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Which school will make the grade?
Eighth-graders test waters of Catholic high schools
By Ambria Hammel, ahammel@catholicsun.org
November 6, 2008
Hundreds of eighth-graders are putting potential Catholic high schools to the test this fall.
They’re researching classes, athletics and clubs and quizzing current students on the ins and outs of campus life.
The future high school students then grade each campus based on a string of tests that the high schools must pass — namely shadow day, eighth-grade day and open house — before deciding where to apply.
Some high schools host a day dedicated to eighth-graders. High school ambassadors and members of the student council introduce prospective students to the school through pep rallies, assemblies and a mini performing arts showcase.
“It kind of whets their appetite,” MaryBeth Mueller, superintendent of Catholic schools for the diocese, said of eighth-grade day and its entertainment format.
The eighth-graders often leave with school spirit items such as T-shirts, pencils and pom-poms.
More than 500 girls from throughout the Valley attended eighth-grade day Oct. 31 at Xavier College Preparatory.
The occasion is an intensive three hours featuring an informational assembly, small group tours of the campus and classrooms, and a “lights out” rally.
Students sport a glow-in-the-dark necklace matching their class color and rally as the school’s athletic program is introduced.
Bourgade Catholic High School students showed off their athletic and club opportunities during a fashion show as part of eighth-grade day last month. The show named each fashion model’s alma mater to help the eighth-graders create an instant connection with the high school students.
The day also featured performances by the bell choir and Kung Fu class, both activities unique to the campus.
Some 600 eighth-graders visiting St. Mary’s High School Oct. 17 and Oct. 31 sung the school’s fight song at the Knights’ rally and competed for the class spirit stick.
“We love to get them pumped up,” said Alexis LeVario, junior, who showed the campus to students from her alma mater, Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Glendale.
The eighth-graders also learned about the five pillars that lead many students to choose St. Mary’s: faith, academics, athletics, fine arts and community.
“I hope all the eighth-graders got a small look at how it is here and how much it can shape you in four years,” said Sarah McShane, student body president.
McShane said the school has challenged her to “take chances and never stop caring, trying or smiling.”
St. Mary’s follows up with the eighth-graders in December. It sends a Christmas card to prospective students reminding them of upcoming testing dates.
Shadow days
All of the Catholic high schools invite prospective students to spend a day shadowing a current student who has similar interests.
“They get the culture of the classroom, what it’s like to go to the cafeteria, the whole school uniform thing,” superintendent Mueller said. “They see life through the other student’s eyes.”
That’s what happened to Alexa Saba and Dan Dillenburg Oct. 14 when they shadowed upperclassmen at Seton Catholic High School in Chandler. Both currently attend local public junior high schools and found Seton’s smaller class sizes — one as small as 10 — appealing.
Administrators try to ensure the visitors attend a religion class. Megan McNaughton, an eighth-grader at St. Mary-Basha School in Chandler, got so enmeshed in discussion during a social justice class at Seton that she raised her hand to answer a question about private property rights.
“I never had a shadow do that in all my years,” said Kelsey Ham, a senior at Seton and McNaughton’s ambassador. “She showed us all up.”
The eighth-graders also experienced what it was like to have school-wide prayer alongside the morning’s announcements and Pledge of Allegiance.
Prospective freshmen shadowing students at Brophy College Preparatory also found prayer to be an essential element of campus life. Students pray together in the morning and after lunch, individually reflect upon where they’ve seen God in their lives and where they can be an example of God’s love during the rest of the day.
Eric Andrews, an eighth-grader at Ss. Simon and Jude School, was used to prayer being a part of the school day, but found classes at Brophy more interactive.
Such a dialogue is important not only in the classroom but in researching prospective Catholic high schools for the right fit. Administrators are finding more and more that students are exploring their high school options as early as sixth grade.
While eighth-grade days and shadow days help students test out different high schools, open houses let parents put them to the test as well, Mueller said.
“Parents are shopping for what’s best for their student,” she added.
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