St. John Academy in McLean
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
Hi - i stumbled upon your discussion while doing research on Mr. Shultz because he will be joing our school (Sts. John and Paul in Larchmont, NY) as the principal this fall. Everything i have read thus far has been overwhelmingly positive. I would love to hear more about him.
Thank you. |
Anonymous
| Where do I begin. He is a wonderful wonderful man..everything you would dream of for a role model. Principled..honest..calm and wants the best for every child. He moved St John to a level never seen before..many families who could afford an independent and expensive private went there because of him St. John's loss will be your children's game. I am disgusted by our pastor..what ego to let this happen. That being said..I am happy Mr. Shultz has a great op! |
Anonymous
|
I always did wonder why it was called St. John ACADEMY and why the principal was called a HEADMASTER. . things like that. Is this an example of what Scalia did not like. It's funny b/c I grew up in McLean and it was only rather recently when they all of a sudden became St. John's ACADEMY instead of SCHOOL and the principal became a HEADMASTER instead of a principal. LOL. Were these changes implemented by Shultz, or someone else? I always did kind of wonder where the heck these changes came from. Tee hee.
PS Same thing with the parish name. It used to just be St. John's and then all of a sudden it became St. John THE BELOVED. LOL. But I think this one was a Diocesan-level decision to differentiate it from the new(er) St. John's parish which was being built, out in Warrenton or somewhere out there. Anyway, the "Academy" and "Headmaster" things always did sort of have me scratching my head, only b/c they seem to have come about just a few years ago! |
Anonymous
| What is the Tee hee about. That a school that had risen about being an average parish school is now going to be pushed back to the dark ages? That you have something against Catholics and god forbid some middle income Catholics are looking for something better in their kids lives. Do you think what happened was a good thing? It wasn't? Mr. Shultz brought a sense of excitment to a school that lost it's way. It was well on it's way to becoming a prep school..it was that good. Scalia represents everything wrong in the Catholic church and frankly how this country thinks..on no someone isn't allowed to be better and think larger. How dare a parish school try to become more..The reality is that by Mr. Shultz "raising the bar" he set a standard for all nearby Catholic schools. His leaving is just awful. And it will hurt all the children. |
Anonymous
|
We were excited to send our children to St. John's because we were so impressed with Peter Schultz. He really sold us on the school and we knew that with him leading the school, we were making the right decision. Because he is leaving, we are not going to send our children there. As for the "school" vs "academy" title, when we toured the school we got the sense that the "school" was trying to become an "academy" which, to us, was a good thing. What a gem McLean would have had with a Catholic school on par with most private academies?
We are very sad that Mr. Schultz is leaving and wish him the best in NY. I don't know the details of why he left and I don't know Father Scalia personally but if what has been speculated is true, that is a real shame for Northern Virginia. St. John's with Mr. Schultz and the head and Father Scalia as the pastor was a winning team for us. We were even going to move from Arlington to McLean just to go to this school. Alas, the search for us continues......but at least we don't have to move now! 
|
Anonymous
|
Anonymous
|
Before you decide to enroll or not to enroll your child at Saint John Academy, please make sure you research the facts. Saint John's is a parish school and was never going to become a prep school. The school has a warm and loving environment for children, HOWEVER it does not have the academic standards or test scores to compete as a prep school. While my children attended the school, they were happy and loved, but when we moved we discovered that they were behind other schools academically. We did not have consistency, some years the teachers were strong and other years they weren't. There are improvements that could be made. A school is more than one person, the strength of the teachers carries the school.
Mr. Schultz is a warm and loving man. He is truly dedicated to his faith and the love of children. He did indeed raised the level of the school. I heard he wanted a new challenge and to be closer to family and that is why he is leaving. He will do very well with a new school. |
Anonymous
| Father Scalia moved from the St. Rita's parish over in Alexandria, no? Can anyone from St. Rita's school discuss the impact of his departure (good/bad) from their parish? |
Anonymous
| Any update on this situation? I was thinking of moving my DC there, but am concerned if there is a disconnect between the pastor and the parents at the school. |
Anonymous
| I have heard that Scalia is on the board of Bishop O'Connel..I see this as a real conflic of interest. Why? He is not interested in seeing St John's grads go to Gonzaga or Visi..he is more interested in having them go to O'Connel--nothing against that school but as a parent, you expect your parish school to be an advocate wherever you would like your child to attend. |
Anonymous
| O'Connell |
Anonymous
| First of all, let me start off by saying that Peter Schultz is a wonderful man, educator and administrator. Any school would be lucky to have him. His contributions to SJA are profound. However, the posters on this thread, purporting to know why he was let go do not have, or have chosen to ignore the facts, of why he left. Based on a combination of salary, housing assistance and private donations, Peter was receiving a total compensation package that was out of line with other principals in the Diocese. In this economy, this compensation was not sustainable as it became significantly harder to secure the funds that Peter required to support his large family in one of the nations highest cost of living suburbs. Father Scalia informed him as such and Peter said that he could not support his family without the additional subsidies. Plain and simple, it was about money. There are no "bad guys". Regardless of what you think about Father Scalia, his politics and his ideology, he is a great supporter of SJA and only wants the best for the school. If you in fact believe that he has higher aspirations, it would only make sense that he would want a strong parish school as it would only reflect positively on him. As I stated above, Peter is wonderful, but even after his departure, SJA will still have the support of a strong parish, wonderful teachers and a fabulous community that I haven't found elsewhere. As an SJA parent, I would still highly recommend it to any prospective families. |
Anonymous
| I have read all of the above conversations. I'm pretty shocked at some of the comments regarding Father Scalia. I have my 3 children at SJA, we have been there for 5 years-we couldn't be happier. I used to teach, and the education my kids are getting is in my opinion- great. Those statements about Father are obviously by someone who doesn't know him at all. Once you get to know him, you will see that he is a wonderful person, doing what he feels best for our school. We all love Peter too- He is a terrific man, principle and our friend. He is going to NY, and that school is lucky/blessed to have him. We are excited to see who Father hires, but I have no doubt it will be someone that keeps the spirit of our great school. Enrollment at SJA has never been better. Come for a visit; you'll see. |
Anonymous
|
Who are you and why are you spewing this nonsense? Are you the same person who said Fr. Scalia should "rethink why he became a priest"? What is your interest in taking down the good name of the school? I am certain that Peter Schultz would be disgusted by the attacks against Fr. Scalia, against the St. John school, and the speculation by these postings on the circumstances of his departure. Shame on you....why don't you get your facts straight before before slinging mud.
As to the folks at Sts. Peter & Paul ~ I have looked at your school as well to see where Mr. Schultz is headed....your school and community are lucky to have Mr. Schultz and his family join you, and it looks like they are lucky as well to have found you!
|
Anonymous
Sheesh - let's talk facts - I am a Saint John parent - last year our kids were accepted everywhere you would want to be: High School Acceptances - 2011 The Heights Georgetown Visitation Bishop O'Connell Oakcrest Bishop Ireton Madeira Holy Child Paul VI Georgetown Prep St. John's College High School Gonzaga College High School Scalia rocks. He's a very sharp guy, he's involved with the school, loves the kids, is receptive to the parents - couldn't find a better role model for kids or Catholics. Yes his Dad is a Supreme Court Judge - that makes him even more humble - and even more "connected" with every school quite frankly for those who want to toss around the crud written above... Peter leaving was as stated above - more facts - financial - not "ego" - please. I never respond to things like this - but in this case - totally sticking up for Saint John and Father Scalia and the parents, teachers and staff... Please, SJA is an oasis in McLean. Wonderful staff, kids and parents. Peter is awesome - the reason we chose the school - after talking - *yes he will talk to you* with Father Scalia - I have total confidence he'll find an equally awesome Headmaster or Principal - whatever you want to call it. My kids wake up every day and they can't wait to go to school. We will miss Peter forever because he is our friend and he is a wonderful man - nobody wanted to see him go - nobody - not even Father - but things will work out for the best for all involved. I totally smell disgruntled parents in some of these posts - you can't please everyone. And academics - please - more facts needed. Our kids compete with the best of em - our admissions prove that - sorry to anyone who's individual child did'n't take advantage of what is offered - there are always individual circumstances. It's a great place to be. All the mudslinging above is just total - bologna. This school is a great value, has an awesome community, just look at the passion behind some of the responses to the posts... If you can get in - it's awesome. We have a wait list. We welcome all newcomers - couldn't pick a better place to be... really... |