a walker, you must live or work within a certain radius of the school. You can’t be a walker just bc you want to “go to lunch.”

Which demonstrates how stupid the policy is. The school has no business telling you HOW you get to school or what you do after school is out. The school is the “busy body,” not me.

And sorry if you live nearby and don’t like parents parking on your precious street. Boo hoo - it’s a public street. If you don’t like it, move.

Students are permitted to be walkers on half days when the adjustment is made properly in pickup patrol. That’s an adjustment to the policy that isn’t well known but confirmed by the front office. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Where can they walk to? My car parked a few streets over?

PP, if a car is involved in transportation, you have to use the carpool line. This is clearly stated in the BSSM student-parent handbook which you agreed to when you signed your child up to be a student at the school. Why are you so special to think the rules don’t apply to you? I am a carpool parent, so I know the carpool line isn’t so bad, sheesh.

A previous poster said this doesn’t apply during half days. No?

In any event, it’s none of the school’s damn business what my kids do once school is out and they’re off school property. I consider that provision of the Handbook to be null and void. It’s stupid.

Is the policy part of an agreement with the county to control traffic in the neighborhood?

Don’t give a crap what the school agreed to with the city. I’ll get my kids to and from school however I damn well please. People have different circumstances and can’t all sit in a damn inefficient idiotic carline for an hour every day.

It’s nobody’s business how my kids get to and from school. The whole notion that any school could compel how my kids are transported is totally asinine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St. Mary’s

Ha! I don’t know a single current or alum family that has anything good to say post the very early grades.
Maybe st louis or st Agnes?

Me either. Especially since they stopped publishing honor roll consistently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St. Mary’s

Ha! I don’t know a single current or alum family that has anything good to say post the very early grades.
Maybe st louis or st Agnes?

Me either. Especially since they stopped publishing honor roll consistently.

I also can’t stand the color of the recycling bins they use at the Alexandria k-8 Catholic school. I suggested magenta and the administration refused to comply. I’m pretty sure it’s because of the rich donors who dominate the PTO. I’m thinking about moving my kid to a new school over it.