Why do we choose Catholic Schools? Parents, teachers, students speak out
Catholic Schools Week is an annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. Sponsored by the National Catholic Educational Association, schools observe the week with Masses, open houses, and other activities for students, families, parishioners, and community members. The celebration is held each year in late January.
In honor of Catholic School Week, Jersey Catholic asked students, parents, and teachers around the Archdiocese of Newark to discuss why they chose a Catholic school education.
Catholic schools bring children closer to God
Valentina, a first grader at Corpus Christi School in Hasbrouck Heights, said she and her family chose a Catholic education because “I want to be a follower and disciple of Jesus.”
Values that promote understanding and service to the elderly and the handicapped, the poor, and the ill, are an important part of the Catholic School experience, according to the Archdiocese of Newark Office of Schools. Values are emphasized in Catholic schools that “encourage students to accept others rather than exclude them, to understand the difference between right and wrong, and to commit themselves to serve God by serving others.”
“I wanted the best possible faith-based environment,” Erini, a senior student at Union Catholic High school said when asked why she chose a Catholic school education.
Like many Catholic school students, Erini previously attended public school.
“Being around the Catholic tradition every day, I have learned to see the good in everyone and everything,” Erini said. “Treating everyone with dignity and respect in a supportive environment has allowed me to grow in the likeness and image of God.”
According to a 2018 study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, children raised to participate in spiritual practices during childhood, such as weekly religious services or daily prayer, report “greater life satisfaction and positive affect” in their 20s, as well as being less likely to experience mental health issues, smoke, use drugs, or participate in other risky behaviors.
Catholic schools foster a supportive school community
The tight-knit, supportive communities that Catholic schools offer is a major reason parents cited for choosing Catholic schools. According to the Archdiocese of Newark Office of Schools, “a Catholic School recognizes the parents and family as primary educators and joins with them to form a living community of shared visions.” This means that Catholic schools uniquely encourage family input and involvement in their children’s education and strive to create a special bond among the students, the home, the school, and the church so that all share a powerful sense of community.
Sillinia Hillard, a parent at Saint Rose of Lima Academy in Short Hills, said she will always choose a Catholic school education for her children due to a sense of belonging.
“As soon as we walked in it felt like home. We felt like we belong here,” Hillard said.
Another parent, Anthony Lauces, said his family chose Holy Trinity School in Westfield “because of the strong Catholic values, the strong curriculum, and because we feel that the teachers really care about our kids.”
Catholic schools intertwine faith and spirituality with their academic curricula and emphasize the importance of community service, personal responsibility, and citizenship among their students. According to the Archdiocese of Newark Office of Schools, the infusion of faith throughout instructions allows students to fully grow and mature in their spiritual development. For this reason, Catholic schools uniquely prepare youth to be “productive citizens and future leaders” of the world, according to the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA).
Catholic school teachers genuinely care about their students
One of the most unique and positive aspects of Catholic education is, of course, the teachers. Teachers in Catholic schools serve multiple roles as educators, role models, and support networks for their students.
BobbiAnn Pampinella, a teacher for over 20 years at St. Michael School in Newark, said that what she likes most about teaching in a Catholic school is “the chance to help the children grow in faith.” Like many Catholic school teachers, Pampinella recognizes her dual role as both educator and mentor to the students. “I try to set an example to the students through my own acts of service in hopes that they will follow in my footsteps.”
Judy Salsano, a teacher at Our Lady of the Lake school in Verona, said that her favorite part of her job is being able to “emphasize to the students how God is present in every moment of their days and is such a huge part of their lives.”
Faculty and staff are “role models who share their faith, their talents, and their time,” according to the Archdiocese of Newark Office of Schools.
Featured photo: Along with religious study, Catholic schools intertwine Catholic ethos into day-to-day learning.
