Alumni Night 2012

Students attending:

Kelsey Williams – a junior at St. Agnes
Lauren Tucci – a junior at St. Agnes
Chris Wager – a junior at Strake Jesuit
Patrick Deavers – a senior at St. Thomas, recently accepted to Texas A & M
Andrew Grisham – a sophomore at School of the Woods
Marcella Lunn – a sophomore at John Hopkins University, attended Awty International for high school
Luke Heggeness – a senior at University of Miami, attended Bellaire for high school
Fred Hijazi – currently pursuing his PHD at Rice University, attended Vanderbilt for college and Bellaire for high school
Annie Holeman – currently applying to graduate programs, received her Masters from, attended Vassar for college and Carnegie Vanguard for high school.

 

Many questions were asked and answered at Alumni Night and below is a synopsis of what was discussed:

1. How Montessori is different from a traditional program and what is it that characterizes a Montessori education and makes it special?

We were given responsibility in our Montessori environment which prepared us well for high school and college.  We had the initiative and the skills to be able to schedule classes and extra curricular activities that other students did not have.

Montessori fosters and encourages students to take the initiative – we were able to explore different lessons that we found interesting as well as internships. We were allowed the opportunity to explore our own interests and to learn for the sake of learning instead of the pressure of getting a grade. The opportunity to become engaged in our learning and to learn by doing makes a big difference.

2. How does that translate when you leave Montessori and sit in class and compete for grades?  How do you handle that?

We had all the skills that we needed to make a smooth transition.  How you do your homework is still up to you. We found that some students will just do what is necessary for the class, but Montessori students delve more deeply into the subject.

Some students will jump right into the GPA issue and learning takes a back seat.  You need to have a plan and find what works for you.  Changing classes made me nervous, but it did not take long to figure it out.

3. Were peers ahead of you?

We were very well prepared and there was not any one area that we felt unprepared for.  Some students are better in one subject than others but everyone has their strengths.

If you cultivate yourself you will do better in class.  We never noticed a deficiency in knowledge or terms of technique.

The timed testing that happens can be difficult. In Montessori we were focused on how to solve a problem, not in how fast you could solve it, but we were able to adjust to these issues and learn how to handle it.   It became less of an issue after a while. 

4. Describe an experience that you had at St. Catherine’s that is unique to Montessori.

Many students mentioned the trips that they had taken.  Many of the trips focused on the subjects they were studying, such as the trip to Washington, DC.

The 9th grade year was also a unique experience.  You had the opportunity to learn about yourself and how to work with other people.  This helped to better understand yourself and to learn who you are.

Blackwood was a unique experience – it was like a retreat, you kept on doing your school work but you also had time to enjoy the nature around you. This epitomizes Montessori!

The Focus the Nation event – this environmental conference was prepared entirely by the students all during the school year.  They put on a professional conference and brought in outstanding speakers such as Mayor Bill White, city council members and radio personalities.

Some of the other unique experiences were going to Ohio to live with the Amish and going to the Florida Keys to scuba dive and doing the musical. 

5. Were you completely prepared for the level of homework?

Students felt that they were well prepared for the homework load and were able to manage it; they just did not expect it! The amount of homework with a lot of it being busy work was not meaningful to them.

Some students were involved in lots of extra curricular activities and had to cut back at different times to make sure they were able to get their homework done.  No one seemed to be stressed out about homework.

6. Were you prepared as a Catholic?

The theology program here at SCM prepared us very well. Also, our parents and our faith gave us a good base and allowed us to keep growing in our faith.

7. Should a student stay for the 9th year?

The 9th grade year gave me a strong sense of independence and a leadership role. It took me a lot of hard thinking to decide and I was worried that I would not get into the high school that I wanted to attend.  But, the benefits to staying outweighed the ones to go and I learned a lot about myself during that year.  It helped me become who I am today.

The 9th grade year provides the students with of the largest opportunities to take independent decisions to larger education.  They are already taking a slightly different path and this gives them the opportunity to make something of it.

One student commented on the fact that his friends pressured him into leaving before 9th to play baseball.  He did not have good relationships with his teachers and he felt there was not good reason to leave.  “What’s the hurry – why not stay here as long as you can?”