Testimonials

Faust Testimonial:

When I was asked to talk about Saint Catherine of Siena Preschool and what it has to offer new families I came up with a number of wonderful things to share.  The typical things one would talk about when bragging about their school of choice.

The teachers are superb, turnover is extremely low, classrooms are bright, colorful and clean, the directors run the school like a well oiled machine.

Then I got to thinking…I started to think about what really made this school different.  I mean we can say all of these great things about a number of preschools in our area.  What is it that I really want to share that sets our little preschool apart, makes it special, makes worth the drive in the morning, the hours of volunteering we all choose to do. On the simplest level, I love the sense of security I feel when I pull out of carpool line in the morning.  I know my kids are well taken care of as Ben, Jack and Kate Faust, not just “kids” in the school.  The whole staff knows each of the children who attend the school which I feel is a testament of their love.

There is something amazing that happens to each of the children that come through the doors of our school that changes them forever.  I can’t tell you exactly what it is but I can share a bit of how I believe it comes to be.

My children Luke, who is now in Kindergarten at the “Big School” as we call it, Ben who is in prek5, Jack who is in prek 4 and Kate who is in prek2 have had a huge impact on my spiritual growth.  Our faith as a family has grown tremendously through the growing faith of our children.  It is the most special gift you will receive from this school.  You are not just investing in wonderful teachers who will truly love each one of your children; you are investing in your own spiritual journey.

It’s funny to be talking about this because I remember sitting where you are.  Some of you are emotional parents like me and the sheer joy of embarking on this next big stage in your baby’s life brings tears to your eyes.  Now for me it is all like an old pair of comfortable shoes.  I know the teachers; I know the faces of the families that make up this beautiful community.  By the time my youngest daughter Elizabeth goes to Kindergarten we will have invested 9 years in this school.

I am a veteran of the halls.  Each year I watch as new families come in and each one of them makes their mark on the school just as each family who has moved on.  Every year new families will keep coming through those doors and will sit in this room with anticipation of this wonderful journey they are embarking on.  Here at the beginning, rookies as we veteran SCP’s call you.  You’ll come in and mess up our carpool, show up early and over do all of the parties you sign up for and make us look washed up.  You’ll remember to turn in your paper towel roll the day after it was requested for a class project and use glitter on everything your child has to turn in.

The seasons of SCP will forever be changing and one day too I will walk out those doors and move on but SCP will always be in my heart.  It is my home, my foundation for countless tear inducing memories of a time passed, a mustard seed in the heart of each one of my children.  It is the pillar of our faith as a family.

I say to each one of you; breathe it in and enjoy the little things.  Enjoy the rosary bag and Mr. Bear, Horton the Elephant, the illegible name on your 3 year olds papers, the toilet paper roll maracas, and the paper plate masks.  Smile during the Christmas program where your child stands frozen with crossed arms not singing a word for a whole hour worth of video taping.  Treasure it all and remember always that your family/your child will forever leave an imprint on this school and likewise it will forever leave an imprint on your child’s soul. So drink it up, because one day you will look back and this whole experience will be in a box labeled “Luke’s Preschool”.

Scott and Allie Hill Testimonial:

Our family has been blessed to be a part of the St. Catherine of Siena school community for the last 11 years.  From preschool through eighth grade it has been a wonderful journey for our children.  The preschool’s warm and loving environment provides a great first school experience and makes the transition to Kindergarten so easy.   The emphasis on their Catholic faith from the two’s program forward has allowed them to practice and grow in their faith on a daily basis.

We started attending St. Catherine’s elementary from its very first year and in fact, Megan will be part of the first graduating class to have attended from Kindergarten through eighth grade.  Those nine years here have been quite amazing!  We always knew we wanted Catholic education for our children but we have received so much more than we sought initially.  St. Catherine’s has truly helped to form our children’s character – through academics, spiritual formation, athletics, and music.  As a growing school, each year has brought improvements upon the last.   Even as our school community continues to grow, all of the teachers know my children by name and we all feel we are a part of the St. Catherine’s family.

Having Dominican sisters as teachers and administrators has been such a blessing as well.  The sisters have emphasized that we are all called to be saints and they teach our children how to work towards that calling.  The faculty at St.Catherine’s is a diverse group of dedicated, hard working and creative teachers who have provided a solid academic foundation for our children.   Extracurricular opportunities have helped to make our children well rounded and allowed them to explore some of their talents.   Our children have participated in choir, band, voice lessons, flute lessons, drama, volleyball and basketball and all of these have definitely enriched their education.

As our oldest child prepares to graduate and our youngest prepares to enter kindergarten, we know that the foundation that is established here at St. Catherine’s will help them to be strong spiritually, academically and socially in the years to come.

Jennifer Van Dyke Testimonial:

My name is Jennifer Van Dyke. My husband Matthew and I are the parent's of Charlotte (in Ms. Werner and Ms. Spotts Early 5's) and Olivia, who is a kindergartner at the Big School. We were exactly where you are today one year ago, discerning what our next step would be for our oldest child's leap into elementary education.

I attended parochial school for elementary school, and my husband and I both attended Dickerson Middle School and Walton Highschool, Cobb County's finest. However, Matthew and I decided before we started our family that our options would be Catholic School or home-schooling. I did not particularly feel called to homeschool, but we were keeping our options open. Since we were parishioners of St. Catherine's it was our first choice to stay with our home-away-from-home and just move Olivia from one side of the parking lot to the other.

I have often joked that those who think Disney World is the happiest place on earth simply have not been to St. Catherine's Preschool. Matthew and I love this school! First and foremost, it is a truly Catholic preschool. While you child is learning the basic building blocks of reading, writing, and arithmetic, they are doing so in a Christ centered environment. What could be better? When children feel safe, secure, and loved at school a "sense of community" is fostered in the child, enhancing the learning experience. By the time my oldest reached the Early 5's at the preschool, she had a strong sense of community and love of learning. Matthew and I wanted to keep that momentum going, and so we looked across the parking lot to the "Big School."

I loved Sister Mary Jacinta's presentation. I was impressed by several things. First, I liked that the school focuses on the whole child, with a primary focus on spiritual formation. This was huge for Matthew and I. Second, the curriculum was very well rounded. The third thing that struck me was something that reminded me of my own wonderful parochial school; the enthusiasm of the parent  volunteers. Catholic schools function in large part due to their parent volunteers. It seemed to Matthew and I that every smiling parent we met at St. Catherine's was full of love and pride for this school. It is contagious! The families who send their children here make many sacrifices to keep this school growing and improving.

Once my husband and I made the choice to apply to SCS we were faced with the daunting task of figuring out how to pay for it. This was the most overwhelming part of the process for us. I am a stay-at-home mom, and my husband's architecture firm had just downsized, leaving us scrambling to get our financial bearings. So when we were confronted with the cost of tuition, we were a bit discouraged. Never the less, we took it to God in prayer to figure out what to do. If St. Catherine's is the place for our child, God would make a way for us. This should be your prayer too.

If you are like our family, don't be deterred by the cost of tuition. Know that you will have to make sacrifices, like many of the families at this school. Apply to the school, and then fill out the paperwork for financial aid, including the Grace Scholarship application. If you need to, schedule a meeting with Sister to discuss your situation. Most importantly, pray about it! There is help for those who need it. Don't let the tuition be the reason you don't apply to this school. St. Catherine's School and Parish want to help.

If you think this may be the spot for your child, and especially if you think you may need tuition assistance, I encourage you to get on the ball. Start by first investing your time by volunteering. Don't wait! If you are a St. Catherine's parishioner and you don't have a time and talent worksheet in the office on file, get one and fill it out. Become an active member of your parish. If you have not yet committed to a committee at the preschool there are several that could use your help. Invest your time in the school that will invest a great deal into the education of your child. Again, Catholic schools are bolstered by the families that support them with their precious volunteering. You will be needed!

Also, we have a treasure here at St. Catherine's. We have FOUR Dominican sisters. Sisters whose joy can be seen and felt all over this school. It is such a rare blessing. Spiritual formation, a great curriculum, and the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia create a wonderful recipe for a successful start your child's education.

Finally, my kindergartner attended St. Catherine's Preschool in the 2's, 3's, 4's, and Early 5's. She loved every minute of it. The preschool created a strong foundation of faith and love of learning that has transitioned beautifully into the Big School. Every morning my kindergartner walks through the doors of this school with a huge smile on her face, and very afternoon she walked out to carpool with that same smile and filled with joy.

This is an amazing school! I hope you all prayerfully consider a Catholic education here at St. Catherine's. If there is anything I can do for you, or questions I can answer please feel free to ask.