Prospective Parent Question: I have heard that St. Michael School offers quality academics. Can you give me some evidence of academic excellence at the school?

 

 

Your Answer comes from Barry Hauser (current school parent): Our daughter attended public school from pre-school through 6th grade, then we transferred to St. Michael School for her 7th grade year. One of the ways to measure academic excellence is to watch a school take your child to a new level of learning in a relatively short period of time. Our daughter started the school year in 7th grade math and finished the same school year as one of the top 3 students in 8th grade Algebra. We were very impressed.

To further discuss this topic with Barry, you can email him at mickeyblh@hotmail.com.

 
 
 
 

Prospective Parent Question: My wife and I are looking for a school that will support our efforts at home to raise our child with good values and morals.  How will St. Michael support us in this effort?

 

Your Answer comes from Diana Day (current school parent): My preschooler began the year in a local public school program. After just three short months, it became obvious that our child was being exposed to too many negative situations. Disciplinary problems of other students robbed my child of valuable learning time with his teacher. To make matters worse, the school had few tools at its disposal to address these issues. We decided to make the switch to St. Michael before the school year ended and we are so glad we did! The preschool teacher, Mrs. Owens, did a beautiful job of assisting our family through the transition. Our son has adapted without any trouble and is looking forward to kindergarten with his new classmates!

To further discuss this topic with Diana, you can email her at st.michaelinfo@yahoo.com.

 

  
 
 
 

Prospective Parent Questions: St. Michael Parish has an excellent religious education program for families that don't attend the school.  What more will my child receive in terms of faith and spiritual development, if I choose to send him to the school?

 

 

Your Answer comes from John Cooper (current school parent): You ask a very good question. Religious education and faith development take time. Most religious education classes for children that don’t attend a Catholic school are held on weekly basis for about an hour each week over a nine-month period. This amounts to about 36 hours of formal religious education in a year’s time. When your child enrolls at St. Michael School, he or she receives that formal religious education every school day for nine months. This amounts to about 180 hours of formal religious education. You can’t teach as much in 36 hours as you can 180 hours. Not to mention, at a Catholic school like St. Michael’s, faith and spiritual development permeate the entire six hour day, five days a week, nine months a year. Prayer and Christian living at St. Michael are a way of life

To further discuss this topic with John, you can email him at jcooperispd@aol.com.

  
   
  Prospective Parent Question: As a parent, I am really concerned about the safety of my child at school.  Can you tell me if St. Michael offers a safe and loving environment? Your Answer comes from Barry Hauser (current school parent): As I mentioned in an earlier response, we transferred our daughter out of the public school system and into St. Michael last year. The difference in overall behavior of the student body was amazing. There was a lot more cursing, fighting (verbal & physical) and disrespect for others at the public school. My daughter said the adults mostly overlooked poor behavior at the public school. At St. Michael, these problems were not overlooked and the student’s behavior was evidence of that. I feel that because St. Michael is a smaller school, it seems everyone knows everyone else. If a student appeared lost or needed assistance, an adult or another student was there and offered help. Strangers or someone acting out of character would be noticed.  
   
  Prospective Parent Question: As a parent, I am really concerned about the safety of my child at school.  Can you tell me if St. Michael offers a safe and loving environment?

Your Answer comes from Diana Day (current school parent): Yes! During the school day, the entrance to the main office is the only unlocked door in the building. Additionally, all faculty, staff and volunteers are required to undergo an extensive background check and fingerprinting before they are permitted to work with our children

 

  
 

 

If there are other questions you have that were not covered, please let us know and we will have a current school parent address them with you. Please direct your communication to Sister Carol Ann Mause at carolann.mause@stmichaelripley.org or call the school at (937) 392-4202.