Need more info about St. Patricks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One interesting note on the issue of diversity is that the Assistant head of Admissions is African American. As for having 2 or 3 non-white students in a class of 18 or so, that is likely more than you would get at your local public elementary school.

Yes. And if you search through the prior threads, you'll see a few not so flattering comments about this Assistant head of Admissions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One interesting note on the issue of diversity is that the Assistant head of Admissions is African American. As for having 2 or 3 non-white students in a class of 18 or so, that is likely more than you would get at your local public elementary school.

Not at my local public elementary school. That's entirely dependent on the area you live in.

[Anonymous]

This is our first year at St. Patrick's and our daughter who is in Nursery is absolutely loving school. We have nothing but good things to say about our experience so far.

You really have to go in and visit to see how wonderful the school is, but I will try and give you a little snapshot of what I have observed in my daughter's classroom. When I went in to read a couple of weeks ago, every single child was engaged in the activity they had chosen. A few were beading prisms, others were in housekeeping, my daughter and a friend were painting and a few children were busy mixing primary colored water in test tubes to make the secondary colors. Everyone was happy and everyone was learning in their own way and at their own pace.

Because we are new to the school, I really can't speak to the whole diversity issue that was raised. However, I can tell you that my husband and I had a lengthy conversation with an African American couple at our grade potluck and they had nothing but wonderful things to say about St. Patrick's. They have a child in the lower school as well as a nursery aged child so they have been there for a number of years. In fact, they were contemplating moving away from the DC area, but stayed because they love St. Patrick's so much. It is a trek for them to get to to the school as they live about 40 minutes away in MD, but they do it because they love the school so much.

I can speak to the question raised about religious diversilty. My husband and I have a "mixed marriage" in terms of religion. He is half Jewish and half Quaker (don't see that one much!) and I was raised Christian, but Greek Orthodox. We both feel very comfortable at chapel at St. Patrick's. It'a all about values for us.

Education is a priority in our families and the tuition at St. Patrick's when both our kids (fingers are crossed for our little guy) go there for a full day is going to be challenge. However, we feel so strongly about the school that we will do whatever it takes to make it work.

I hope this helps!

[Anonymous]

To the 19:58. I am so surprised to hear that there are unflattering comments on this board about the St Pats admissions office (I searched but couldn't find them, so I don't know what exactly they are). Jen and Shavonne are both such nice people who I think try really hard to make the process as friendly and open as possible. That was certainly our experience, and has been the uniform reaction of people I have spoken with personally about admissions experiences. Just an alternate view.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because we are new to the school, I really can't speak to the whole diversity issue that was raised. However, I can tell you that my husband and I had a lengthy conversation with an African American couple at our grade potluck and they had nothing but wonderful things to say about St. Patrick's. They have a child in the lower school as well as a nursery aged child so they have been there for a number of years. In fact, they were contemplating moving away from the DC area, but stayed because they love St. Patrick's so much. It is a trek for them to get to to the school as they live about 40 minutes away in MD, but they do it because they love the school so much.

I just get the feeling that most of the St. Patrick's kids wouldn't otherwise have an African American friend were it not for the one or two in their class, and that most of the St. Patrick's parents wouldn't have a close relationship with an African American family were it not for the few AA families at St. Patrick's. Correct me if my perception is far from reality, but I don't think many of the white families (specifically children) have had much exposure if any to African American children before St. Patrick's. It's almost as if it's a novelty, and I wouldn't want my child to be subjected to that. I see where white families can benefit from that type of exposure, but I don't get the benefit for non-white children/families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because we are new to the school, I really can't speak to the whole diversity issue that was raised. However, I can tell you that my husband and I had a lengthy conversation with an African American couple at our grade potluck and they had nothing but wonderful things to say about St. Patrick's. They have a child in the lower school as well as a nursery aged child so they have been there for a number of years. In fact, they were contemplating moving away from the DC area, but stayed because they love St. Patrick's so much. It is a trek for them to get to to the school as they live about 40 minutes away in MD, but they do it because they love the school so much.

I just get the feeling that most of the St. Patrick's kids wouldn't otherwise have an African American friend were it not for the one or two in their class, and that most of the St. Patrick's parents wouldn't have a close relationship with an African American family were it not for the few AA families at St. Patrick's. Correct me if my perception is far from reality, but I don't think many of the white families (specifically children) have had much exposure if any to African American children before St. Patrick's. It's almost as if it's a novelty, and I wouldn't want my child to be subjected to that. I see where white families can benefit from that type of exposure, but I don't get the benefit for non-white children/families.

I TOTALLY AGREE. I have said the same thing before. It is almost as if the African American families are being used as guinea pigs. Their kids could take a real blow for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because we are new to the school, I really can't speak to the whole diversity issue that was raised. However, I can tell you that my husband and I had a lengthy conversation with an African American couple at our grade potluck and they had nothing but wonderful things to say about St. Patrick's. They have a child in the lower school as well as a nursery aged child so they have been there for a number of years. In fact, they were contemplating moving away from the DC area, but stayed because they love St. Patrick's so much. It is a trek for them to get to to the school as they live about 40 minutes away in MD, but they do it because they love the school so much.

I just get the feeling that most of the St. Patrick's kids wouldn't otherwise have an African American friend were it not for the one or two in their class, and that most of the St. Patrick's parents wouldn't have a close relationship with an African American family were it not for the few AA families at St. Patrick's. Correct me if my perception is far from reality, but I don't think many of the white families (specifically children) have had much exposure if any to African American children before St. Patrick's. It's almost as if it's a novelty, and I wouldn't want my child to be subjected to that. I see where white families can benefit from that type of exposure, but I don't get the benefit for non-white children/families.

I TOTALLY AGREE. I have said the same thing before. It is almost as if the African American families are being used as guinea pigs. Their kids could take a real blow for that.

Sounds a bit like tokenism. Not what I want for my child. I prefer a school that has a good, diverse mix with a lot of black and white children, as well as Asians and Latinos. I want our school to reflect our neighborhood and community. Thanks for the feedback on St. Patrick's.

[Anonymous]

tokenism?? You should be ashamed of yourself.

[Anonymous]

This rings a bell about something that occurred 8 years ago. I knew a very nice woman whose dd attended St. Patrick's. I am African American, and they were White. They lived in the Somerset area. I got the impression that I was the first Black person that this child had ever laid eyes on. She just kept staring at me and asking odd questions. At the time, I could not figure out why this child behaved in this manner after being raised in this area, but reading these posts helps me to understand how that could happen.

[Anonymous]

You will find this at just about many private school in the area. You REALLY think that the Sidwell, Beauvoir, or the Mont. Co. elite schools have parents who rub shoulders with African American friends? I, as an African American, encounter this deprived white child 'stare' at the music classes I take with my child, gym classes, etc. It's sad how isolated white families in diverse metro-DC can be.

[Anonymous]

Hijack alert ... I am white, and we live in a neighborhood with very, very few African American families in NW DC. I can think of two. At DC's religious preschool -- which was chosen with that religious component in mind -- there are maybe two African American student out of ~125. There are no African American kids in DC's ballet or music classes.

That pretty much sums up DC's day-to-day, except for the occasional weekend festival or pumpkin patch.

So my long-winded question-point is, I can see how the St. Pat's kids would get to that point where they don't have AA friends, or how that child mentioned in 16:54 might seem. But seriously, what to do? I'm not delighted about our homogenous situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hijack alert ... I am white, and we live in a neighborhood with very, very few African American families in NW DC. I can think of two. At DC's religious preschool -- which was chosen with that religious component in mind -- there are maybe two African American student out of ~125. There are no African American kids in DC's ballet or music classes.

That pretty much sums up DC's day-to-day, except for the occasional weekend festival or pumpkin patch.

So my long-winded question-point is, I can see how the St. Pat's kids would get to that point where they don't have AA friends, or how that child mentioned in 16:54 might seem. But seriously, what to do? I'm not delighted about our homogenous situation.

Washington Ballet or Maryland Youth Ballet? Levine School of Music or DC Youth Orchestra? etc., etc. You can change your homogenous situation by the choices you make.

[Anonymous]

why do these post always turn out to be about how many black kids are in a class. The op did not ask that, she asked for info about St Pats, not whether or not there were enough blacks in the class room. Seems like that is always the issue with the post about private schools. If you want that much diversity, go to a public school. They are usually much more diverse. Not always, but mostly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:why do these post always turn out to be about how many black kids are in a class. The op did not ask that, she asked for info about St Pats, not whether or not there were enough blacks in the class room. Seems like that is always the issue with the post about private schools. If you want that much diversity, go to a public school. They are usually much more diverse. Not always, but mostly.

First off, I've never met a *black* person. And OP asked about diversity: "For the early grades. The usual: class size, diversity/inclusion, teacher quality, facilities, any scandals, etc." Perhaps it's an issue with private schools because some private schools are not at all diverse. Speaking from a majority perspective, who wants to be in a highly homogenous environment. Perhaps you? Speaking from a minority perspective, who wants their minority child to be in an environment where they are one of one or one of few? About public schools, the better public schools which are in Fairfax County and Montgomery County where we live are very homogenous. So that's not an option for many who value diversity.

[Anonymous]

I am tired of these wild accusations flung at a terrific and multicultural school. Most of you know not of what you speak. So here are some facts:

My DC is in 2nd grade at St Pats. In the 2nd grade, of 3 classes of 19, there are approx. 20 kids of diverse backgrounds. For instance, there are 9 African American children, and 10+ children of other minorities or cultures (i.e., Asian, Latino, European) that speak a language other than English in their homes.

We are white, we are native English speakers, we have ALWAYS had friends from diverse backgrounds, skin colors, religions, etc... We are NOT even close to being the only family like this at St Patrick's. We dont pick our friends based on anything else but if we like them. We have had many St Patrick's families from different "backgrounds/religions/races/cultures" in our home, many times. Some of them are our best friends and some we really don't know at all. I know many of them have probably faced, and still face, obstacles and attitudes that I never have. Yes, I am raising my children to not have these attitudes and to hopefully help others do so as well. However, all I see when I look at my child's class and friends and their families are friends: warm and caring, open minded, other St Patrick's families.

No, its not a perfect school but its a damn good one One of the finest in Washington, I believe.