REVIEW OF St. Jude’s Scholars’ Hall BY parent, Gosia Freiburger

(5) Student Experience

Our child appreciates the support and encouragement from his teachers the most. He values the individualized approach that helped him succeed. The SJSH teachers and staff are very helpful and offer extra assistance for students who need more time to practice to strengthen their understanding. The homework load is reasonable and enhances the students' learning. Students have the opportunity to complete their homework either after school with professional guidance from their teachers or at home on their own. The fact that school is very supportive and there is always help available when he needs it makes our son more confident. If our child could change one thing, he wishes the school were bigger and had more high school students, so he could make more friends.

Why St. Jude’s Scholars’ Hall?

We chose the SJSH school because it offers smaller class sizes and maximizes students' individual attention. The SJSH teachers are very helpful and encouraging. The students receive the accommodations that they need, and teachers focus on each child's successes.

Expectations vs. Reality

There is strong communication between parents and teachers at SJSH school. Teachers are available to offer immediate help when needed. The SJSH school has fully lived up to our expectations!

Your Advice

Your child will have a strong opportunity for success at this school! If you have questions, meet with the SJSH principal and listen to what this school can offer your child. All of your questions will be thoroughly answered, giving you a clear picture of this school's mission and vision.

(5) School Leadership

SJSH's strong leadership, guidance, and staff/teachers' involvement help create a very positive school environment. The school has a code of conduct and a point system that helps students understand their behaviour expectations. Our son agrees that any issues and problems are addressed and resolved fairly. The reward system (Scholar of the Month/Student in Good Standing) is very clearly laid out. Communication between teachers, administration, and parents is very effective (emails, phone calls, in-person meetings). Students can feel listened to, understood, and safe at this school. As parents, we feel very informed and included in our son's school life.

(5) Teaching

As parents, we are very happy with the very clear instructions and expectations from the teachers at SJSH school. The course expectations, rubrics, and assignments are very thoroughly laid out. Students clearly understand the grading system and their areas of improvement. The teachers are passionate, knowledgeable and very well prepared. And most importantly, they are always there to help our child. Their feedback is constructive and action-related. Our child always receives the support and encouragement he needs to succeed. We are very thankful for the SJSH teachers' above-and-beyond involvement in helping our child to be successful!

(5) Academics

We believe that SJSH school successfully prepares our child for his life's next step, which in his case is college. He can discuss his career choices with his teachers and always count on their professional advice. The school encourages strong study habits which prepare our child for college and his future career. What we like best about the school's homework/assignment policy is that the students are given a chance to ask for an extension if they really need it. Small class sizes definitely help maximize students' focus and allow individual mentorship from the teachers, which really helps our child. When he has questions about certain assignments, he knows SJSH teachers will find the time for him and thoroughly explain what he should focus on. Our child's teachers have very strong teaching skills, and this makes us very happy!

(5) Extracurriculars

The SJSH school offers many clubs of interest after school, and our child especially enjoyed participating in the automobile club. There is also an opportunity for students to stay after school to complete their homework. The school has sports clubs and also acknowledges students’ achievements outside of school, including participation in external clubs and activities. Our son's sports achievement has recently been recognized in a school newsletter, which made us very proud. There are basketball competitions between students and teachers, which are a lot of fun.

(5) Students

The SJSH school is smaller in comparison to public schools in town, and the class sizes are smaller. The students are friendly and school-spirited. The school feels positive, inclusive and academically focused. Our child likes smaller classes, but wishes the school were bigger. What we like about SJSH students is that older students are encouraged to help younger ones, and high-school students have the opportunity to complete their community volunteer hours at the school by helping with school events and assisting younger students. When our son was an elementary student, he really loved reading with an older reading buddy. This helped him improve his reading confidence! Thank you for giving him this opportunity!

(5) School Life

Our child likes going to SJSH school and intends to attend this school until grade 12. As a teenager, he doesn't mind wearing a uniform, but there are days when he feels that there should be more Civies Days.

(5) Community

The fact that the SJSH school is smaller makes it a very friendly community. Parents are welcome to be involved in school life, helping out during events, chaperoning school trips, and offering their support to the school. SJSH already works very closely with the parents of its students, and we are very grateful for that. We are always informed of what is going on and invited to support the school events and fundraisers as needed.

(5) School Location

The SJSH school is located in South Kitchener, which makes it a very convenient location for us. It is only an 8–10 minute drive and is close to a local residential neighbourhood. Teachers are always directing traffic during drop-off and pick-up, which makes the process feel safe and organized. The only improvements the school could benefit from would be a sidewalk on the school side and possibly a pedestrian crossing. High school students are typically allowed to leave the school property for lunch, while elementary school students remain on school property and are supervised during recess.

(5) Admissions

When we were looking for the right school for our child, we met with the SJSH principal to discuss our expectations, concerns, and the school’s mission, vision, and policies. The principal answered all of our questions and explained everything in detail. After our meeting, we were offered a transition day for our child, as he was still in elementary school. This experience helped confirm that the school was the right fit for our child. The registration and transition processes were very smooth.