Why has no one stated the obvious? Catholics think that all non Catholics are going to to h4ll. Why would you want to put your kid in that environment?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Catholic instruction, practice, and ritual are integral parts of the day and curriculum. We're also a Jewish family and I agree that the size and close-knit community are appealing -- but it would never be a fit for my family.

Agree. I never heard of Jews who want their kids in Catholic schools.

I'd happily send my kids to a Jesuit college. Parish schools, definitely not.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can’t underestimate how much religion happens at Catholic k-8s in addition to weekly mass. Praying several times a day, learning prayers in Spanish for Spanish class, w
writing projects about saints, all the best traditions revolving around Christmas and Lent. A Jewish family would be welcomed and probably a lot of people wouldn’t even know, but I don’t know why you’d do it. You’d end up resenting all the time taken from academics. Even some Catholics struggle with that aspect of Catholic k-8.

Did you go to Catholic school? It sure doesn’t sound like it. For starters, “weekly Mass” is extremely uncommon. That wasn’t even happening when I was in Catholic school decades ago. It was monthly — the first Friday to be exact.

Same but I think st Agnes in Arlington goes weekly. Arlington diocese is much more conservative than DC though. Huge trumpers over here in Catholic schools.

I took a quick look at the Blessed Sacrament website and they literally say "our primary goal is to direct the child toward a mature Christian life." That kinda answers your question.

We're Jewish and belong to a reform synagogue – and we were real uncomfortable at an Episcopal school (only stayed one year). The issue wasn't the social/political leanings of the school or anyone there – people was kind, open, chatty, my kid got invited to birthday parties, etc.

The issue was, at the end of the day, the heart of the school and its traditions came from a religion that wasn't ours. And when you're from a minority religion in a majority space, many people won't even realize how infused those traditions are into school life. Other parents, who absolutely meant well, told us the school was more spiritual and not that religious – and I'm sure that's true from their perspective! But to us, it felt VERY Christian.

I was raised Catholic and am now agnostic. We tried Catholic school (not BS) and it did not work for our family. The kids hated it. They thought it was too strict and complained how boring school was. DH and I were not in any of the cliques bc we weren’t parishioners and didn’t go to all the parish events. We moved to an Episcopal independence and it was a much better fit for us all.

Our kids don’t attend BS but we are parishioners and this is not a conservative parish. Heavy focus on social justice, helping those less fortunate and an entire sermon on not trusting billionaires to act in the best interests of the poor. I do get the sense that it’s a place where people have attended for generations. You can apply and if you get in ask the school to put you in contact with another Jewish family. But, I wouldn’t go into this with BS being your first choice. Lafayette is a great school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can’t underestimate how much religion happens at Catholic k-8s in addition to weekly mass. Praying several times a day, learning prayers in Spanish for Spanish class, w
writing projects about saints, all the best traditions revolving around Christmas and Lent. A Jewish family would be welcomed and probably a lot of people wouldn’t even know, but I don’t know why you’d do it. You’d end up resenting all the time taken from academics. Even some Catholics struggle with that aspect of Catholic k-8.

Did you go to Catholic school? It sure doesn’t sound like it. For starters, “weekly Mass” is extremely uncommon. That wasn’t even happening when I was in Catholic school decades ago. It was monthly — the first Friday to be exact.

It sounds like you’re the one unfamiliar with parochial Catholic schools, at least in this area. Weekly Mass is pretty standard.

BS in DC does not go to mass weekly. And they actually have a few Jewish students there as well as a large number of non catholic Christians. It is a Catholic school so your kid will attend mass as a school on occasion and there is religion class but in upper elementary and middle school it’s heavily focused on social justice teaching. While it is Catholic, they are very respectful of students with other faiths and don’t force Catholicism on them. Around 20% of the students in each grade are not catholic.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can’t underestimate how much religion happens at Catholic k-8s in addition to weekly mass. Praying several times a day, learning prayers in Spanish for Spanish class, w
writing projects about saints, all the best traditions revolving around Christmas and Lent. A Jewish family would be welcomed and probably a lot of people wouldn’t even know, but I don’t know why you’d do it. You’d end up resenting all the time taken from academics. Even some Catholics struggle with that aspect of Catholic k-8.

Did you go to Catholic school? It sure doesn’t sound like it. For starters, “weekly Mass” is extremely uncommon. That wasn’t even happening when I was in Catholic school decades ago. It was monthly — the first Friday to be exact.

My 4 kids went to St Agnes in Arlington. Weekly mass, no exceptions. Even the short weeks. My examples above were just the tip of the iceberg. I didn’t go to Catholic school (DH did) and I was surprised, even though I am devout and practicing. First communion and confirmation years are even more.

Yep. So it seems (I just posted the question on the religion forum). I stand corrected!

Don't forget Religion class. Our Catholic school has religion class 3-4 times a week. This is separate from weekly mass. It's a lot for non-Catholics.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Catholic instruction, practice, and ritual are integral parts of the day and curriculum. We're also a Jewish family and I agree that the size and close-knit community are appealing -- but it would never be a fit for my family.

Agree. I never heard of Jews who want their kids in Catholic schools.

I've heard of a couple from my Catholic family who had kids in Catholic school (Jewish classmates), but it's non common. There are non-Catholics in Catholic schools for sure, but not a lot of Jewish kids that I've run into. That I know of, anyway.

Anonymous wrote:OP, the fact that there are Catholic and non-Catholic rates should tell you something. We tried the Heights for our DS Anglican kid and he was mercilessly bullied and we had to leave. I wouldn't do it. Remember your kid will have to attend mass, etc. https://www.bsstoday.org/admissions/tuition

The Heights, as I understand it, is very very conservative even for a Catholic school. Isn't it Opus Dei? I'm not in that area, but we looked very superficially at a different OD school and all of it read extremely conservative.

Anonymous wrote:Catholic instruction, practice, and ritual are integral parts of the day and curriculum. We're also a Jewish family and I agree that the size and close-knit community are appealing -- but it would never be a fit for my family.

Agree. I never heard of Jews who want their kids in Catholic schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can’t underestimate how much religion happens at Catholic k-8s in addition to weekly mass. Praying several times a day, learning prayers in Spanish for Spanish class, w
writing projects about saints, all the best traditions revolving around Christmas and Lent. A Jewish family would be welcomed and probably a lot of people wouldn’t even know, but I don’t know why you’d do it. You’d end up resenting all the time taken from academics. Even some Catholics struggle with that aspect of Catholic k-8.

Did you go to Catholic school? It sure doesn’t sound like it. For starters, “weekly Mass” is extremely uncommon. That wasn’t even happening when I was in Catholic school decades ago. It was monthly — the first Friday to be exact.

My 4 kids went to St Agnes in Arlington. Weekly mass, no exceptions. Even the short weeks. My examples above were just the tip of the iceberg. I didn’t go to Catholic school (DH did) and I was surprised, even though I am devout and practicing. First communion and confirmation years are even more.

Yep. So it seems (I just posted the question on the religion forum). I stand corrected!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can’t underestimate how much religion happens at Catholic k-8s in addition to weekly mass. Praying several times a day, learning prayers in Spanish for Spanish class, w
writing projects about saints, all the best traditions revolving around Christmas and Lent. A Jewish family would be welcomed and probably a lot of people wouldn’t even know, but I don’t know why you’d do it. You’d end up resenting all the time taken from academics. Even some Catholics struggle with that aspect of Catholic k-8.

Did you go to Catholic school? It sure doesn’t sound like it. For starters, “weekly Mass” is extremely uncommon. That wasn’t even happening when I was in Catholic school decades ago. It was monthly — the first Friday to be exact.

My 4 kids went to St Agnes in Arlington. Weekly mass, no exceptions. Even the short weeks. My examples above were just the tip of the iceberg. I didn’t go to Catholic school (DH did) and I was surprised, even though I am devout and practicing. First communion and confirmation years are even more.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can’t underestimate how much religion happens at Catholic k-8s in addition to weekly mass. Praying several times a day, learning prayers in Spanish for Spanish class, w
writing projects about saints, all the best traditions revolving around Christmas and Lent. A Jewish family would be welcomed and probably a lot of people wouldn’t even know, but I don’t know why you’d do it. You’d end up resenting all the time taken from academics. Even some Catholics struggle with that aspect of Catholic k-8.

Did you go to Catholic school? It sure doesn’t sound like it. For starters, “weekly Mass” is extremely uncommon. That wasn’t even happening when I was in Catholic school decades ago. It was monthly — the first Friday to be exact.

It sounds like you’re the one unfamiliar with parochial Catholic schools, at least in this area. Weekly Mass is pretty standard.

OP, the fact that there are Catholic and non-Catholic rates should tell you something. We tried the Heights for our DS Anglican kid and he was mercilessly bullied and we had to leave. I wouldn't do it. Remember your kid will have to attend mass, etc. https://www.bsstoday.org/admissions/tuition