I just wanted to add that a lot of preparation goes on for the sacraments in the classroom, so I would be asking what will your children be doing whilst the children are preparing for it all. My DD had been in Catholic Education for 12 years (she is 17) and it is very involved, so perhaps try to talk to other mums from the school and see what their experiences are.
My nephews go to a catholic school and they get a lot of religious education (too much for my BIL!!).
All catholic schools take a certain percentage of non-catholic students so your kids won't be the only ones not baptised.
Just out of curiosity, what school are you looking at? A friend of mine recently tried to get her baptised daughter into Newman for kindy and didn't even make the interview process, despite a glowing reference from their priest. They apparently had such a huge over application for the places available. I am still tossing up sending my girls to a catholic school but am now concerned about them even being considered for a place. We have a great primary school in our area but I've been told if your children aren't baptised you really need to send them from kindy if you want any chance of them going to a private high school, and we just aren't in a position to pay $10K odd per girl per year.
We are looking at St Brigids in Middle Swan. It is a great school from all accounts and it isnt one of the higher fee paying schools, having re thought it I probably will get them Baptised, partly because I feel that if they are going to a catholic school I want them to be able to embrace it, plus it will make them more eligible for the High School I want them to go to.
It is funny you should mention Newman as my DH Aunty is the Principal there and I was talking to her on Boxing day and she was saying that it is best to make up your mind and get their names down so they are eligable for a place, she was saying that they have high demand for places at her school. I know that St B's usually has places, as when I rang them earlier this year to enquire she said they dont have a wait list.
Once they start school I can get them baptised through the school, which is what we will do.
My DH's god daughters both go to St Brigid's and they (and their parents!) love it. Sounds like a great choice of school for all sorts of reasons.
Maybe I need to get to be very good friends with your DH's aunty!! I find it very difficult to make intelligent decisions about what school to send my daughters to when they're both less than 2 years old. Who knows what direction they will want to go in, and therefore what school is best for them? Its all so hard.
I know what your saying, I have been stressing about the whole schooling thing for nearly 12 months now- I think it is worse when you are a teacher because you know more about the schools/ education system.
Do you have any catholic schools in your area that are lower fees that are a feeder school to the high school you want them to go to? St B's is a feeder school for La Salle, which is where my 2 will go if we are still living in the same area then.
Ali, just wanted to pop and let you know that, depending on enrollment numbers, preference will probably be given to catholic and christian children over non-catholic children if the numbers are tight. I suggest you ring the school and have a chat to the registrar to get an idea of whether there are waiting lists or not. Good luck!
As you know Ali, we've been through the same dilemmas!
I've decided on the local catholic school which is where we go to playgroup and i just have a good feel about it. It IS very competitive though regarding entry as they take preference over those baptised, so for this reason and others, we have decided to have them baptised which is happening this January. (as it asks on the enrolement form and i am eager to get those in). We also have to have a reference from the preist.
I initially wanted to go a religion neutral path but have since seen things in a different light since looking in to it more. It's kind of nice for the boys to be able to have faith in some kind of higher power, and while i'll always let them know there are other options, at least they will thoroughly discover one.
Registered User
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks