Switching to Catholic school- tips?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Generally the best looking kids go to Catholic schools

Hmm. Catholic schools have very few POC. Racist much?

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure you've gotten any good tips, so here are mine:
1. dress code- if you're not used to ties, belts and tucked-in shirts, the kids at least need to be mentally prepared. I think it's best to go in with an attitude that embraces following the dress code 100% all the time
2. rules- there will be a lot more, which makes the school a lot more calm and safe (or that's the attitude I would take with my kids). But they need to be mentally prepared for some strict teachers the first month. Catholic school teachers can come on strong and impose a lot of discipline until everyone is on board
3. Mass- if you don't already go, start going this summer. They don't want to feel awkward about not knowing when to stand/kneel/etc. Best to know their prayers as well. You're joining after First Communion, I think. But I'd find out if either of your kids is entering a First Communion year and know how you want to handle that
4. Handwriting and homework- the kids will probably be used to homework and may know cursive. Maybe summer workbooks to make sure they arrive with some stamina
5. Play CYO sports. Your kid will roll in much better if they play on the same rec teams, if they exist, and 100% need to do the CYO teams
6. Do a shadow day now. My kids' K-8 has new kids joining next year shadowing half day or all day now
Good luck! I hope it's as wonderful an experience for your family as it's been for mine

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Definitely look into the schools, esp high schools. Some of the Catholic schools around here are filled with all the kids that got kicked out of public school and had to find a Catholic school. Paul VI used to be known as the school where all the bad kids went when they got expelled from the public schools (don't know if it's still that way, but was a few years ago).

Interesting blanket statement

It's not a blanket statement, it is specific to this area actually. And I even narrowed it down to a specific school that I have experience with.

My spouse moved from another area of the country where the public schools are terrible so everyone sent their kids to Catholic schools. Having grown up in this area, I've seen that all the kids I knew that got expelled from public school went to a Catholic school because for the most part, it was the only viable option since private schools (non-religious) cost a ton more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure you've gotten any good tips, so here are mine:
1. dress code- if you're not used to ties, belts and tucked-in shirts, the kids at least need to be mentally prepared. I think it's best to go in with an attitude that embraces following the dress code 100% all the time
2. rules- there will be a lot more, which makes the school a lot more calm and safe (or that's the attitude I would take with my kids). But they need to be mentally prepared for some strict teachers the first month. Catholic school teachers can come on strong and impose a lot of discipline until everyone is on board
3. Mass- if you don't already go, start going this summer. They don't want to feel awkward about not knowing when to stand/kneel/etc. Best to know their prayers as well. You're joining after First Communion, I think. But I'd find out if either of your kids is entering a First Communion year and know how you want to handle that
4. Handwriting and homework- the kids will probably be used to homework and may know cursive. Maybe summer workbooks to make sure they arrive with some stamina
5. Play CYO sports. Your kid will roll in much better if they play on the same rec teams, if they exist, and 100% need to do the CYO teams
6. Do a shadow day now. My kids' K-8 has new kids joining next year shadowing half day or all day now
Good luck! I hope it's as wonderful an experience for your family as it's been for mine

Thank you so much for this!!

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]I would work on penmanship with the younger one, definitely cursive and times tables for the older one. [/quote]

Thanks!! They definitely know times tables already - both the 2nd and 4 th grader - but definitely need to work on handwriting!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Understand that the teachers are poorly paid, may not be certified in the area in which they are teaching, are forbidden from being gay, likely have terrible health care, and have no organization to back them up if they have a mean principal. I would look for a regular private school.

Ha! I live in Florida and this is true in Public Schools as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Definitely look into the schools, esp high schools. Some of the Catholic schools around here are filled with all the kids that got kicked out of public school and had to find a Catholic school. Paul VI used to be known as the school where all the bad kids went when they got expelled from the public schools (don't know if it's still that way, but was a few years ago).

Interesting blanket statement

It's not a blanket statement, it is specific to this area actually. And I even narrowed it down to a specific school that I have experience with.

My spouse moved from another area of the country where the public schools are terrible so everyone sent their kids to Catholic schools. Having grown up in this area, I've seen that all the kids I knew that got expelled from public school went to a Catholic school because for the most part, it was the only viable option since private schools (non-religious) cost a ton more.

I thought the argument against private schools is that they can pick and choose who to enroll and publics have to take everyone. Where are these public schools kicking kids out left and right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Generally the best looking kids go to Catholic schools

Hmm. Catholic schools have very few POC. Racist much?

Ours does. You need to get out more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't think of any situation where I would send a junior high or high school student to Catholic school. I prefer my children understand basic sexual education and their bodies.

So, what you’re saying is that as a parent you are incapable of conveying this information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Generally the best looking kids go to Catholic schools

Hmm. Catholic schools have very few POC. Racist much?

You might want to tour the parochial schools in most major U.S. cities. Your horizons cleary need to be broadened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't think of any situation where I would send a junior high or high school student to Catholic school. I prefer my children understand basic sexual education and their bodies.

So, what you’re saying is that as a parent you are incapable of conveying this information.

I think everyone in a school should be conveyed that information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't think of any situation where I would send a junior high or high school student to Catholic school. I prefer my children understand basic sexual education and their bodies.

So, what you’re saying is that as a parent you are incapable of conveying this information.

I think everyone in a school should be conveyed that information.

They talk about it at my kids Catholic school. They've been to two different schools. They got all the information at both in grade school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't think of any situation where I would send a junior high or high school student to Catholic school. I prefer my children understand basic sexual education and their bodies.

So, what you’re saying is that as a parent you are incapable of conveying this information.

I think everyone in a school should be conveyed that information.

When was the last time you set foot in or near any Catholic school to be speaking as if you're an authority? Was it in the 60's?

[Anonymous]

OP,
I just read through this thread. It’s filled with a ton of misinformation.
1. Catholic schools teach Science. Catholics are not Creationists. Your child will learn evolution.
2. Catholic school teachers may be paid less, but they are often state certified and many are former public school teachers who got sick of their districts. (I should know. I was a former public school teacher and I now teach in a Catholic school. I got sick of admin / mismanagement, so I left and took my own kids to Catholic schools.)
3. Catholic schools are very on top of student safety. I attend more trainings and am held to higher standards regarding what I can/cannot do around children. This is most definitely a reaction to the Catholic priest scandals.

There’s more I caught, but I hope you get the point. Expect a lot of family involvement, which I consider a good thing. Expect more rigid rules, which I also consider a good thing. It will be a transition, but probably not as hard as you may be imagining.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't think of any situation where I would send a junior high or high school student to Catholic school. I prefer my children understand basic sexual education and their bodies.

So, what you’re saying is that as a parent you are incapable of conveying this information.

I think everyone in a school should be conveyed that information.

When was the last time you set foot in or near any Catholic school to be speaking as if you're an authority? Was it in the 60's?

How many teach about how to access condoms & birth control?