St Johns College High School

[Anonymous]

We have many neighbors and acquaintances with children at St Johns and they seem happy. We are Jewish and I’m wondering if there are any Jewish families there. We have Catholic family members so we have no issues with our son being exposed to Catholicism but want to be sure he won’t feel like an outsider.

The appeal of St Johns is that it is half the price of other high schools but seems to be highly regarded. We do not qualify for FA at our current private but can’t afford 40k a year. I’m anticipating someone will suggest a Jewish day school but we can’t afford it and we are not at all observant.

[Anonymous]

Having catholic family members will make it easier.

[Anonymous]

This is going to be interesting...

[Anonymous]

I have heard great things about this school. If you are open to catholic traditions or teachings no worries. I am Catholic bit would be totally open to a Jewish school. Schools with religion tend to really emphasize a moral compass as it is easier to do through religion.

[Anonymous]

We are at SJC and one of ds' friends is Jewish. His family did worry about the religious aspect to the education but I have heard nothing since school started. There are prayers before every class, crucifixes on display and school-wide mass on occasion. If you have an issue with your dc being exposed to this amount of Catholicism, it may not be the place for you.

[Anonymous]

Run.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are at SJC and one of ds' friends is Jewish. His family did worry about the religious aspect to the education but I have heard nothing since school started. There are prayers before every class, crucifixes on display and school-wide mass on occasion. If you have an issue with your dc being exposed to this amount of Catholicism, it may not be the place for you.

Also I imagine religion is a required course in the curriculum.

[Anonymous]

I would think that your son would determine how much of a day-to-day "outsider" he is by his thoughts and actions. If he wants to fit in and goes about doing what is necessary, he won't have a problem.

He will, however, be surrounded by people with a different and relatively consistent world-view formed by their culture and history. You really don't know how different you are until you are put in a position like this.

[Anonymous]

There are plenty of non-Catholic families at SJC. I hesitate to say a lot but Jewish kids are common. They do have to take religion (think morality and spirituality rather than straight Church doctrine) and attend Mass. Non-Catholic kids attend and don’t receive communion.

My Jewish child loves the school and doesn’t feel different at all. His religion class this year is more world religion. It reminded me of how little I have taught him about other religions. Yikes!

[Anonymous]

We are Jewish with a child at St. John's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are plenty of non-Catholic families at SJC. I hesitate to say a lot but Jewish kids are common. They do have to take religion (think morality and spirituality rather than straight Church doctrine) and attend Mass. Non-Catholic kids attend and don’t receive communion.

My Jewish child loves the school and doesn’t feel different at all. His religion class this year is more world religion. It reminded me of how little I have taught him about other religions. Yikes!

Thank you! This is really exactly what I needed to know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are plenty of non-Catholic families at SJC. I hesitate to say a lot but Jewish kids are common. They do have to take religion (think morality and spirituality rather than straight Church doctrine) and attend Mass. Non-Catholic kids attend and don’t receive communion.

My Jewish child loves the school and doesn’t feel different at all. His religion class this year is more world religion. It reminded me of how little I have taught him about other religions. Yikes!

Thank you! This is really exactly what I needed to know.

This is pretty typical of Catholic education, btw. The doctrine part is more of a Sunday school/elementary school thing. In high school, since Catholics kids have (mostly) already gone through Confirmation, the doctrine is assumed to be known. So the religious classes are more about theology in general, morality, philosophy, the Big Question topics, and ethics.

[Anonymous]

Very nice average school.
At SJC everybody fits

[Anonymous]

Would a Jewish child fit in socially?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would a Jewish child fit in socially?

Most likely if he or she is good at a sport.