The Heights, Mater Dei, vs Holy trinity: what’re best DC area private Catholic boysElementary school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son has been at the Heights for a few years. He is an only child.. there are a few other families in his age group with only 1 child and several with only 2 or 3 kids. We are also not strict catholics. We know older families who have stayed at the Heights through graduation and others that have left for Georgetown Prep.
I am sure your son will succeed at any of these great schools. Good luck through the stressful process of choosing a school.

Do you feel like a second-class citizen being a women/mom there, or is that just a rumor ppl who hate religion perpetuate?

From my experience with The Heights, our school believes that a son’s mother is perhaps the most important person in his life. She is the one who nurtured him while the father works (in most families). There are just as many female faculty members as male (excluding teachers). The reason why the school wants only male teachers is not because we are some bigoted religious Catholics, but because the teachers grow really close with the families and serve as a mentor to the boys. It would be virtually impossible for a female teacher to assist a young boy’s parents in teaching him how to be a good father to his children, brother to his sister…

The Heights partners with an all-girls school who does the exact opposite. All female teachers for all female students.

In close, there is no negative opinion towards moms - that is spread by people hidden behind a computer screen and those with no connection to the school!

Hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son has been at the Heights for a few years. He is an only child.. there are a few other families in his age group with only 1 child and several with only 2 or 3 kids. We are also not strict catholics. We know older families who have stayed at the Heights through graduation and others that have left for Georgetown Prep.
I am sure your son will succeed at any of these great schools. Good luck through the stressful process of choosing a school.

Do you feel like a second-class citizen being a women/mom there, or is that just a rumor ppl who hate religion perpetuate?

From my experience with The Heights, our school believes that a son’s mother is perhaps the most important person in his life. She is the one who nurtured him while the father works (in most families). There are just as many female faculty members as male (excluding teachers). The reason why the school wants only male teachers is not because we are some bigoted religious Catholics, but because the teachers grow really close with the families and serve as a mentor to the boys. It would be virtually impossible for a female teacher to assist a young boy’s parents in teaching him how to be a good father to his children, brother to his sister…

The Heights partners with an all-girls school who does the exact opposite. All female teachers for all female students.

In close, there is no negative opinion towards moms - that is spread by people hidden behind a computer screen and those with no connection to the school!

Hope this helps.

I’m a Heights mom and there are not just as many female faculty as males.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son has been at the Heights for a few years. He is an only child.. there are a few other families in his age group with only 1 child and several with only 2 or 3 kids. We are also not strict catholics. We know older families who have stayed at the Heights through graduation and others that have left for Georgetown Prep.
I am sure your son will succeed at any of these great schools. Good luck through the stressful process of choosing a school.

Do you feel like a second-class citizen being a women/mom there, or is that just a rumor ppl who hate religion perpetuate?

From my experience with The Heights, our school believes that a son’s mother is perhaps the most important person in his life. She is the one who nurtured him while the father works (in most families). There are just as many female faculty members as male (excluding teachers). The reason why the school wants only male teachers is not because we are some bigoted religious Catholics, but because the teachers grow really close with the families and serve as a mentor to the boys. It would be virtually impossible for a female teacher to assist a young boy’s parents in teaching him how to be a good father to his children, brother to his sister…

The Heights partners with an all-girls school who does the exact opposite. All female teachers for all female students.

In close, there is no negative opinion towards moms - that is spread by people hidden behind a computer screen and those with no connection to the school!

Hope this helps.

I’m a Heights mom and there are not just as many female faculty as males.

I did say “non-teaching faculty.” The official numbers are: 7 female & 13 male (this includes the 2 Chaplains and heads of lower/middle/upper school plus Headmaster which couldn’t be female because they also teach classes). Not exactly 50% but pretty close!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son has been at the Heights for a few years. He is an only child.. there are a few other families in his age group with only 1 child and several with only 2 or 3 kids. We are also not strict catholics. We know older families who have stayed at the Heights through graduation and others that have left for Georgetown Prep.
I am sure your son will succeed at any of these great schools. Good luck through the stressful process of choosing a school.

Do you feel like a second-class citizen being a women/mom there, or is that just a rumor ppl who hate religion perpetuate?

From my experience with The Heights, our school believes that a son’s mother is perhaps the most important person in his life. She is the one who nurtured him while the father works (in most families). There are just as many female faculty members as male (excluding teachers). The reason why the school wants only male teachers is not because we are some bigoted religious Catholics, but because the teachers grow really close with the families and serve as a mentor to the boys. It would be virtually impossible for a female teacher to assist a young boy’s parents in teaching him how to be a good father to his children, brother to his sister…

The Heights partners with an all-girls school who does the exact opposite. All female teachers for all female students.

In close, there is no negative opinion towards moms - that is spread by people hidden behind a computer screen and those with no connection to the school!

Hope this helps.

I’m a Heights mom and there are not just as many female faculty as males.

I did say “non-teaching faculty.” The official numbers are: 7 female & 13 male (this includes the 2 Chaplains and heads of lower/middle/upper school plus Headmaster which couldn’t be female because they also teach classes). Not exactly 50% but pretty close!

At the high school level, there is virtually no such thing as non-teaching faculty. You mean administration and staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son has been at the Heights for a few years. He is an only child.. there are a few other families in his age group with only 1 child and several with only 2 or 3 kids. We are also not strict catholics. We know older families who have stayed at the Heights through graduation and others that have left for Georgetown Prep.
I am sure your son will succeed at any of these great schools. Good luck through the stressful process of choosing a school.

Do you feel like a second-class citizen being a women/mom there, or is that just a rumor ppl who hate religion perpetuate?

From my experience with The Heights, our school believes that a son’s mother is perhaps the most important person in his life. She is the one who nurtured him while the father works (in most families). There are just as many female faculty members as male (excluding teachers). The reason why the school wants only male teachers is not because we are some bigoted religious Catholics, but because the teachers grow really close with the families and serve as a mentor to the boys. It would be virtually impossible for a female teacher to assist a young boy’s parents in teaching him how to be a good father to his children, brother to his sister…

The Heights partners with an all-girls school who does the exact opposite. All female teachers for all female students.

In close, there is no negative opinion towards moms - that is spread by people hidden behind a computer screen and those with no connection to the school!

Hope this helps.

I’m a Heights mom and there are not just as many female faculty as males.

I did say “non-teaching faculty.” The official numbers are: 7 female & 13 male (this includes the 2 Chaplains and heads of lower/middle/upper school plus Headmaster which couldn’t be female because they also teach classes). Not exactly 50% but pretty close!

At the high school level, there is virtually no such thing as non-teaching faculty. You mean administration and staff.

"Non-teaching faculty" infers staff, obviously. I found pp refernce very clear, but ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mare Dei is all boys with lots of male teachers in upper grades. Athletics are emphasized. And it has become a feeder for Georgetown Prep.

Our active, athletic, resilient boys benefitted significantly from the experience. But it wasn’t always easy for them.

Do you mean academically, or was it too religion-focused?

Also, congratulations on Prep!

The religion part was easy. The school is strongly Catholic. But not so much that it creates a problem.

The academics weren’t always easy. They are pretty stringent when it comes to meeting requirements.

The male teachers and administrators don’t coddle the boys in the upper grades. One of ours chafed under that a little bit. But, longer term he benefitted from this approach. They insist the boys behave and interrelate in a certain manner. Some may scoff at the “be good guys” part of their motto, but they really do try and inculcate that in the boys.

It’s not for everyone. But it fits like Cinderella’s slipper for some.

Can you elaborate on who you think MD is not for? We are considering for upper school.

military like physical discipline. physical as in push ups, various non-abusive "torture methods", running the perimeter of the campus with a backpack full of books etc etc

very sports and catholic oriented

some kids don't respond well to this but it has worked at mater dei for decades for the majority of the student body

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son has been at the Heights for a few years. He is an only child.. there are a few other families in his age group with only 1 child and several with only 2 or 3 kids. We are also not strict catholics. We know older families who have stayed at the Heights through graduation and others that have left for Georgetown Prep.
I am sure your son will succeed at any of these great schools. Good luck through the stressful process of choosing a school.

Do you feel like a second-class citizen being a women/mom there, or is that just a rumor ppl who hate religion perpetuate?

From my experience with The Heights, our school believes that a son’s mother is perhaps the most important person in his life. She is the one who nurtured him while the father works (in most families). There are just as many female faculty members as male (excluding teachers). The reason why the school wants only male teachers is not because we are some bigoted religious Catholics, but because the teachers grow really close with the families and serve as a mentor to the boys. It would be virtually impossible for a female teacher to assist a young boy’s parents in teaching him how to be a good father to his children, brother to his sister…

The Heights partners with an all-girls school who does the exact opposite. All female teachers for all female students.

In close, there is no negative opinion towards moms - that is spread by people hidden behind a computer screen and those with no connection to the school!

Hope this helps.

I’m a Heights mom and there are not just as many female faculty as males.

I did say “non-teaching faculty.” The official numbers are: 7 female & 13 male (this includes the 2 Chaplains and heads of lower/middle/upper school plus Headmaster which couldn’t be female because they also teach classes). Not exactly 50% but pretty close!

So you are saying in all of HS there are 7 females that work full time that are in an office somewhere students never see?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son has been at the Heights for a few years. He is an only child.. there are a few other families in his age group with only 1 child and several with only 2 or 3 kids. We are also not strict catholics. We know older families who have stayed at the Heights through graduation and others that have left for Georgetown Prep.
I am sure your son will succeed at any of these great schools. Good luck through the stressful process of choosing a school.

Do you feel like a second-class citizen being a women/mom there, or is that just a rumor ppl who hate religion perpetuate?

From my experience with The Heights, our school believes that a son’s mother is perhaps the most important person in his life. She is the one who nurtured him while the father works (in most families). There are just as many female faculty members as male (excluding teachers). The reason why the school wants only male teachers is not because we are some bigoted religious Catholics, but because the teachers grow really close with the families and serve as a mentor to the boys. It would be virtually impossible for a female teacher to assist a young boy’s parents in teaching him how to be a good father to his children, brother to his sister…

The Heights partners with an all-girls school who does the exact opposite. All female teachers for all female students.

In close, there is no negative opinion towards moms - that is spread by people hidden behind a computer screen and those with no connection to the school!

Hope this helps.

I’m a Heights mom and there are not just as many female faculty as males.

You can't be a Heights mom because there is no female faculty

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son has been at the Heights for a few years. He is an only child.. there are a few other families in his age group with only 1 child and several with only 2 or 3 kids. We are also not strict catholics. We know older families who have stayed at the Heights through graduation and others that have left for Georgetown Prep.
I am sure your son will succeed at any of these great schools. Good luck through the stressful process of choosing a school.

Do you feel like a second-class citizen being a women/mom there, or is that just a rumor ppl who hate religion perpetuate?

From my experience with The Heights, our school believes that a son’s mother is perhaps the most important person in his life. She is the one who nurtured him while the father works (in most families). There are just as many female faculty members as male (excluding teachers). The reason why the school wants only male teachers is not because we are some bigoted religious Catholics, but because the teachers grow really close with the families and serve as a mentor to the boys. It would be virtually impossible for a female teacher to assist a young boy’s parents in teaching him how to be a good father to his children, brother to his sister…

The Heights partners with an all-girls school who does the exact opposite. All female teachers for all female students.

In close, there is no negative opinion towards moms - that is spread by people hidden behind a computer screen and those with no connection to the school!

Hope this helps.

I’m a Heights mom and there are not just as many female faculty as males.

I did say “non-teaching faculty.” The official numbers are: 7 female & 13 male (this includes the 2 Chaplains and heads of lower/middle/upper school plus Headmaster which couldn’t be female because they also teach classes). Not exactly 50% but pretty close!

So you are saying in all of HS there are 7 females that work full time that are in an office somewhere students never see?

Hey anti-heights/anti-catholic troll. The Heights is a very small school so 7 is actually a large # for an all-boys school!

"Never see" The two ladies at the front office by the main entrance are the 2 first faculty members students see thoughout the school day (besides the Headmaster who greets students every day outside the front entrance. Nice try - visited this week and had about 20 moms in the building helping decorate for Christmas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son has been at the Heights for a few years. He is an only child.. there are a few other families in his age group with only 1 child and several with only 2 or 3 kids. We are also not strict catholics. We know older families who have stayed at the Heights through graduation and others that have left for Georgetown Prep.
I am sure your son will succeed at any of these great schools. Good luck through the stressful process of choosing a school.

Do you feel like a second-class citizen being a women/mom there, or is that just a rumor ppl who hate religion perpetuate?

From my experience with The Heights, our school believes that a son’s mother is perhaps the most important person in his life. She is the one who nurtured him while the father works (in most families). There are just as many female faculty members as male (excluding teachers). The reason why the school wants only male teachers is not because we are some bigoted religious Catholics, but because the teachers grow really close with the families and serve as a mentor to the boys. It would be virtually impossible for a female teacher to assist a young boy’s parents in teaching him how to be a good father to his children, brother to his sister…

The Heights partners with an all-girls school who does the exact opposite. All female teachers for all female students.

In close, there is no negative opinion towards moms - that is spread by people hidden behind a computer screen and those with no connection to the school!

Hope this helps.

DP. I was a Heights mom. Yes, I felt that the administration and faculty ignored us moms. I had to have my husband intervene when our DS had issues. I did not feel that on any other private or public campus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son has been at the Heights for a few years. He is an only child.. there are a few other families in his age group with only 1 child and several with only 2 or 3 kids. We are also not strict catholics. We know older families who have stayed at the Heights through graduation and others that have left for Georgetown Prep.
I am sure your son will succeed at any of these great schools. Good luck through the stressful process of choosing a school.

Do you feel like a second-class citizen being a women/mom there, or is that just a rumor ppl who hate religion perpetuate?

From my experience with The Heights, our school believes that a son’s mother is perhaps the most important person in his life. She is the one who nurtured him while the father works (in most families). There are just as many female faculty members as male (excluding teachers). The reason why the school wants only male teachers is not because we are some bigoted religious Catholics, but because the teachers grow really close with the families and serve as a mentor to the boys. It would be virtually impossible for a female teacher to assist a young boy’s parents in teaching him how to be a good father to his children, brother to his sister…

The Heights partners with an all-girls school who does the exact opposite. All female teachers for all female students.

In close, there is no negative opinion towards moms - that is spread by people hidden behind a computer screen and those with no connection to the school!

Hope this helps.

DP. I was a Heights mom. Yes, I felt that the administration and faculty ignored us moms. I had to have my husband intervene when our DS had issues. I did not feel that on any other private or public campus.

I have had the exact opposite experience.

The poor thing about these online threads is that there is no way to verify a poster. I find the line "I did not feel that on any other private or public campus." - Infers that you must have been a mother of kids at many other schools. I only know of one family with kids at 4 schools - but maybe this is a rare exception.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son has been at the Heights for a few years. He is an only child.. there are a few other families in his age group with only 1 child and several with only 2 or 3 kids. We are also not strict catholics. We know older families who have stayed at the Heights through graduation and others that have left for Georgetown Prep.
I am sure your son will succeed at any of these great schools. Good luck through the stressful process of choosing a school.

Do you feel like a second-class citizen being a women/mom there, or is that just a rumor ppl who hate religion perpetuate?

From my experience with The Heights, our school believes that a son’s mother is perhaps the most important person in his life. She is the one who nurtured him while the father works (in most families). There are just as many female faculty members as male (excluding teachers). The reason why the school wants only male teachers is not because we are some bigoted religious Catholics, but because the teachers grow really close with the families and serve as a mentor to the boys. It would be virtually impossible for a female teacher to assist a young boy’s parents in teaching him how to be a good father to his children, brother to his sister…

The Heights partners with an all-girls school who does the exact opposite. All female teachers for all female students.

In close, there is no negative opinion towards moms - that is spread by people hidden behind a computer screen and those with no connection to the school!

Hope this helps.

DP. I was a Heights mom. Yes, I felt that the administration and faculty ignored us moms. I had to have my husband intervene when our DS had issues. I did not feel that on any other private or public campus.

I have had the exact opposite experience.

The poor thing about these online threads is that there is no way to verify a poster. I find the line "I did not feel that on any other private or public campus." - Infers that you must have been a mother of kids at many other schools. I only know of one family with kids at 4 schools - but maybe this is a rare exception.

Must add on here that few Heights moms would be posting on a DCUM page, and even fewer would use abbreviations like "DP" & "DS". What do these mean?

[Anonymous]

My thoughts on going to Mater Dei after being forced by my parents to transfer out of St. Jane deChantal in Bethesda (They knew something that was better for me than I had realized at the time)...

Circa 1996 through 1998 6th, 7th, and 8th grade:

My parents made the push for my personal evolution when asking me to enroll in "Summer school" before the Autumn 6th grade semester began at a brand new school, and for "Pete-sake, an all-Boy school at that!?"...

Initially intimidated and feeling awkward, while tegrettfully recognizing that I would soon be out of my "comfort zone" that had been established for the past 6 years... An adolescent incubation from kindergarten all the way up and through the 5th grade at a well known Catholic school...

I was nervous at first when transferring from out of the female-dominated mindsets and teaching staff of the Co-ed system from that of St. Jane DeChantal located in Bethesda.. it was Summer leading into fall of the year 1996...

As I slowly warmed up to the concept of hard homework, intense tests, and values that we had to uphold while on campus and off... The realization suddenly took hold within my brain and within the pockets of my adolescent identity and fully into the core of my new understanding of what it meant to condistently live the school motto "Work Hard, Play Hard, and Be a Good Guy!"...

I realized that I was finally surrounded by a teaching staff who understood what it means to be a "Boy" in this world now in the present moment, knowing that inevitably we would one day all become Men of the world...Teaching us lessons not just taught in our textbooks that reflected the previous sentiment was at the core and at the soul of this middle school experience for me led by these Men who seemed cultured, funny, respectable, and classy..

My teachers during this time were mostly all Male except for 2 of them. This Male-led environment and education was of a huge benefit to me. Personally the importance was most notable when learning how to relate to Men older than myself, how to value and replicate their strong leadership skills, and lastly, how to see each differentiating characteristic that made them the best teachers I have ever had in my life!

I still literally think of my English teachers: Mr. Dan Paro, Mr. Charles, Mr. Buckingham, and as well, my favorite Science Teacher Mr. David, while also reminiscing and laughing at Mr. Geimer and his hilariously dry yet caring personality as he coached and taught us Mathematics (I think of them all Very Often in Fact still at 39 years old)...

It was literally the hardest, yet most rewarding 3 years of my entire life up and to that point. The personal discipline instilled in me by Mater Dei made highschool so much better.. Well, I was able to have fun because we were learning things that my middle school had previously conquered and covered in the 6th and 7th grade.

When I think ofbthe most important take away from that little all-boys catholic school, the thing that stands out most is that it allowed Me to learn what it takes to be a true leader, to be a True and Real Man at even a young age. I am very serious when I say that...

The school wasn't meant for "Warm and Fuzzies" it was aimed and meant for boys that would become real men....

THE ONLY THING THAT STUNK: Was when many of my classmates decided to go to Gonzaga for highschool and carry on the Gonzaga mindset of needing many knuckle sandwiches served to them on a regular basis in order to keep them in line.

I still have so many good memories and I have Mater Dei to Thank for them.

Thanks for reading.

Sincerely, CJF

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My thoughts on going to Mater Dei after being forced by my parents to transfer out of St. Jane deChantal in Bethesda (They knew something that was better for me than I had realized at the time)...

Circa 1996 through 1998 6th, 7th, and 8th grade:

My parents made the push for my personal evolution when asking me to enroll in "Summer school" before the Autumn 6th grade semester began at a brand new school, and for "Pete-sake, an all-Boy school at that!?"...

Initially intimidated and feeling awkward, while tegrettfully recognizing that I would soon be out of my "comfort zone" that had been established for the past 6 years... An adolescent incubation from kindergarten all the way up and through the 5th grade at a well known Catholic school...

I was nervous at first when transferring from out of the female-dominated mindsets and teaching staff of the Co-ed system from that of St. Jane DeChantal located in Bethesda.. it was Summer leading into fall of the year 1996...

As I slowly warmed up to the concept of hard homework, intense tests, and values that we had to uphold while on campus and off... The realization suddenly took hold within my brain and within the pockets of my adolescent identity and fully into the core of my new understanding of what it meant to condistently live the school motto "Work Hard, Play Hard, and Be a Good Guy!"...

I realized that I was finally surrounded by a teaching staff who understood what it means to be a "Boy" in this world now in the present moment, knowing that inevitably we would one day all become Men of the world...Teaching us lessons not just taught in our textbooks that reflected the previous sentiment was at the core and at the soul of this middle school experience for me led by these Men who seemed cultured, funny, respectable, and classy..

My teachers during this time were mostly all Male except for 2 of them. This Male-led environment and education was of a huge benefit to me. Personally the importance was most notable when learning how to relate to Men older than myself, how to value and replicate their strong leadership skills, and lastly, how to see each differentiating characteristic that made them the best teachers I have ever had in my life!

I still literally think of my English teachers: Mr. Dan Paro, Mr. Charles, Mr. Buckingham, and as well, my favorite Science Teacher Mr. David, while also reminiscing and laughing at Mr. Geimer and his hilariously dry yet caring personality as he coached and taught us Mathematics (I think of them all Very Often in Fact still at 39 years old)...

It was literally the hardest, yet most rewarding 3 years of my entire life up and to that point. The personal discipline instilled in me by Mater Dei made highschool so much better.. Well, I was able to have fun because we were learning things that my middle school had previously conquered and covered in the 6th and 7th grade.

When I think ofbthe most important take away from that little all-boys catholic school, the thing that stands out most is that it allowed Me to learn what it takes to be a true leader, to be a True and Real Man at even a young age. I am very serious when I say that...

The school wasn't meant for "Warm and Fuzzies" it was aimed and meant for boys that would become real men....

THE ONLY THING THAT STUNK: Was when many of my classmates decided to go to Gonzaga for highschool and carry on the Gonzaga mindset of needing many knuckle sandwiches served to them on a regular basis in order to keep them in line.

I still have so many good memories and I have Mater Dei to Thank for them.

Thanks for reading.

Sincerely, CJF[/quote

how sincerely lovely. thanks for sharing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of my favorite Mater Dei stories concerns dealing with a class of boys who appear not to be ready to settle down and take instruction.

The instructor took them outside and had them run around the perimeter of the football field to get the excess energy burned off.

It seemed to me to be a fantastic approach.

That would never happen at a co-ed school. I'm not sure it happens at other all boys schools.

Boys are different from girls and should be dealt with differently. Mater Dei gets that.

This would be labeled as ADHD at most schools and a call for therapy and psychiatrists from half of the people who post here.

Good on Mater Dei for understanding boys and their energy levels in relation to learning.