Oh boy, what have we done?!?!

[jenluckenbach]

From personal experience, you have probably done the BEST thing. I was moved to a private (non-religious) school in 8th grade and flourished.

Good luck to her.

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

Your daughter is very lucky to have such great parents!!

btw, she looks great in that uniform!!

[Pam]

I applaud you for doing this. Both of my children went to a private school from grades 6-12 (religious). It was something my husband and I knew we had to do. It is a financial sacrifice but I can't think of a better way to invest one's money. Our children are way more important than any tangible thing we might like to buy. Oh and yes I did see Allen's *headlight eyes* immediately. I had to look a little harder for the food.

[catnapper]

Somebody is nervous this morning. She came to me and confessed that she just threw up and is pale. I said, "its just nerves." I don't think she believes me I can't blame her for being nervous. She went to the same school since kindergarten. This is a huge step for her, and like the guidance counselor at the new school said, "very brave" for making this change.

Thanks everyone for the support. We're all a bit nervous and hoping this is the right thing. Its a Catholic school and she's not Catholic (but I am). I went to Catholic school up til 8th grade and was crushed when my parents told me they wouldn't be able to afford high school. I think she'll like it there.

[sirrahbed]

Kim - our youngest two transfered to private school when Jason was a junior and Missy was (I think) in 8th grade. The first year was tough for Jason but his senior year was the best ever. Missy absolutely flourished there. She also had gone K-7 at the same school system and with the same people. I hope she chimes in here because we have often talked about the differences with them and they have good insight on why public school is so much more stressful.

Hubby sirrahbed has taught in both public and private and though he now subs at a public school, his memories of the private school are so much better and happier.

Our school was a Christian school but that is not the only reason we found it so good. Teachers were there because they wanted to be. Parents worked closely with the kids and teachers both because they were making this investment.

Because hubby was on the faculty, we only paid half tuition but it was difficult financially since the salary was only about 20K.

I think you will be very happy with the parochial school, Kim. Being Catholic does not matter. School is not church. It may be hard initially but so worth it once your daughter starts to fit in and make new friendships. I hope you are able to involve yourself in some way as you have time. Having parents part of the equation is so important I think.

Granddaughters Misha and Annika will be homeschooled and then to private school later on. No public school for them. Tyler will go to public school because the schools where they live are highly rated. It all depends on where you live also.

Take care, hang in there and things will smooth out. I think the uniform looks really cute on her. Looking the same as everyone else removes tremnedous peer pressure from the kids. I agree with that concept completely.

(((HUGS))))

[catnapper]

Thanks Deb ((((hugs)))))

The sad thing is the school she is transferring from is one of the best in the state. Scary to think its so highly regarded and we had so many issues.... what is going on in the other schools? Or is the reason we had so many problems the fact that we're broke and everyone else has money to make the administrators jump? It seems everyone with money gets exactly what their kid needs, and we got nothing but hassle.

I just dropped her off and she's the third new student TODAY (but to be fair its also the perfect time to start since its the beginning of a whole new semester). Another kid was from her school and even in a coupe of her classes. What does that tell you?

In a strange coincidence, hubby attended the same school when he was her age, for many of the same reasons. But the prinicpal REALLY laid a guilt trip on thick about none of us attending church reguarly. He told her she HAD to go and be baptised, confirmed, etc in order to really get the full experience. She was like, "Uh, I'll get right on that " I agree we should start going to church as a family, but she doesn't need to push 12 years of sacriments into one year just because she's attending a Catholic high school.

[Pam]

Kim "when in Rome do as the Romans do." She is now entering a new school with a different set of priorities. A religious school will have its emphasis on religious things. Here's wishing for a good transition for your daughter. It's nice that she actually already knows one of the students.

[lizbud]

but the prinicpal REALLY laid a guilt trip on thick about none of us attending church reguarly. He told her she HAD to go and be baptised, confirmed, etc in order to really get the full experience. She was like, "Uh, I'll get right on that " I agree we should start going to church as a family, but she doesn't need to push 12 years of sacriments into one year just because she's attending a Catholic high school.

I went to private(Catholic) grade school, high school and a Catholic
College and never heard of anything like that. Is this principal a lay person
or a member of the clergy? Either way, I've never heard of such a thing as
guilting someone into going to a certain church or taking the sacraments.
There is nothing in church teachings about coercing someone into practicing
a Catholic way of life. Very unusual. Anywho, I hope your daughter enjoys
the experience & does very well there.