Private School

Well I went to St. Judes growing up as a child and it was great....I am looking into St.Judes or St.Matthews for our children I have 2 boys 3 1/2 and 22 months....so a few more years but not many ,....it is expensive but you get what you pay for its a wonderful education they catholic schools are supposed to be like 6 monts to a year ahead of public schools per say...now our 3 year old just goes to Obrien pre tend preschool and he seems to love it....I do to its great....I will not spend that obscene amount on pre school....k-8 Yes we will ...but St. Joe on wilber or downtown somewhere also has a pre school...keep in mind you can fill out forms for tuition assistance and grants and things just ask....if you are catholic and your child is baptized you get a parishioner rate....so look into it and St. monicas and Queen of Peace are good tooo as far as I know...
ttyl
Melissa

This is coming from someone who went to both, public and private. This is my opinoun only. I grew up in at Holy Cross and then went to St. Joe my freshman year. My parents moved to Granger to change public school districts as St. Joe was way to much as my mom had been ill with cancer and we just couldn't afford it any longer. PHM is a good district and provide alot for your community. If you are in the PHM district Vs. St. Pius, consider the public it cost is a huge issue, it will not get cheeper, it will only continue to go up in cost. Especially if you have other children which will enter at a later time.

Some of the situations that I came across at the private schools were off the wall and a child can not learn what society has to offer and dish out. I loved going to Penn vs. St. Joe (I wouldn't have told my parents that ! I fought to stay at St. joe with my friends) But there were so many snobs at St. Joe and so many drugs. St. Joe was a rude awakening for me going into my freshman year many years ago(again I came from a catholic grade school). I wish I would have made more of a fight when my husband and I were looking for a farm-prior to kids. We had intended to send our kids to a catholic school and thats were they started but due to the money issue had to withdraw them and send them to the sbcsc and I really regret it.

But I do believe that PHM has alot to offer the families of the community. You are paying into the tax system so you might as well use it. St. Pius has a nice religious ed program.
I did it and so did my sister and we both went to the phm schools. My sister for middle/high and myself for high school. Phm has a wide social circle so kids should be able to find their spot in the school/friends.

I said this before during the discussion on public vs private schools, but we have some great public schools in our area. I have taught in public schools and a local catholic school, so I can't help but compare them. My son is attending Hums in Mishawaka and we love it! His teacher is fabulous, as are so many public school teachers. I am assuming you are in Penn district and I know there are some great elementary schools in PHM as well.

I know St Monica had their school open house last week for catholic schools week, I am not sure if all were this past week. I know their tuition went up this year, we thought briefly about catholic schools too. I think you should check out your public school while researching the catholic schools. Sometimes you can choose between the two closest schools. You might be pleasently surprised and save yourself a lot of money too.

Our son is 3 1/2, he still has another year of preschool, but we talk alot about public vs. private school.

My husband went to St. Monicas, then moved to Clay for high school.  He noticed a huge difference in the education he received from public vs. private.  I went to a small public school (LaVille), and now that I have to think about education for my kids, I wouldn't hesitate sending them to LaVille.  We used to live in South Bend school district and after Luke was born we moved to Penn, so at least we are in a public school district we would be ok with.  We've talked alot about sending the kids to St. Matts.  We've heard the education is fantastic.  However, it's pricey, and it's a huge commitment!  We also have 2 kids (and there is still a possibility of more), so that is a huge financial decision!  Not to mention, it's would hate to have to move my kids from private to public schools...I'm sure some would adjust just fine, but it would worry me.

Sorry, I'm not much help.  You are closer to having to make a decision, but it sounds like we are in the same boat!  I will ask my husband again his thoughts on St. Monicas, and let you know.

We go to St. Matts, and I got our contribution statement for the year in the mail today.  Enclosed was a questionnaire about the possibility of expanding their education program to include preschool.  The form was simply to get a feel for the demand. 

And $2000 a year for preschool at St. Pius??  Are you serious??  Wow, for preschool, that seems really high to me!  Luke's tuition for this year was under $800, 2 days a week for 2 1/2 hours both days.  What are the specifics of the preschool program...how many hours a week, etc.? 

Jessica
~ Mommy to Luke and Shawn

My nephew goes to Queen of Peace and really likes it. My BIL/SIL are happy with the teachers and the school. The school was just added on to about a year and a half ago. The tuition I think is somewhere around 1800-2000 a year.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mommy to Jacob

In response to this one, "you get what you pay for". Honestly! I send both of mine to a private school here in South Bend (St. Joe-Grade School) and there is a "world of difference" in their curriculum versus what the public school children are learing in the same grade. For example, my stepson attends a public school (because of the distance between our two homes-his mother chose public vs. private even though we offered to pay for private(?)). I am amazed at the difference between my stepsons studies and my childrens studies. My stepson is a grade ahead, brings home a straight A report card, NEVER HAS HOMEWORK, and when he looks over his stepsisters homework (a grade below him) he cannot answer the questions, spell the words, or hasn't even studied this portion yet in his class. He tells us that her work is harder and he doesn't understand it. We've met with his teachers and he's in the top 10% of his class.
Now, what the others aren't telling you, yes, it's DEFINITELY more expensive (and I often complain about that too), but the GRADE SCALE has been adjusted for some of the parochial schools meaning, when a child receives a 81% in public (B), a child in parochial gets a C- (at least at our school). Also, the curriculum is TOTALLY different. My stepson is in 7th grade and compares our daughters curriculum in 5th grade to his. Our children are learning spanish, he is not, our 7th/8th graders are studying algebra I, he won't until high school.
I'm not saying all public schools are bad, but in todays world, applying for college is more competitive than ever. At St. Joseph's High School/South Bend, each year the graduating class has more than 97-99% accepted into colleges all around the US.
Penn HS is (in my opinion) too big. I've had students tell me that they feel "absorbed and lost" there. It's overwhelming. I always thought it was a beautiful school, but after a volleyball tournament there a week ago, and seeing the metal detector at the front door, it made me ill. I know this is reality for them, but St. Joe and Marian doesn't acquire this at their schools.
Again, this is one parents opinion and I look at it like this, your childrens education is an investment in their future. The more opportunities/advantages you expose them to, even if it costs more, will provide a beautiful outcome. They are our future and that's what it's all about. Good luck in your endeavor!