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Happening ... in the Local Church
The Catholic Moment asked a sampling of students across the Local Church to write on the topic “Here’s why I like my Catholic school …”
Here are some of their responses.
First grade, St. Mary School, Alexandria
“I like my school because there is kindness. I like to learn about God. I like the nice desks and they are well done. I like the library because I love books.” — Maci C.
“I like lunch because it is good. I like all of the teachers. I like to play because there is a very big gym.” — Nicholas B.
“I like to play a lot. I like to learn about God because he is nice. I like lunch because Cindy makes nice decorations.” — Katie D.
“I like my Catholic school because I like the nice desks that are painted. I like my school because I like to learn about God. And I like our lunch.” — Christopher M.
“I like my Catholic school because we have books and nice things. They even let us play. We recycle and we have to be kind to other people and share a lot of things. That is why I like my Catholic school.” — Michael M.
Second grade, All Saints School, Logansport
“I like All Saints because we get to learn about Jesus and how special we are to him. I think it’s good that we can pray for others and that we get to go to Mass on Thursdays. We have caring teachers and a nice principal, too. I love All Saints School.” — Elle D.
“I like All Saints because on the last day at church, we have a good-bye service for the sixth-graders. On Thursday, we go to Mass. I love wearing uniforms. We learn more about God. We all learn to respect others. All Saints feels like a family! Not only a family in the body, but in the spirit! In the subjects like music, gym and religion, we still learn about God! That is why I like All Saints!” — Sophia R.
“I like All Saints for many reasons. One reason is that we get to go to Mass every Thursday. Mass is special to me because I feel close to God when I am there. I also like that we get to do fun activities for the holidays, like make Christmas presents for our family. We also get to do my favorite subjects at All Saints such as math and spelling. I really like doing rocket math because I get to learn my multiplication facts. I also like All Saints because sometimes we go to church for prayer services. This year we had a prayer service for Haiti because of the earthquake. The last important reason I like about All Saints School is that the students and teachers are very nice.” — Noah M.
“I like All Saints because of the friends that I have made. We start our day praying together before the teacher begins their class. We eat lunch together and play at recess. It is great to spend the day with my friends at All Saints.” — Stefanie M.
“Why I like All Saints is the nice students and teachers. The whole school is like a family of faith. I like church because each grade takes turns at Mass. Our lunch lady and secretary, Mrs. Dexter and Mrs. Raderstorf, are nice. All Saints School is the school to be in.” — Samuel M.
Third grade, St. Lawrence School, Lafayette
“I adore my school. They have the best teachers ever. They are so sweet and we have the best student teachers ever. We even have the best priests ever, too. They come into our classroom and teach us about Jesus. It is so much fun when they come into our room. I love learning in school. It is awesome. I love science. It is one of my favorite subjects in school. I love Star Lab. You go into this big tent and there are stars and the moon on the walls and the ceiling and it is dark. We tell stories about the stars and the shapes they make. It is a blast! I love field trips. They are so much fun. The older grades usually go to more than we do, but all the grades go to Central Catholic to have Mass together and play games with the older kids. I love going to Mass. It is so much fun because I love singing and hearing the Gospel, too. I love St. Lawrence. I am glad my parents sent me here.” — Emma B.
“How do you like your school? Well, I love mine! I go to St. Lawrence School. And I know that God is with me all the time. Our priests are Father Dan, Father Underwood, Father Shocklee and Father Dennis. St. Lawrence priests come into classes and take the time to teach us. I love it when they do that. My teachers are spectacular. My principal is very helpful, joyful and happy. I am in third grade. My teacher’s name is Mrs. Schafer — she is great! I have a student teacher this year. It is my first time ever! Her name is Miss Roberts. She is fun, cool and a helpful person. My friends are hilarious! They are great, helpful, loving and caring. Our school has to wear something called a uniform. I do not like them, but I don’t have to worry about what I have to wear in the morning. So I guess I do like them. We have something called a bake sale where fifth- and sixth-graders bake and bring things like cookies, brownies, fudge and those things. It’s fun because after you buy them, you get to eat the treats! We have something called the Star Lab. My principal taught us about stars in the Star Lab. That’s why I love my school!” — Allie F.
“I’m William. I’m going to tell about how I like my school, St. Lawrence. I am Catholic and I go to a Catholic school. At St. Lawrence, we have religion class and in religion we listen to Catholic stories. We go to church, too. We go to church on Wednesday and Friday. But on Wednesday, only first through third grade go and we sing only one song. At St. Lawrence also on Wednesday a priest comes in and he talks to us. The priests we’ve had in the past were Father Dennis and Father Dan. Right now, Father Underwood visits. We call Father Underwood the funny priest because he’s so funny. We have parties and days and weeks of having fun. We have a field day at St. Lawrence. We have a field day at the end of the year. Two years ago was my tryout day at St. Lawrence, and guess what — I got to go on a field day. It was awesome. We also do a thing called star tickets. Star tickets are tickets you get at lunch if you are quiet. Then you put your star ticket in a bucket called the star catcher. On Monday, Mrs. Williams (our principal) draws some star tickets from the star catcher and if your name is drawn, you get to pick a little prize out. And we have Star Lab at St. Lawrence, too! The Star Lab is basically a round dome. We crawl in the dome with an adult and our class and the adult tells us about the stars and constellations. Thank you for reading about St. Lawrence.” — William W.
“Do you go to a Catholic school? I go to St. Lawrence. It’s awesome! Here at St. Lawrence I think we have the most wonderful teachers, student teachers and principal because they treat us right. I have no favorite subject because I like them all the same. We do the usual subjects like math, reading, science and social studies. We do it every year — it’s Catholic Schools Week. During Catholic Schools Week, we do a bunch of stuff. Battle of the Classes is in Catholic Schools Week. Every class gathers up in the gymnasium and competes in fun games. We also do something called Star Lab. We go into a dome and at the top of the dome you can see many stars. My principal took my class to Star Lab and taught us about constellations, the North Star and many other things. Do you have a math competition every year? We do. In fact, the third grade won first place this year! In PE (physical education), we get to play a bunch of games like fire and ice. We have to wear uniforms, but not every day! We have things called NUT slips. NUT slips let us be out of uniforms for the day. (NUT slip clothes need to be appropriate.) We have priests that come in every Wednesday and talk about Jesus’ life. I think every parent that reads this should send their child or children to St. Lawrence.” — Scott L.
“This is what I like about my Catholic school. I like going to church to pray and receive Communion. I like praying daily with the class, like when we pray in the morning, after lunch and at the end of the day. The best is when the priests come into the classrooms. They teach us about God. My teachers are amazing. My friends are nice and fun to play with. Our principal is helpful and the best at making school more fun. I like the Star Lab. Star Lab is teaching you about stars and tells stories about them. Last but not least are the contests, like the math contest. The math contest is when the teacher picks the three best kids at math, then they go to the contest. Gym is fun because you can exercise and have amazing fun at the same time. Art is fun because we do a lot of crafts. Music is awesome because we sing and do crazy motions. The best is when Mrs. Cooley, my mom, teaches us about bullying, teasing, joking and being mean to one another. Computers are fun because we have a game that teaches you how to type. We do this in second through sixth grade. I like Catholic Schools Week. It is a celebration of having and being able to go to Catholic schools. We have the Battle of the Saints. It’s when St. Lawrence plays St. Boniface’s dads, fourth through sixth grade, basketball. We also have Battle of the Classes. It is when you get points. We have an airplane contest. Each class picks the person whose plane flies the furthest. Then they compete against the other classes. On the last day of Catholic Schools Week, we watch a movie. We get to pick a classroom to watch a variety of movies.” — Luke C.
Fourth grade, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Carmel
“I love going to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. No, I love going to a Catholic school in general. Being at a Catholic school is awesome because it helps you to open your heart to the Lord and it pulls you closer to God. I mean, we go to Mass three times every single week. (And that’s not including Sunday.) If you weren’t Catholic and you came to this school, you’d learn how to be a great, holy Catholic in only a couple of weeks. It’s incredible. I think that Catholic schools spend more time than any other school in the world learning about their faith. Every class I’ve been in since I got here has spent more than 45 minutes or more every day learning about our faith.” — Wyatt M.
“Every morning, when I wake up, I know I have something to look forward to, a day of school at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. It’s Monday morning and I get to go to church first thing. When I glance out my window, I can see public school students getting on buses. I feel happy that I am privileged enough to go to a Catholic school. Going to Mass three times a week gives me graces that guide me through the week. Wearing uniforms helps students at OLMC focus on God and not each other’s clothing. Some days, priests from our parish come and talk to the class about a Bible story or the Gospel. Our principal, Sister Maria Fidelis, along with our convent of sisters, remind us daily of virtues. We have musicals and programs that are based on Christian lessons. I love my Catholic school!” — Olivia B.
“Take out your religion books! There’s one of the many reasons I like Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. We have religion class. It’s really nice to wake up in the morning knowing I am going to learn about God that day. We also go to Mass every week. I love getting to go to Mass with my class. One of the other reasons I love Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is our library. Some schools don’t have such a nice library. I also love how when you need help, you can go to the counselor and she can talk to you about God and pray with you and for you. We also have priests come in our classroom and tell us about being a priest. The best part of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School is we can talk about God whenever we want and our staff can use the word God. I love Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School!” — Emma H.
“Mom, is it time for school yet?”
“No, Jack, didn’t you just get home?”
“Yes, but I want to go back and learn more.”
“What is that?”
“I want to learn about the Lord. I also want to learn science. If I never went to school, Mom, I wouldn’t get a job. Besides, what better place to go and get educated than Our Lady of Mt. Carmel? Even though all that stuff is great, I love Mass. I think it is the grandest celebration at our school.”
“Jack, I’m happy you like your school.” — Jack M.
“On the first day of kindergarten, I walked in nervous, but as soon as I heard my teacher say ‘God is in all of you,’ I was unafraid. Ever since, OLMC seems like a home. My first-grade teacher taught us to love everyone and to treat others the way you want to be treated. My second-grade teacher was a sister. She taught me to love the Lord, to pray and call him often. My third-grade teacher taught me to listen and to be patient with others. My fourth-grade teacher is teaching us to love life and be joyful. My principal taught me to be who I am, and to be happy. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel has many wonderful priests, one of which inspired me to say ‘thank you’ to God more often. My former baseball coach comes every Sunday and volunteers his time and energy just so we can become better Christians, and better athletes. I thought I was going to have to move, and I’m so glad I didn’t because all those adults have done so much for me and I would be torn if I did have to move away from Our Lady, my home.” — Ben H.
Fifth grade, Sacred Heart School, Fowler
“I love Sacred Heart School. I love it because it is a great school. I really enjoy playing sports, participating in activities, my friends and my education. Sacred Heart sports are awesome because you get a huge amount of exercise. Since we are such a small school, we have tiny teams so we all get to play a gob. My coaches have Christ-like behaviors at practice and at games. Participating in activities is really exciting, too. Our school does all kinds of fund-raisers such as Toys for Tots, Walk-a-thon, Bazaar, Cake Walk, Fall Festival and many more. Spanish Club is an activity I was involved in. We learned many Spanish words. Also, my friends are very important. They treat me with respect and honesty. Without them, life wouldn’t be as fun. They also support me in everything I do. My friends are one of my most important blessings. I am really blessed with my education. Without it, I would be nowhere in life. I try to follow the Commandments and I give 110 percent effort in everything I do. Since I go to a Catholic school, we go to church three days a week. So, I have a chance to receive the Eucharist often. I adore Sacred Heart! It is a terrific and wonderful school.” — Betsy M.
“I like my school because we go to church and learn about the saints and the Gospels. I love it when Father comes in and teaches religion so we can do what God wants us to do. I liked it when we went over to church and learned about what things were for and what other things meant. I like basketball because I love to make new friends and I liked meeting the coaches. It is a challenge to keep my grades up so I can play basketball. It is a good challenge for me. I love the teamwork and the effort we put into playing basketball. I love the wins and the losses we have because the game is so much fun. I like the teachers because they help me throughout the school year. They encourage me to keep going and push hard to do my best. The teachers told me to do my best and get those grades up (and keep them up). They knew what to do with me when they saw what I had been doing throughout my years in school.” — Austin F.
“There are many benefits to attending Sacred Heart School. I especially enjoy the fact that I am able to go to church every other day. It gets us involved with the older members of our parish, people that we may not get the chance to know. One of those members is Pat Richey. The more I get to know her, the more I admire her dedication to our church. She has shared her prayer books with me and it is a wonderful inspiration. I feel fortunate to be a part of the Sacred Heart School family. Since it is such a small school, it is easy to get to know everyone. We have a ‘buddy system’ that matches a student from an upper grade with a younger student. My ‘buddy’ is Allie Fox. I enjoy her because she makes me smile. Going to Sacred Heart School is one of the greatest gifts that I have been blessed with. It will make me a better person as I grow up and give me the strength to stand up for what I believe.” — Ellie B.
“I love my school here at Sacred Heart. I would love it if more and more people came here. It has good education and it’s a lot of fun here. This is what I like about my school. I like that we to a Catholic school. We learn about God our Father and we go to church. Both of these things are amazing to learn. Going to church is amazing because we listen to the Scriptures. Going to church is a big thing. We learn about God our Father, Jesus our Savior, Mary and a whole lot of other people. Also, we learn religion. Some schools don’t even talk about God, but we do. We learn about Jesus’ baptism, the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes and much more. The last thing that I like about my school is that we have nice, reverent people around us. We help and ask people if they are okay or if they are hurt. That feels good when someone actually cares about you. I have to say we all could use that once in a while.” — Nicole E.
“Have you ever known a 10-year-old that has to pay taxes? I have to pay taxes. Can you believe it? Sacred Heart has the kindest teachers ever. They are all very helpful and supportive. They’re always there if you have a question. They are also very funny and creative. It’s not just the teachers that are kind; the whole Sacred Heart staff and volunteers are, too. Some more kind people are my friends. When I’m with my friends, we just laugh and laugh. My friends are helpful, kind and very respectful. I love that my friends and I are always in the same class together. Another part of the Sacred Heart family is the basketball coaches and teammates. The coaches, Rick and Terry, are very patient with you when you are new or don’t understand something. Rick and Terry aren’t our only coaches. We also have former Sacred Heart students, Jade and Tessa, come to help. The teammates are all very supportive. If you make a shot or do something good, they always say ‘good job’ or ‘way to do it.’ Another supportive person, or should I say bird, is our mascot Champ. Paying taxes really isn’t that bad, especially when you’re not using real money. Mrs. Moore, our awesome teacher, has us pay taxes so we know what it’s like in the real world and for our parents. It even helps with your math skills. I’m very lucky to get to go to a great school like Sacred Heart.” — Halle S.
Sixth grade, St. Ambrose School, Anderson
“This is my seventh year at St. Ambrose, and I’ve been here since kindergarten. I like this school because it has a nice staff that cares about us. There are also no bullies of any kind. The staff always helps us whether it’s for homework or for problems that we can’t solve. The staff here teaches us how to prepare for the future. So far at St. Ambrose I’ve enjoyed every teacher I’ve had. During Catholic Schools Week, we do many fun things like bowling, funny hat day, slipper day, Indianapolis Colts Day, having people from the zoo come with animals, and having an ice cream party. It is fun at St. Ambrose.” — Alex T.
“I like my school because everyone here is nice. The teachers are amazing. You make a lot of friends here. I like the fun things that we do. For instance, we go to the principal’s for a hot dog roast and games. We have Catholic Schools Week, where we go bowling and have Parents Day. We have a kickball tournament and we have our field trip. But one of the most important things is an excellent education. That’s why St. Ambrose is special — they have a great education. But we also have jobs or responsibilities. As in, we raise the flags, put cones out, get Mass ready, read to first-graders, watch classes and get balls that go into the street. I love my school because the teachers and students are special. My friends go here so it is good. There are clubs like science club, step ahead, and student council. This is why I like my Catholic school.” — Kalvin B.
“St. Ambrose School is a wonderful school because the teachers not only give us a good education, they make it fun. And yes, even the math. They teach us the ways of Christ and how to be more like him. The teachers also get involved in different things. Our principal told us that over the summer, the parking lot needed to be re-done, and he got out there and helped pave it even though he didn’t have to. I think that he set a great example for our sixth-grade class about responsibility and volunteering. During the spring, when we have outside recess, Mr. Warner, our principal, even plays four-square with us! But not just the teachers are great, so are the students. No kid has ever bullied me, and I have been here since preschool. The desks and floors are always clean, the food is healthy and delicious, and we have responsibilities that prepare us for life in the real world. I not only love my Catholic school, I am proud to be a student there!” — Delanie B.
“I like my Catholic school because of the people that work there. I like the teachers, the aides, the principal and everyone else. I like my school because of all the fun stuff we do. In the fall, our principal, Mr. Warner, hosts fun parties at his house. In the winter, we have a fun Christmas party and we do really cool stuff during Catholic Schools Week. In the spring, near the end of the year, we have a kickball tournament. I like my school because of all the field trips we have. The science club, which is a club where we get to do cool stuff with science, takes an overnight field trip every year. We also have a field trip that’s only for sixth grade. Another thing is that we sixth-graders have special jobs. We raise the flags, we watch classes at indoor recess and we help out at the church. These are just a few reasons I like my Catholic school.” — Quinton B.
“I’ve been in St. Ambrose for eight years. The biggest reasons why I love my school is because I get a great education and have great friends. Also, all the teachers in the school help you. Since preschool, everyone has had many responsibilities and things to do. Every holy day of obligation, we go to Mass. Also every Friday when we have Mass, separate grades get to participate. They are able to serve, read and cantor. It’s great because we can all come together to worship God as a Catholic Church. That’s why I love my Catholic school.” — Annamarie A.
Seventh grade, St. Louis de Montfort School, Fishers
“I love going to a private school! Everyone here is so nice and understanding. It does cost more to go to a private school, but there are many positives and negatives in having a great school like St. Louis de Montfort.
“I like having uniforms so no one gets made fun of. However, sometimes we need a week just to be ourselves and express who we are in every way. We do have free dress days, which are always a positive. As well as not getting made fun of, school uniforms help children’s self-esteem level. There are no worries about having to have the cutest outfit every day. It also costs more for your parents to go out and buy new clothing for every day.
“I used to go to a public school and I do know what it feels like to be the odd one out. Here at SLDM, I get to express my faith in every way possible. At my public school, I would get invited to a friend’s house on Sunday, but I wouldn’t be able to go because I would have church and people would look at me like, “You go to church?” I would ignore them, but sometimes I would just want to pray. I could not do that at my public school.
“There is a big difference in class size between a private school and a public school. Here at SLDM, I know the whole seventh and eighth grade as well as a few people from some other grades. In public school, you would have over 100 kids in one grade. There is no way you would be friends with every person. There are at least 30 kids in each class, which makes the cost of supplies higher for public schools. The classrooms need to be bigger to fit all the students and this also makes the cost go up.
“The most important problem with public schools is inappropriate language. Not only coming from your mouth, but also coming from the way you dress and act. There are still problems in private schools with kids speaking inappropriate words, but the teachers treat you like their own kids and want to help you. Teachers really try to connect with the students. I am a seventh-grader doing high school geometry. Although public schools are great, there are way more positives about private schools than public schools.” — Brenna O.
“Catholic schools can be credited with many great accomplishments because of the atmosphere and the presence of faith in God. There are many reasons why I like going to Catholic schools and think they are great. For instance, we get to share our faith and talk about God in every class, but especially in religion class. As a school, we go to Mass weekly, we have opportunities to pray the rosary and visit the Adoration Chapel. Every year we are required to complete a certain amount of service hours. As a seventh-grader, I am required to complete 20 service hours by the end of the school year. I am glad to have this opportunity because it teaches me to be a good steward.
“I think that going to a Catholic school will give you a better education because of the smaller class sizes and I think it is an easier atmosphere to learn in. In smaller classes, you can relate to your classmates better and have stronger relationships with your friends. The teachers in Catholic schools are devoted to their job and to their students. They put their whole heart into knowing that we are getting the best education we can get and choose to get paid less and teach us more. The teachers stretch our minds more in Catholic schools to make us think outside of the box and challenge us to think above our grade level. In Catholic schools we are taught to value our faith and our education. We are taught to have self-discipline, and we are groomed to enhance ourselves by living by the fruits of the Holy Spirit. These include love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. We are also taught to value the internal values of our family. After attending a Catholic school, you will learn more than just academics. You will also learn that making good choices in your life is crucial.
“From my experiences, everybody has positive learning attitudes and comes to class ready to learn and everyone is eager to be pushed farther. Catholic schools also offer CYO sports. CYO is a great program that offers sports that include basketball, volleyball, soccer, football, cross country, track, cheerleading and baseball. I participate in CYO sports every year and I have a lot of fun.
“Going to a Catholic school is a privilege and a great gift. As you can see, I am glad to be going to a Catholic school.” — John Paul S.
“Catholic schools offer great opportunities for kids to excel. In a Catholic school, kids will make life-lasting friendships and teachers are always there to help you in a certain subject you are struggling with.
“In a Catholic school, relationships are made with students and teachers that can be beneficial for a student in the future. Teachers don’t have limits, and are always ready to challenge kids who are advanced. If someone needs help, you can always expect a teacher to be ready to help. Since classes are usually smaller, it allows teachers to have an easier time to help students excel or catch up. This also helps students get the attention they need to complete a course. Students become closer to each other.
“Friendships cause a better self-esteem in kids who are shy or not confident. Since Catholic schools are usually smaller than public schools, you will not ever have to worry about being left out. In games at recess or CYO sports, kids are never cut or left out of a game just because they are not as well-trained as others.
“Some kids dread coming to Catholic schools because of the uniforms. Uniforms stop kids from bullying. If everyone wears the same clothes, kids can’t bully others for not wearing certain clothes. If you have a uniform, you know what you are going to be wearing every morning. This can cut off five to 10 minutes in the morning of putting on clothes. You can use this time to do something you used to not be able to do, like sleep in longer.
“At a Catholic school, you are allowed to worship freely. It is allowed in a Catholic school to mention God in a speech or say a quick prayer before a huge test. You are allowed to learn about Catholicism and worship without being criticized, cut off or punished. Many friendships that are made will last a lifetime. Kids will also make relationships with their teachers. Teachers can help with school work, and help you catch up if you fall behind. These are the reasons why Catholic schools are great places to go to school, not just to learn, but also to make friendships.” — Nick Z.
“I’ve been going to a Catholic school ever since kindergarten and a Christian one ever since pre-school. I feel that going to a Catholic school rather than a public school has given me an experience that I am so thankful for. Because I’ve gone to a Catholic school since kindergarten, I have never had to face the troubles of being criticized on how my outfit may look and whether or not I wear designer clothes. Through my life, I’ve also not had to worry about saying anything about God and being punished for it. I also enjoyed having smaller classes so that I may get to know my fellow peers.
“At public schools you are not free to talk about God and say his name. I don’t agree one bit and that is another reason I enjoy going to a Catholic school. I have religion classes every day, and during that time I pray and share my thoughts and feelings about our faith with my friends and I’m able to get a better grasp on what our faith really is. Our school has a Mass every week, which is a time where I can ask God for guidance and just share my faith with the entire school.
“My class has always been small. I can make more friendships and share them with the entire class. As we grow older and move on to the next grade, I feel our friendships get stronger along with our faith and lives. We are able to grow up together and share memories we will always remember. Instead of having a class with 100 students, I’d rather stick to our amount of about 20. It is easier for me to learn and for teachers to help us and teach us without frantically telling a class of 100 or 50 to be quiet. I know everyone in my class and many other students in grades higher and lower than me. I’ve created friendships with students from kindergarten to eighth grade. Because our school is much smaller than a public school, I feel like I can grow as a person making friends of all ages.
“I love going to a Catholic school and am so lucky that my birth mother chose my parents and that my parents chose to make me a Catholic and to send me to a Catholic school.” — Mary Elise D.
“Faith is a spiritual wonder, a mystery that is meant to be discovered in our own time. As a true parishioner of the Catholic community and a student of the Catholic school, my spirituality has grown immensely stronger, brightening my future with every moment of my life. As a child of God, I strive to serve him by participating in local volunteer projects as well as spending time with my loved ones. The environment of the Catholic Church helps me truly believe that I am a child of God. It helps me understand that I am closer to a future of peace and wisdom with every passing second.
“The Catholic school not only thrives in academics, but also provides endless amounts of spiritual education that draws us closer to both God and our fellow peers. Both the students and teachers attend weekly Mass. This allows us to relate our lives to the lives of those written in the Scripture. We learn that there are more important virtues than vanity. We learn this by wearing uniforms daily. Donning uniforms also helps reduce competition between peers. There are many extracurricular activity options at Catholic schools as well. French, choir and CYO sports are only a few of the many exciting extracurricular options offered at my Catholic school, St. Louis de Montfort.
“My Catholic school (faculty) consists of many experienced, knowledgeable teachers. These teachers strive to assist us in improving both academically and spiritually. They make sure to take time out of their busy schedules to communicate with us as students about struggles we face, teaching us values and lessons along the way. Many students thrive in a quiet environment. Catholic schools provide this quality, making it more simple for children to easily transfer between classes. The discipline at my school is strict, but fair. Bullying is dealt with in an appropriate manner. It is not accepted in my school. All students should feel as safe in their school environment as I do in mine. I truly appreciate the Catholic school and the spirit and hope that it brings as it prepares all children for the future both academically and spiritually.” — Jennie O.
Eighth grade, Our Lady of Grace, Noblesville
“I think the teachers are what make Our Lady of Grace what it is. They teach us respect, kindness and religion along with the usual curriculum. They work hard to give us the best education possible to make us more successful later in life. They are the best, and they make a huge difference in the school. I like that OLG is a small school. With fewer students, teachers can really work individually with everyone and help them learn the best way possible. I think that that makes it easier to learn and to teach. It is a benefit for everyone. I like the physical education program. We have a great teacher, Mrs. Kennison, who lets us try out tons of sports. A few of my favorites are handball, soccer, flag football, badminton and weight lifting. The P.E. program is a great addition to our school. It is so much fun. I like the music program. We have a great music teacher, Mrs. Becker, with many instruments to try and learn. We have several extracurricular music activities such as strings ensemble, drum circle, hand jive and choir. All in all, Our Lady of Grace is an amazing school with incredible teachers and awesome students. I’m so glad my parents send me here because it is so enjoyable.” — Charlie C.
“My Catholic school is many things — amazing among them. I love my school for many reasons; these are just a few. I love the fact that Our Lady of Grace has such a huge sense of family. I’ve known most of my classmates since the first grade when I moved here from Wisconsin. I was immediately welcomed, as is usual with little children, but every year our little class has grown warmly into the crazy, dysfunctional, hilarious and sweet family that is the eighth grade. I also love our teachers. They are always ready to answer any questions or give some supportive tips. Not only are they brilliant teachers, but they are also devoted Catholics and lovely people. I don’t think I have ever heard Mrs. Becker, our music teacher, raise her voice in anger, and Mrs. Rieck, our history and religion teacher, is always here for us. Mrs. Williams, our English lit. teacher, is humorous and relatable. Our teachers are amazing people who are always ready to help, and we are happy to learn from them. Lastly and most importantly, I love our Thursday Masses. They are a special part of our week to all us students and help us come together into one enormous family. Our student choir is beautiful and enchanting, waking up even the drowsiest of all students, and the flowing voices of student lectors are captivating. They convey the true message of OLG, and that is to do unto others as you would have done unto you. I will miss all these things about my Catholic school as I move on to high school, but I cherish the memories I have had here and hope to never forget them.” — Emma D.
“Our Lady of Grace is a wonderful school. There are so many great things here I don’t know where to start. OLG has so many opportunities for kids to grow in their faith and as people. My absolute favorite thing about OLG is the safe environment. I don’t have to pretend to be someone I’m not just to be accepted. I really like how small the classes are because I get to know people a lot better and they become like my family. I think I sometimes take this feeling of security for granted because not all schools are like this. I also love having Mass on Thursdays. I look forward to it every week because of the songs we sing. I like how the eighth-graders sit with kindergarten. I think it’s a sign of leadership which is what my Catholic school stands for. Our teachers here are amazing! They are always open to new ideas and always listen to us. My teachers here have gotten me to actually enjoy the educational part of school. I love when we get to write stories in language arts. Every morning I look forward to going to school. Something that I also think most students take for granted is uniforms. A lot of kids dread them, but I think they are awesome. I don’t have to worry about having the latest stuff or what I look like. I don’t have to worry about someone making fun of my clothes because everybody is wearing the same thing. It also saves a lot of time in the morning. This is my last year at Our Lady of Grace. I’m really excited to graduate, but I’m going to be sad to leave. OLG has become my home and everyone here has become my family. Our Lady of Grace has taught me to stand for my faith and what I believe in. It has prepared me for not only next year in high school, but for the rest of my entire life.” — Presley B.
“Here is what I like about Our Lady of Grace. I like the special art and technology. My favorite is art. In art, I like learning about the different patterns and the different shade of colors we get to use. Technology is fun because I get to learn about all of the new things on the computer. Language arts is my favorite subject; my favorite part is learning grammar. I like learning about punctuation and the different types of sentences. My absolute favorite part about Our Lady of Grace is going to church every Thursday morning at nine o’clock. I like hearing about the different Gospel stories. My favorite part of Mass is receiving the Eucharist. I also like learning about the Gospel readings. The special classes, language arts, and church are what make Our Lady of Grace the best school ever. I love everything we do here at Our Lady of Grace, and it is a great place to learn.” — Christina P.
“One of the things I like most about Our Lady of Grace is the small class sizes. Our Lady of Grace is a small school. There aren’t as many kids in each class, so everyone pretty much knows everyone. Some people have been going to school with each other since kindergarten or even pre-school. Another thing I like about Our Lady of Grace is the teachers. Each one of them is an expert in his own particular subject, and they each teach their subject well. They all have ways to keep us engaged in learning. The teachers know every student, and how each student learns. One last thing I like about Our Lady of Grace is science. We learn about all areas of science. It is so much fun because we do many hands-on projects. Our teacher, Miss Watts, is the best science teacher I have ever had. She knows how to work fun into every class. Science is probably my favorite thing about Our Lady of Grace.” — Garret C.