Choosing the right type of school for your child is a difficult decision. Religious schools like St. Charles Borromeo, an Orlando Catholic school, recommend students continue a Catholic education throughout grade school. Here’s why a Catholic education is important, and how your child can prepare for the transition into high school.

Benefits of Catholic School
Many families choose Catholic schools because of the intimate class size experience, strong and challenging academics, and their focus on students as whole, remarkable humans. These are six key benefits of your child attending a Catholic school:

1. Your child is more likely to graduate from college. 
2. Catholic school students have higher than average SAT scores when compared with students who attend other types of schools. With higher scores, your child will be able to attend a more competitive college and possibly receive more scholarships.
3. Students at religious private schools receive higher math and reading scores on standardized tests. Your child will be prepared for the more challenging collegiate course load.
4. Catholic schools are known to be less costly than other private schools. In fact, St. Charles Borromeo even offers financial aid, and participates in the Florida Tax Credit scholarship program.
5. Our schools are service-oriented, teaching your child to focus on serving others as part of their education. Learning the value of volunteerism and being compassionate will help your child grow into a remarkable adult.

Preparing for the Transition
You and your child may be stressed at the thought of high school. Moving into a new grade level requires academic and emotional preparation in order to reduce the anxiousness as much as possible. Follow this guide to help your child be set up for success:

1. It’s important to plan a visit to the future high school to get you and your child familiar and comfortable with the environment. The school likely offers orientation dates for newcomers that are listed on their website. Schedule a tour to get a feel of the classrooms, facility, and authority figures.
2. Communicating with other parents and children is helpful, especially during orientation. Encourage your child to mingle with other children so he can make friends sooner. 
3. Research the extracurricular activities the school provides so your child can choose in advance. Participating in extracurricular activities is a major part of the process that will help your child kickstart their hobbies and gain confidence.
4. Designate a special study area in your home. Your child is going to be doing homework and studying more than before and it’s important they have a space where they feel like they can focus. 
5. Your child will experience a considerable amount of emotional and physical growth in high school. It’s important to stay grounded yourself so you can continue being their guide through this pressuring time. As a parent, be sure to show empathy and support. Remind them that high school helped you get to where you are, and even share some good stories from your experience!

St. Charles Borromeo, an Orlando Catholic school, is more than just a place to learn; it’s a community. Our staff is committed to proclaiming the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. We believe in teaching the whole child and want students to love learning, helping them grow into well-rounded, contributing members of society. Learn more about us by contacting us here.

There are so many valuable lessons that your child can learn from making friends. St. Charles Borromeo, an Orlando Catholic school, wants to help you teach your child how to be a good friend. It’s an important life skill your child should explore now, as it will help her develop not only socially but emotionally too. 

Talk About It
Start by telling your child what it is to be a good friend. Traits include being trustworthy, loyal, helping a friend when they are having problems, cheering them up when they are sad, keeping in touch, remembering birthdays, and more. Share a story about your childhood best friend and the ways that person brought joy to your life!

Lead By Example
Do you have a good friend in your life that plays as an example of a good friend? Your child looks up to you and mimics what you do in your life. Showcase that friendship and let your child know what makes it special. On your friend’s birthday, make them a card and have your child help. When neighbors move in, bake pastries with your child and take them there. It’s the little things that count!

Friendship in Films, TV Shows, and Books
Find books and movies that include plots about friendship — like friends overcoming difficult situations. For younger children, search stores for books like “How to Be a Friend: A Book About Friendship,” or “A Friend Like You” about Squirrel and Bird who are very different and strike an unlikely connection. For older children, the Harry Potter movies and books present many friendship lessons. Now, with the release of Disney+, your child can choose from a variety of options! Disney movies are all about friendship.

Role-Play
Role-play situations where someone may need a friend. Perhaps your child’s friend got a low grade on a test and you explain to your child how they should comfort them. Or teach them acts of love, such as sharing and compromising, which are the qualities that make friendships work.

St. Charles Borromeo, an Orlando Catholic school, is more than just a place to learn; it’s a community. Our staff is committed to proclaiming the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. We believe in teaching the whole child and want students to love learning, helping them grow into well-rounded, contributing members of society. Learn more about us by contacting us here.

Remember that God is everywhere. He is in the walk you take, the scripture you read, and within you. Faith is not just about nurturing your child’s spiritual health, but their physical health as well. Through fitness, your child will deepen their faith and take care of their temple (body). Private schools in Orlando explain the connection between God and fitness.

Your Body Belongs to God
1 Corinthians 6:19 states, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?” Honor your temple’s creator by taking care of it through healthy actions, such as working out and eating nutritious foods. By keeping your child’s body strong, he is able to keep going and serve others.

Serve Others
Jesus sacrificed and redeemed us from sin so that we can continue servicing others when He couldn’t. With a strong and healthy body, taking on this moral duty will come more easily. We use our legs to travel to places where God is and to share the joys of Him. We use our arms to carry the children we care for. Our strength is spiritual, mental, and physical.

Stay Alert
Keep your brain awake alert so you can delight in God. To better focus and understand the truth in God’s words, have your child start his day by doing some sort of exercise. As the difficulties of life kick in, continuing to exercise will help him embrace the heart of the Scripture. Even just two miles of walking per day gets the body and brain pumping. Encourage your child to join a sports team at school. Show him how to make it a habit to maintain his joy. Not only will he be in shape, but he’ll be paving the pathway to a deeper love for our heavenly Father.

St. Charles Borromeo, one of the best private schools in Orlando, is more than just a place to learn; it’s a community. Our staff is committed to proclaiming the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. We believe in teaching the whole child and want students to love learning, helping them grow into well-rounded, contributing members of society. Learn more about us by contacting us here.

Back-to-school season can be chaotic and stressful. Taking the time to implement organizational tactics in advance can help calm the storm. These tips from St. Charles Borromeo, an Orlando Catholic school, will help the transition back to school smoother.

Build a Workstation
To keep your children motivated, designate a work area where they feel comfortable and focused. Allowing them to do their homework anywhere can lead to bad habits and lack of commitment. Don’t allow games, television, phones, or snacks at their desk.

Create a Calendar
Create a calendar or command station that lists schedules, class assignments, lunch menus, after-school activities, meetings, and more. All you need is a dry erase board and some creativity. Color code each family member’s activity, and use large enough boxes to list all tasks. Place it in a central location in your home, such as the kitchen where families spend a lot of their time. 

Regain Routine
Say goodbye to the lazy days of summer before school actually starts. Ease your children back into a routine before school actually starts by having them go to bed early and set alarms in the morning. Gradually phasing into the school schedule will make the start of the new year easier. Talk to them about it prior to school starting so they can know what to expect and maybe even get excited. Do a run-through of the schedule a week before school starts and smooth out any trouble areas.

Positive Preparation
Create good habits that avoid the morning madness. Teach your children to lay out their clothing the night before, and pack lunches and fill their water bottles. Go the extra mile by tagging the clothes and food for each day of the week. Create a send-off station by the front door where keys, backpacks, music instruments, and other items are ready to go the next day. 

St. Charles Borromeo, an Orlando Catholic school, is more than just a place to learn; it’s a community. Our staff is committed to proclaiming the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. We believe in teaching the whole child and want students to love learning, helping them grow into well-rounded, contributing members of society. Learn more about us by contacting us here.