Catholic Parish Schools: Bethesda/Ch Ch/DC/Potomac/Rockville and others

[Anonymous]

Little Group at OLOL is great. The summer camp is supposed to be good, too, from what I have heard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very helpful in looking at Catholic schools to read through these comments. Does anyone know anything about St. Bernadette's in Silver Spring?

I know a couple that sends their daughter there and they are really happy with St. B's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have much first hand experience with Our Lady of Lourdes but what I've heard about the school is the exact opposite of what the above poster has written. In fact, I've heard fabulous things about the gym teacher who also runs a much-loved summer camp program. I also understand that the parish is one of the more socio-economically diverse ones in the area. On the issue of Catholicity -- I don't know anything about the teachers but the parish itself is considered one of the more traditional ones in the area. The parish has sponsored a novena in advance of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, with homilies given by priests who are among the best preachers I've ever heard (with Dominicans, maybe even an Opus Dei priest or two).

PP: What is represented in public and the private reality are totally different. The gym teacher is obnoxious and acts like a badly behaved two year old when given the chnce.--think pretending to be friends with parents and then speaking badly about them to other parents, cussing in front of kids, threatening referees in front of kids at basketball games, ignoring rules and common sense, and worse. The school is like a cult. If you don't donate big money the principal wants nothing to do with you. If you do, the rules bend in your favor. The church is different from the school and is conservative. I dont know of any Opus Dei priests at Lourdes, but the pastor is conservative and so are the priests.

Which pastor, do you mean Fr. Meyers who just left or Monsignor Filardi? I agree that the priests are conservative. The school is very small. Donating big money as a way to ingratiate yourself with the clergy and principal is nothing new. That's the way it worked when I was a kid and it's the reason we're not using Catholic schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have much first hand experience with Our Lady of Lourdes but what I've heard about the school is the exact opposite of what the above poster has written. In fact, I've heard fabulous things about the gym teacher who also runs a much-loved summer camp program. I also understand that the parish is one of the more socio-economically diverse ones in the area. On the issue of Catholicity -- I don't know anything about the teachers but the parish itself is considered one of the more traditional ones in the area. The parish has sponsored a novena in advance of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, with homilies given by priests who are among the best preachers I've ever heard (with Dominicans, maybe even an Opus Dei priest or two).

PP: What is represented in public and the private reality are totally different. The gym teacher is obnoxious and acts like a badly behaved two year old when given the chnce.--think pretending to be friends with parents and then speaking badly about them to other parents, cussing in front of kids, threatening referees in front of kids at basketball games, ignoring rules and common sense, and worse. The school is like a cult. If you don't donate big money the principal wants nothing to do with you. If you do, the rules bend in your favor. The church is different from the school and is conservative. I dont know of any Opus Dei priests at Lourdes, but the pastor is conservative and so are the priests.

Which pastor, do you mean Fr. Meyers who just left or Monsignor Filardi? I agree that the priests are conservative. The school is very small. Donating big money as a way to ingratiate yourself with the clergy and principal is nothing new. That's the way it worked when I was a kid and it's the reason we're not using Catholic schools.

PP I agree. We have had enough of the problems with Catholic schools in the DC area. Do you suggest independent schools or public in Washington?

[Anonymous]

I used to work at Our Lady of Lourdes and think that the education that they offer is excellent. Every single one of the classroom teachers is an effective teacher. I have heard good things about the summer camp. I'm not a big fan of the PE teacher, too, but can say that he is very involved in the school and brings a lot of positive things to the table. A lot of teachers don't get the credit that they deserve for all of the work that they put into the school, it is basically all reserved for him. However, if you are looking for a great Catholic school with strong leadership and can stomach Catholic school politics, I suggest sending your child to Lourdes.

[Anonymous]

I don't!

[Anonymous]

Can I get someone's opinion on Woods Academy?

[Anonymous]

Is the tuition for Primary Day School worth it? I can't believe that it is $17,000 for Kindergarten. It seems ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have much first hand experience with Our Lady of Lourdes but what I've heard about the school is the exact opposite of what the above poster has written. In fact, I've heard fabulous things about the gym teacher who also runs a much-loved summer camp program. I also understand that the parish is one of the more socio-economically diverse ones in the area. On the issue of Catholicity -- I don't know anything about the teachers but the parish itself is considered one of the more traditional ones in the area. The parish has sponsored a novena in advance of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, with homilies given by priests who are among the best preachers I've ever heard (with Dominicans, maybe even an Opus Dei priest or two).

PP: What is represented in public and the private reality are totally different. The gym teacher is obnoxious and acts like a badly behaved two year old when given the chnce.--think pretending to be friends with parents and then speaking badly about them to other parents, cussing in front of kids, threatening referees in front of kids at basketball games, ignoring rules and common sense, and worse. The school is like a cult. If you don't donate big money the principal wants nothing to do with you. If you do, the rules bend in your favor. The church is different from the school and is conservative. I dont know of any Opus Dei priests at Lourdes, but the pastor is conservative and so are the priests.

Which pastor, do you mean Fr. Meyers who just left or Monsignor Filardi? I agree that the priests are conservative. The school is very small. Donating big money as a way to ingratiate yourself with the clergy and principal is nothing new. That's the way it worked when I was a kid and it's the reason we're not using Catholic schools.

PP I agree. We have had enough of the problems with Catholic schools in the DC area. Do you suggest independent schools or public in Washington?

We're in MoCo and are using MCPS. Can't tell you much so far since my child is just getting ready to start K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the tuition for Primary Day School worth it? I can't believe that it is $17,000 for Kindergarten. It seems ridiculous.

Lots of other privates cost loads more, $27,000, for K and up. Primary Day supposedly has a good track record for getting graduates in to MD privates.

[Anonymous]

Where do Primary Day students go for 3rd grade? Bullis? Holton? Landon? Maret?

[Anonymous]

Could the poster who referred to "Catholic school politics" please elaborate? I genuinely want to know what you mean by this. I am a product of Catholic schools (K-8, high school, college and law school) and I really don't know what is packed into "Catholic school politics". Does it refer to something on the smallest level - administration v pastor or a larger leve- l school v bishop?

[Anonymous]

Re troubling post on camps board re the summer camp at Lourdes.

Are you referring to this one? http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/30/22951.page#238879

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is the tuition for Primary Day School worth it? I can't believe that it is $17,000 for Kindergarten. It seems ridiculous.

Lots of other privates cost loads more, $27,000, for K and up. Primary Day supposedly has a good track record for getting graduates in to MD privates.

Can a student start at Primary Day and then get into a Catholic school for grades 3-8? What is the top Catholic elementary school in the area?

[Anonymous]

What are the advantages of sending your child to a Catholic elementary school? Im thinking that maybe we should send our child to public school for elem and then Catholic for high school. Maybe sending public first will allow us to save for Catholic high school.