Alumni Night 2009
Alumni Night - January 7, 2009
St. Catherine’s Montessori hosted its 5th annual Alumni Night on Wednesday, January 7th. This special event gave our current parents the opportunity to hear our alumni students speak on their high school and college experiences and also to answer any questions our parents may have. The purpose of this evening is to share with our parent community the wonderful lives our alumni are experiencing with a St. Catherine’s Montessori foundation. If you were unable to attend, we hope to see you next year at the 6th annual Alumni Night.
Alumni in Attendance
Lindsey Calder – a junior at Rhodes College (graduated from Westbury Christian High School)
Mitchell Auth – a freshman at University of Texas @ San Antonio (graduated from St. Pius X High School)
Zach Hijazi – a sophomore at Bellaire High School
Marcella Lunn – a junior at Awty International
Ryan Roberts – a sophomore at Strake Jesuit
Kari Burt – a sophomore at Debakey High School for Health Professions
The following are some of the questions that were asked of our alumni and their answers:
1. What was your transition like from St. Catherine’s to high school?
Zach - Going from a class of 26 to a school of over 4000 was an easy transition. I had gone to Costa Rica by myself and had also taken Arabic studies at University of Houston while at SCM. This helped me to step out of my comfort zone and it helped in making new friends at Bellaire.
Ryan – The social aspect was not hard. The academics were challenging but after the first quarter you get used to it and learn all the rules.
Kari – You have to learn all the rules for each classroom and there are a lot. I finished IPC and Algebra I in the AC Community, so it was nice to already be ahead.
Marcella – I was over prepared for the academics, but I did need to learn the rules and the format for each class.
Mitchell - I was very prepared for high school and the trips away from home that we took at St. Catherine’s really helped me with the transition to college.
Lindsey – I found that I liked the smaller environment and the more personal approach where the teachers really know who you are. College is like going back to Montessori where you have more freedom to find out who you are and at SCM we were given the tool to do that.
2. What did St. Catherine’s do to help you be prepared?
Mitchell – The way the material was taught made us have to think and problem solve for ourselves.
Zach – The learning style of going at your own pace really helps you make sense of the material.
Ryan – I found that the discussion of books that we started in Upper Elementary with Great books and continued in the AC community with our group seminars, made me better prepared than many of my peers.
Marcella – The depth of knowledge that was developed here, the manipulatives, the stimulating discussions, the gardening, trips, musicals (that everyone participates in) all made me feel very prepared for my high school environment.
Mitchell – SCM gave me the confidence to step out of my comfort zone.
Lindsey – The group seminars boosted my self confidence and helped me formulate my own thoughts which in turn helps me in my college discussion groups.
Zach – Staying with Montessori for as long as possible is the best way to go!
3. What outside of the Montessori classroom helped you prepare for high school and college?
All of the students spoke about the importance of the 9th year internships, the community service that they did at places like Palmer and Small Steps and the multiple trips they took where they learned how to be independent and how to take care of themselves. All spoke about how community service changes your life, humbles you, makes you more empathetic to the world at large and teaches you compassion towards others. Many of our graduates are still involved in community service projects.
4. What important lessons did you learn at St. Catherine’s?
Mitchell – It is not okay to bring fireworks on a class trip!
Ryan - To let other people speak and not interrupt
Marcella – to take responsibility inside and outside of the classroom, to be yourself and you will make friends
Kari – how to outline an essay!
Mitchell – how to deal with peer pressure in a different and more positive way
5. How was your spirituality nurtured at St. Catherine’s?
The students responded by saying they were able to find their own voice and were nurtured during the process, they learned how to meditate and talk to God, they enjoyed the daily prayers before lunch and going to Mass once a month and they all said they have held on to the beliefs that they learned at St. Catherine’s.
