Parents of recent grads offer perspective to new Catholic high school families
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
Story by Jennifer Mauro | Associate Editor
When it comes to Catholic education, parents of recent graduates in the Diocese have their eyes on the future – their children’s future, to be precise.
Just ask Jill Liedtka, whose oldest son, David, is in the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., while her second son, Jacob, is beginning Lafayette College in Easton, Pa. Both are graduates of Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville, Class of 2014 and 2016, respectively.
“Notre Dame played a strong part in both boys’ success beyond high school,” she said. “In my opinion, I feel that Notre Dame has prepared them very well for life,” she said, adding that her eldest son credits the school with preparing him for the Navy.
Liedtka is just one parent within the Diocese who can speak from experience about the educational and faith-based benefits of Catholic high school, as well as offer families who may be considering Catholic education some advice.
Related Article: Help Along the Way: High school, college initiatives help students further their Catholic education
Rob and Lori Rodolico, whose son Robby is a Class of 2016 graduate from Holy Cross Academy, Delran, said they were pleased not only with their son’s education, but the flexibility of the teachers’ tutoring schedules and sense of faith community, as well.
“Holy Cross did an excellent job of nurturing good morals and discipline,” said Rob Rodolico, parishioner in Sacred Heart Parish, Riverton. “The school created a family atmosphere for the class as well as the parents.”
Christine Born had a similar experience when her daughters attended Trenton Catholic Academy, Hamilton.
“The teachers at Trenton Catholic Academy were wonderful and always went the extra step for my girls if they needed extra help,” said Born, whose daughters Krista Maria and Julianna Rose graduated in 2012 and 2016, respectively. “We are very pleased with how well the girls did in TCA. They left with a strong academic foundation for their next milestone in education.”
For example, she cited that her daughters – both honor students at TCA – now attend Mercer County Community College, West Windsor.
“Both girls’ professors have complimented how extremely prepared they are for college and how advanced they are for their age in their writing skills,” said Born, of Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish, Hamilton.
Born’s daughters aren’t the only ones with experience in Catholic education. Her husband, Kurt, is a 1978 graduate of St. Anthony’s High School, Jersey City, and Born teaches at Our Lady of Sorrows preschool. She, however, grew up attending public school.
“I was a good academic student, but I was a little fish in a very big pond,” she said. “I graduated with over 500 students. At TCA, the classes were smaller and the ability to learn and the support from the teachers were worth every penny.”
Fellowship & Community
Victor Rispoli also praises Catholic education when it comes to feelings of school support.
His son graduated last year from Donovan Catholic High School, Toms River, and his daughter is in her senior year.
“I think the most beneficial singular experience we have had is the level of fellowship and community and life in Christ that is built at Donovan Catholic,” he said. “It is something that your children will take with them their entire lives.”
Rispoli said he feels that children in Catholic high schools tend to be more goal-oriented, too.
“When I was a child growing up, we talked about college, and I am a college graduate,” he said. “But the difference I see between my friends when I was their age, and my children, [is that] they are planning for college. They start planning junior year – planning what senior year is going to look like and planning for their life.”
And when it comes to planning, parents agree it’s important to ask the right questions of their future high schools when considering Catholic education.
“The more you do the better informed you will be,” Born said. “No question is a silly question – if you’re thinking it, someone else is, too. Ask questions of what courses your child should take and scholarship opportunities your child can have. Start building their portfolio from day one. The four years goes by so fast.”
Rodolico said that because he and his wife were involved with Holy Cross Academy prior to their son’s freshman year, they didn’t have too many questions going into the school. But, he added, depending on an individual child’s ability, parents may want to ask whether the school they’re considering has AP or special-needs courses.
In addition, parents shouldn’t hesitate to ask about financial assistance either. Born, for example, received financial aid to help put her two girls through TCA.
“There is help out there with everything being so expensive,” she said. “The business manager was so helpful – he worked with me and guided me through [the process.]”
Liedtka, of St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square, said she considers how faith plays into education among the questions families new to Catholic high schools may want to ask.
“Do the administration, faculty and priest/chaplain encourage students to follow the right path morally during the course of each and every day? How is this done?” she suggested.
Those issues, she was pleased to say, were addressed during her two sons’ time in Notre Dame High School.
“In my opinion, Notre Dame is a great place to develop mind, body and spirit to begin a teenager’s journey to a world filled with wonder, opportunity, faith and service to others,” she said.
As for the parents, themselves, many agreed that getting involved in their children’s schools and thinking ahead when it comes to higher education are key.
“As a Catholic school parent, I would say get involved in what the school has to offer,” Born said. “I was a member of the PTA and truly loved it. I made many friends.”
Liedtka admits that the time it took raising a large family – she has two other sons in addition to her Notre Dame graduates – may have led her to overlook some of the college guidance the high school offered. She advises other parents not to make the same mistake.
“I wished I had known that the college process really needs to start much earlier than junior year,” she said. “Although both of my boys ended up selecting and enrolling at really great places, I feel that better communication earlier in their first two years at Notre Dame could have helped us begin planning earlier and alleviated some stress.”
Correspondent David Karas contributed to this report.
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Story by Jennifer Mauro | Associate Editor
When it comes to Catholic education, parents of recent graduates in the Diocese have their eyes on the future – their children’s future, to be precise.
Just ask Jill Liedtka, whose oldest son, David, is in the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., while her second son, Jacob, is beginning Lafayette College in Easton, Pa. Both are graduates of Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville, Class of 2014 and 2016, respectively.
“Notre Dame played a strong part in both boys’ success beyond high school,” she said. “In my opinion, I feel that Notre Dame has prepared them very well for life,” she said, adding that her eldest son credits the school with preparing him for the Navy.
Liedtka is just one parent within the Diocese who can speak from experience about the educational and faith-based benefits of Catholic high school, as well as offer families who may be considering Catholic education some advice.
Related Article: Help Along the Way: High school, college initiatives help students further their Catholic education
Rob and Lori Rodolico, whose son Robby is a Class of 2016 graduate from Holy Cross Academy, Delran, said they were pleased not only with their son’s education, but the flexibility of the teachers’ tutoring schedules and sense of faith community, as well.
“Holy Cross did an excellent job of nurturing good morals and discipline,” said Rob Rodolico, parishioner in Sacred Heart Parish, Riverton. “The school created a family atmosphere for the class as well as the parents.”
Christine Born had a similar experience when her daughters attended Trenton Catholic Academy, Hamilton.
“The teachers at Trenton Catholic Academy were wonderful and always went the extra step for my girls if they needed extra help,” said Born, whose daughters Krista Maria and Julianna Rose graduated in 2012 and 2016, respectively. “We are very pleased with how well the girls did in TCA. They left with a strong academic foundation for their next milestone in education.”
For example, she cited that her daughters – both honor students at TCA – now attend Mercer County Community College, West Windsor.
“Both girls’ professors have complimented how extremely prepared they are for college and how advanced they are for their age in their writing skills,” said Born, of Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish, Hamilton.
Born’s daughters aren’t the only ones with experience in Catholic education. Her husband, Kurt, is a 1978 graduate of St. Anthony’s High School, Jersey City, and Born teaches at Our Lady of Sorrows preschool. She, however, grew up attending public school.
“I was a good academic student, but I was a little fish in a very big pond,” she said. “I graduated with over 500 students. At TCA, the classes were smaller and the ability to learn and the support from the teachers were worth every penny.”
Fellowship & Community
Victor Rispoli also praises Catholic education when it comes to feelings of school support.
His son graduated last year from Donovan Catholic High School, Toms River, and his daughter is in her senior year.
“I think the most beneficial singular experience we have had is the level of fellowship and community and life in Christ that is built at Donovan Catholic,” he said. “It is something that your children will take with them their entire lives.”
Rispoli said he feels that children in Catholic high schools tend to be more goal-oriented, too.
“When I was a child growing up, we talked about college, and I am a college graduate,” he said. “But the difference I see between my friends when I was their age, and my children, [is that] they are planning for college. They start planning junior year – planning what senior year is going to look like and planning for their life.”
And when it comes to planning, parents agree it’s important to ask the right questions of their future high schools when considering Catholic education.
“The more you do the better informed you will be,” Born said. “No question is a silly question – if you’re thinking it, someone else is, too. Ask questions of what courses your child should take and scholarship opportunities your child can have. Start building their portfolio from day one. The four years goes by so fast.”
Rodolico said that because he and his wife were involved with Holy Cross Academy prior to their son’s freshman year, they didn’t have too many questions going into the school. But, he added, depending on an individual child’s ability, parents may want to ask whether the school they’re considering has AP or special-needs courses.
In addition, parents shouldn’t hesitate to ask about financial assistance either. Born, for example, received financial aid to help put her two girls through TCA.
“There is help out there with everything being so expensive,” she said. “The business manager was so helpful – he worked with me and guided me through [the process.]”
Liedtka, of St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square, said she considers how faith plays into education among the questions families new to Catholic high schools may want to ask.
“Do the administration, faculty and priest/chaplain encourage students to follow the right path morally during the course of each and every day? How is this done?” she suggested.
Those issues, she was pleased to say, were addressed during her two sons’ time in Notre Dame High School.
“In my opinion, Notre Dame is a great place to develop mind, body and spirit to begin a teenager’s journey to a world filled with wonder, opportunity, faith and service to others,” she said.
As for the parents, themselves, many agreed that getting involved in their children’s schools and thinking ahead when it comes to higher education are key.
“As a Catholic school parent, I would say get involved in what the school has to offer,” Born said. “I was a member of the PTA and truly loved it. I made many friends.”
Liedtka admits that the time it took raising a large family – she has two other sons in addition to her Notre Dame graduates – may have led her to overlook some of the college guidance the high school offered. She advises other parents not to make the same mistake.
“I wished I had known that the college process really needs to start much earlier than junior year,” she said. “Although both of my boys ended up selecting and enrolling at really great places, I feel that better communication earlier in their first two years at Notre Dame could have helped us begin planning earlier and alleviated some stress.”
Correspondent David Karas contributed to this report.
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