Thoughts on Catholic Schools in SA. (Anthony: how much, pros and cons, kindergarten)

[b0knows]

Hi everyone, I'm a newly registered user looking forward to contributing to the forum! But first, I'd like to see if you all could help me on the subject of Catholic schools. My daughter will be starting kindergarten in the fall. We've visited the following Catholic schools, but since there are no metrics to measure or rate Catholic schools, I'd like to offer some of my impressions and ask you all for yours. Thanks in advance!

1. Holy Spirit - We went on a one-on-one tour of the school and liked it very much. The class sizes were small (I think a 12:1 ratio for Kinder?), there's a nice computer lab, and they claim to be in the top 90% nationwide in ITBS composite scores.

2. St. Luke - We went for the open house. I like the classrooms and teachers. My main impression is that they are big on sports with the new basketball facilities. The principle was very honest in saying that they don't have numbers for ITBS, but probably aren't as high as 90%.

3. St. Mathew - We went for a tour hosted by two parents who volunteer with the school. This is a bigger school that seems busier than the previous two.

4. St. Anthony - My wife went to this school and is one of her favorites along with Holy Spirit.

[wehotex]

Originally Posted by b0knows

Hi everyone, I'm a newly registered user looking forward to contributing to the forum! But first, I'd like to see if you all could help me on the subject of Catholic schools. My daughter will be starting kindergarten in the fall. We've visited the following Catholic schools, but since there are no metrics to measure or rate Catholic schools, I'd like to offer some of my impressions and ask you all for yours. Thanks in advance!

1. Holy Spirit - We went on a one-on-one tour of the school and liked it very much. The class sizes were small (I think a 12:1 ratio for Kinder?), there's a nice computer lab, and they claim to be in the top 90% nationwide in ITBS composite scores.

2. St. Luke - We went for the open house. I like the classrooms and teachers. My main impression is that they are big on sports with the new basketball facilities. The principle was very honest in saying that they don't have numbers for ITBS, but probably aren't as high as 90%.

3. St. Mathew - We went for a tour hosted by two parents who volunteer with the school. This is a bigger school that seems busier than the previous two.

4. St. Anthony - My wife went to this school and is one of her favorites along with Holy Spirit.

Dont go to St Anthony's!!!! Years ago, their principal Dr Kennedy maintained an affair with a teacher at the school. The school insisted that it was happening despite witnesses. It created a big rift among some parents who wanted Kennedy to step down and others who wanted him to stay. All 3 of my sister's kids went there for years. But, my sister opted for St Matthews after that incident. The St Matthews principal (Mr Caro) seems very genuine to me.

[wpme]

Are you trying to instill a fear of rulers and yardsticks in your children? I attended St. Anthony's decades ago, bunch of wicked vindictive nuns that like to beat children, I'm still scared of yardsticks

[wehotex]

Originally Posted by wehotex

Dont go to St Anthony's!!!! Years ago, their principal Dr Kennedy maintained an affair with a teacher at the school. The school insisted that it was happening despite witnesses. It created a big rift among some parents who wanted Kennedy to step down and others who wanted him to stay. All 3 of my sister's kids went there for years. But, my sister opted for St Matthews after that incident. The St Matthews principal (Mr Caro) seems very genuine to me.

Oops. I meant to say that the school insisted that it was NOT happening.

[forest1492]

The current principal of St. Anthony's is Cynthia Luna. She was an award-winning administrator in NISD before becoming principal of St. Anthony's. In 2004, when principal of Blattman Elementary, she was awarded the National Distinguished Principal award for the state of Texas.

[Chaka]

I visited those, and though I chose not to send my kids to any, I loved St. Anthony's. I was so impressed with many things, esp. the current administration (I visited about 2 years ago). I have a number of friends who send their kids there and can't say enough good. That it's not affiliated with any one parish has its pros and cons, but mostly pros. It can run independently and has incredible parental involvement.

[wehotex]

Originally Posted by Chaka

I visited those, and though I chose not to send my kids to any, I loved St. Anthony's. I was so impressed with many things, esp. the current administration (I visited about 2 years ago). I have a number of friends who send their kids there and can't say enough good. That it's not affiliated with any one parish has its pros and cons, but mostly pros. It can run independently and has incredible parental involvement.

Perhaps it has changed for the better. But don't all of the parochial schools have extreme parental involvement? Each of my sisters is always volunteering for something in their kids schools. I've always thought that if parents are spending that much $$ on education that the volunteering would be a big part of it. Is there a difference in volunteerism among the different schools?
If a school is affiliated with a church/parish, doesnt the church share some of its resources with the school?, which might be a positive thing.

[Apm1980]

Originally Posted by wehotex

Perhaps it has changed for the better. But don't all of the parochial schools have extreme parental involvement? Each of my sisters is always volunteering for something in their kids schools. I've always thought that if parents are spending that much $$ on education that the volunteering would be a big part of it. Is there a difference in volunteerism among the different schools?
If a school is affiliated with a church/parish, doesnt the church share some of its resources with the school?, which might be a positive thing.

Generally the schools that belong to a parish need to do mandatory volunteering, or pay a fee. The non parish schools don't usually require parents to volunteer, however they do seem to push the donations for everything under the sun! They can get pretty aggressive with fundraisers often resorting to openly publishing who and how much donates what. So students know who are the donators and who aren't. Can make a conservative donor feel like a cheapskate

[blizzrd]

I went to St. Luke's. Looking back, it did wonders for all of us. We wouldn't be where we are without having gone there. I'd also look at St. George, though it is an episcopal school and St. Mary's Hall.

[Chaka]

Originally Posted by wehotex

Perhaps it has changed for the better. But don't all of the parochial schools have extreme parental involvement? Each of my sisters is always volunteering for something in their kids schools. I've always thought that if parents are spending that much $$ on education that the volunteering would be a big part of it. Is there a difference in volunteerism among the different schools?
If a school is affiliated with a church/parish, doesnt the church share some of its resources with the school?, which might be a positive thing.

The difference is that the school has more flexibility if it's run independently. Parental involvement = parental input. A parish-controlled school answers to the parish first. There are pros and cons to both. I grew up in a parish school, but I vastly preferred St. Anthony's over the others for that reason.


I don't really care what an administrator long gone did years ago.