|
Since I work at Creighton, I asked some people at work and they all said, “Have you looked at Saint Cecilia Grade School? I’ve heard good things.” It was the first private school I visited, felt comfortable there, and didn’t look any further. We are out-of-parish, and I’m not even Catholic. It is a long drive on cold mornings from Hwy 370 up to Saint Cecilia! But it’s been a good education (as evidenced by my older daughter’s scholarship to Mercy). It is close enough to my job for me to be involved, and the people at St. Cecilia’s just can’t be topped!
The people at St. Cecilia’s have been true examples of kindness, of “The Golden Rule”. Being out of parish, there are often things I don’t know about or hear about because we don’t attend church there. And being a single mom, I often run into logistical complications with both girls involved in extracurricular activities. But my daughters’ friends and families have been unwavering in being ready to help me, amazingly ready to offer a helping hand BEFORE I have to ask.
…and that is why we stay at St. Cecilia’s.
Jayne E. Samp |
|
We chose St Cecilia's for the diversity of students, the beauty and traditions of the Cathedral, the visions we had of Joe and Clare serving Mass amidst the grandeur and elegance of the Cathedral, the music and choir opportunities, and the fact that we personally know one of the teachers, Carol Walters. (If she was sending her kids to St. Cecilia's, we knew it was the right choice for us.) We remain at St. Cecilia’s because of the positive impact that the teachers, and Mrs. Pryor in particular, have had on our children. Our son has told us that he has consciously made choices about his behavior in public based on his perception of whether Mrs. Pryor would approve and on how those actions would reflect upon the school. And we are so impressed with and thankful for how well-rounded the curriculum at St. Cecilia’s is. Not only is there academic rigor, but there are also sports and singing and dancing and acting and science projects and history projects and speeches and prayer and art. (We really love our art teacher, Frani Fitzpatrick, and think she’s done a marvelous job eliciting growth in creativity and imagination.) Where else can you see a whole grade school singing and dancing together at one time (even including reluctant and self-conscious 8th grade boys) as we do every year at our Songfest? St. Cecilia’s Grade School does truly educate the whole person—mind, body, spirit, and soul.
Tony and Jan Jasnowski Associate Professor Center for Liberal Arts and Humanities Bellevue University |
|
We began to think about schools before our kids were even born! I grew up in a small community and wanted a small community school for our children. My husband attended Catholic schools and wanted that experience for our children. We both wanted a school with an excellent academic record and a diverse student population. We found it all at St. Cecilia's! Even though St. Cecilia's is nearly twenty miles from our home, we wouldn't send our children to school anywhere else!
- Amy Campagna |
|
“I am a graduate of St. Cecilia, as was my father. When it came time to choose a school for my daughter, it meant a lot to me that she could be taught by the same teachers I had – Mrs. Swanson, Mrs. Lyons, etc. – under the direction of Mrs. Pryor, just as I was and my father was! We know the values our children are going to receive at St. Cecilia, and know that this is the best investment we could make in our children – one that will give us many returns in the years to come.
-Julie Swartz |
|
When my oldest son was getting ready for pre-school, I came to a recruiting night at St. C’s. I loved and admired the parents of the kids here at school. These were parents who simply wanted their kids to grow up to be decent people and to have a good academic background. That’s what I wanted. It was the words of the parents that convinced me.
My sons each found a wonderful teacher who encouraged their endeavors, who wanted them to succeed, and who cheered each success. The teachers want the kids to live up to their potential, make room for individuality, and work so hard to help these kids be conscientious, responsible citizens. Each of my kids has found a teacher who saw talents in them they didn’t even know they had. Paulette Rourke is a master teacher, a stellar human being and has exactly the right mix of practicality, fun, and passion to make an excellent principal.
With Father Gutgsell, there is always a new idea to learn, a new detail that anyone else would have missed, but that Father Gutgsell brings to life. He again makes the faith an integral part of life on a real world level. He makes the details of the gospel relevant and meaningful. I’ve seen up close his kindness to a little barefooted boy (mine) and his deep impression on an eighth grader (again, mine) who is seeking answers that mean something, not just platitudes.
Affording St. C’s financially is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but I ask myself, with all the future that is at stake for my boys, how can I afford NOT to?
- Tracey Wanek |
|
Ron and I shopped churches 25 years ago after graduating Creighton. We didn't have a clue about the school then. Eventually, we heard about the daycare program, but didn't send our first child there at first, thinking 'in home' care would be superior. Wrong! Our first 'provider' provided cigarette smoke (Oh, I always step outside to smoke, she insisted). And once we got a spot in the daycare, met all those great parents and got used to having a daily report (Cathy always knew how every kid's day went), we were hooked. They even accommodated our cloth diaper demands! The first time I saw those big kids walk over to deliver milk to daycare and how they interacted with the wee ones, my heart melted. It was as if my daughter had big brothers and sisters all day! We were hooked. It was a natural to send them to St. C's school after that. We had no idea what a good choice it would be. Now that the oldest two are in high school, we especially appreciate the study habits their grade school teachers instilled. It is taken for granted in our house that homework comes home every night, and good grades are expected. We hardly ever have to ask, "Did you get your homework done?" Of course, we were fortunate to have no learning disabilities, but any problems that have come up are addressed immediately, especially discipline ones. - Mo Horner |
|
When we bought our house about eight years ago as an engaged couple, we did it for the most important real estate reason of all location , location, location! It was within easy walking distance of a grocery store, pharmacy, coffee house, bank, public school, and a bus line. After our daughter was born and we started to get into the business of parenting, we realized that our values and choices were at best counter-cultural, and that if we were going to have any kind of consistency with what we believed and what our daughter learned in school, the Catholic school system was going to be our first choice.
We live in Mary Our Queen parish, which has a fine school. But it is almost exclusively white and we hoped our daughter would experience the same diversity in her school years that she experienced in her day care years at Precious Memories Child Care on 25th and Leavenworth. So we started to look around and ask questions. We were having lunch with Pat and Amy Campagna whose children have all attended St. Cecilia and they couldn't say enough good things about the school. We went for mass one Sunday. We looked at some other deciding factors and made our decision. We appreciate the growing diversity of St. Cecilia coupled with its academic excellence. We look forward to an even stronger school that serves not only its neighborhood children, but the children of Omaha who seek an education that prepares them for the challenging experience of being God's true presence in the world. |
|
When I first moved to Omaha from Minnesota, I lived at 40th and Cuming. The family from whom we rented sent their four children to St. Cecilia's. The mother loved the school.
So later when I had children of school age, I checked out two public schools. Both schools were unimpressive. I researched local school test results and it confirmed for me that my daughters would not attend either of the two public schools we lived by. Also, the drawback to the public schools was the turnover in children from year to year. I am not Catholic, but choose St. Cecilia's for its academic record. After meeting Bonnie Pryor, I signed the girls up. This was the best choice.
Both of our girls have enjoyed the academics as well as the art and music classes.
-Becky Brusky |
|
We had been told for years by a then current St. Cecilia parent that we should look into the school when we have children. We weren’t fond of the public school in our district so we began looking at other options. Another option for us was the Catholic school my husband went to as a child.
Finally, we were invited to a St. Cecilia Songfest. A Creighton Prep freshman was asked to take us to the gym across the street. On our walk, I asked the student why he was at St. Cecilia that day. He stated that he didn’t have to be in school and he wanted to come back for Songfest. Seeing the number of former students excited to return to the school was the first indication of the positive feelings students had about their school and the faculty and staff.
As we watched the students enter the gym, we noticed something very odd to us. The students’ behavior was exemplary and they seemed to enjoy behaving in such a manner. Once the show started, we saw how the parents were completely involved in all student performances and further how the older children cheered on the younger children. What a wonderful, warm environment for children to develop!
Then, as our child progressed, we saw how safe the school was, how well students of all grades performed in academics as well as extra-curricular activities, and how everyone--children, parents and staff--were committed to the best education possible.
The Blue Ribbon School designation confirmed what we knew all along; there is no where else we would consider sending our children.
- Mike and Terri Storm |
|
Every week my son and I read the Principal’s newsletter together. We had a discussion about the meaning of the Catholic Schools Week slogan, “The Good News in Education.” It was a reminder to me of how children see simply and as God intended. I asked my son, “How do you see the good news in education?” He replied, “United Way Fundraisers.” I explained, “No, I mean what programs at school really help you learn, for example, Accelerated Reader?” He said, “Mrs. Jewell,” and ran off to play Legos. I sat for a moment and realized that I was looking for a ‘program’ that exemplified the slogan. My son saw that the ‘good news’ is the service that is instilled at Saint Cecilia. He sees that not only monetary contributions but the service of Mrs. Jewell’s time every Thursday afternoon is the good news in education. Thank you for giving my son these lessons that he will carry with him through life. - Tiare Weak |
|
Higher Education Starts Here |
|
SAINT CECILIA CATHEDRAL GRADE SCHOOL |
|
What our Parents Say |
|
Saint Cecilia Cathedral Grade School 3869 Webster Omaha, NE 68131
|
|
Grade School Phone : (402) 556-6655 Application Information: (402) 551-2313 Fax: (402) 551-2306 E-mail: scarl@stceciliacathedral.org |