Do they have to be Baptised/Christened ?

[Jahzara]

Hi Ladies and Gents (Hoping someone can help)

DS #1 and 2 currently go to a public school - lovely school - just under 300 students.

We have decided that we would like to send them to a Private school of a similar size.

The Private school is Catholic (DH was raised as a Catholic) (I'm Anglican but wasnt raised going to Church)

Originally we were talking about sending them to an Anglican school but the fees are more than we can afford.

We dont attend Church so therefore havent had the boys Baptised/Christened.

Would we have to start attending Church and have them Baptised or do they accept children who arent ?

A couple of people have told me that they have to accept a certain percentage of non religious families - i believe them- but i have no idea what the percentage is and am wondering if this would affect our chances of enrolment ?

TIA to anyone that may be able to shed some light !

[UntoldAngel]

From what I know they will need to be christened to attend Catholic school. They will then also have to go through confirmation etc

My advice would be to contact the school that you are looking at enrolling them into and seeing if you can get an information/enrolment pack and it should outline all the requirements.

Can I ask why you are wanting to move them away from the public system?

[Kazbah]

They shouldn't need to be - else no non-christian religion would be able to attend. Yes, they do need to give a percentage of places to kids outside of that religion to maintain government funding.

Having said that though, you would have to be prepared for the kids to receive religious Ed at the school - having survived a full catholic education, I can honestly say it's the only reason I have any idea of a broad range of religions - our school had senior assignments in other Christian *and* non-christian religions. So it was very good for a brad religious education. And also in learning to appreciate beautiful music in the way of hymns.

Good luck! And definately contact the school and ask these questions.

[Jahzara]

Thanks Belle -

I have emailed the school and have asked for them to send me a copy of their prospectus so hopefully i will receive that soon.

We have been talking about changing to a Private school for quite a while - especially for High school. Nothing wrong at all with the public system ! The High school that our current school feeds into has a really bad rep at the moment ! Cause we are zoned we are limited with the Public choices too. A few things have happened lately that have made us want to change schools (not with the actual school) and we figure if we were talking about changing then we might aswell go with Private as planned...

The one we are thinking about also has a mini farm attached and the kids feed the animals each afternoon - i really like the sound of that !

Obviously it is a feeder school to the High school we were looking at.

ETA - Thanks Kazbah - we must have posted at the same time !

DH had the full Catholic upbringing so we have already made the boys aware that there would be some Religious Education involved. I am ok with that - then they can make their own decision on Religion and if they want it to continue later in their lives.

[Arimeh]

From what I know they will need to be christened to attend Catholic school. They will then also have to go through confirmation etc

Nah, thats not true at all. My nephews go to a catholic school and they aren't baptised, Kaz is right, they HAVE to accept certain percentage of non-religious kids to maintain funding.

Which school Jahzara? we were thinking of sending Aricyn to the newish one at Riverside.

[Pandora]

It depends on the school.
One of the Catholic schools near me requires the child and both parents to be baptised.
and they turn down govt funding sot hat they dont have to take anyone they dont want to.

[Jahzara]

Mel -Thanks ! Larm*enier. Which school at Riverside ? I can only think of the L'ton Chris*tian School. Know heaps of people that go there. Or is there another one ?

Pandora - Thanks - Thats interesting ! I gather that this school does have funding though. Guess i will find out !

Edit - Aaah Mel - DH just said about St An*thony's - is that the one ?

(* are for google purposes)

[Arimeh]

Yeah St Anthony's. And I'm pretty sure all the religious schools in l'ton are ones that take non-religious people - my cousin is a teacher (and married to another teacher) and I've quizzed her about the different christian/catholic schools in l'ton and she didn't say anything about not being able to get in there. And she knows my religious beliefs, and how they are very much different to hers (she's a born again christian).

So at least the ones in L'ton are ones that take other people, not just christians.

Pandora - thats the first I've heard of it, must be a bloody expensive school if they can turn down funding.. LOL

[Trillian]

The local Catholic school here would only have around 50% catholic students, the rest are either non-denominational or Anglican etc. They can't afford to knock kids back based on religion alone otherwise they would close.

[Jahzara]

Second attempt at replying - just lost my whole post ! %#$*^^%$(%# !! So i will do a shortened version....

Thanks so much for your replies !

Well this gives me great hope then ! Was starting to worry about them not being Baptised

They boys are so excited ! They havent stopped asking questions ! DH mentioned it to them yesterday arvo to see what they would say. Dont seem at all phased about leaving their friends but i am sure that will come when the reality sets in.

I am taking the boys for a drive past the school today to show them what we are talking about and also past a couple of other potential schools.

This can only be a good thing

[Arimeh]

Sounds awesome! I just checked out their website, and it looks really really good!!!

[Jahzara]

Sounds awesome! I just checked out their website, and it looks really really good!!!

Yeah thats our favourite ! Just looks like a great place for the kids to be !

The others are St Tho*mas More and Sacr*ed Heart.

[MissM]

DD is not christened/baptized and she goes to a fully independant private Christian school.

One of my closest friends went to a Catholic school and she wasnt christened either.

[~clover~]

I attended a Catholic primary school & we had a mix. From what my mum said, they accept the Catholics first, then if their is room left they will accept others.
I had no problems when DD1 attended a Catholic school for 12 months. I am christened Catholic, but DD & DH aren't. No child has to participate in communion or confirmation either. Only about half the kids in my grade did. Its the families choice.

[Jahzara]

Thanks Ladies thats great info !

I really hope that the boys can get a place.

Went for a drive by this afternoon and the boys were so excited. There is plenty of space to run. Looks really good ! I just hope it has a great vibe when we look around.
Next week DH has to go and drop some white boards off there (new building works) so we will go and have a look around and ask some questions etc. Its school hols here at the moment.

This feels like the right thing to do !