We are moving to Fairfax this summer.

Can anyone give me a review for St Andrews in Clifton, Va?

It looks like a nice small school.

We will be living close by and I want a great community school for my kids.

Thanks!

I cant really help you with St Andrews it self but that is a nice area surrounding the school.

Also, Im sure after a few posts here you'll rethink your move to Fairfax....

I already have fallen in love with Fairfax, VA.

You do not know what a gem you have.

PS I do not commute plus I am a really happy person.

Good luck to you and God Bless. :)

Funny! Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I already have fallen in love with Fairfax, VA.
>
> You do not know what a gem you have.
>
> PS I do not commute plus I am a really happy
> person.
>
> Good luck to you and God Bless. :)

If you are looking at St Andrews (which is a great Catholic church and school) and if you have not moved yet, you should look at Little Rocky Run community. Union Mill Elementary is located in the community and has a great reputation and tradition. Excellent staff and Teachers due to desirable students and support from community, great alternative if you are looking at different options for education.

Check it out and Good Luck!

We will be living in the community right across from the school. We prefer a private Catholic education for our kids.

Union Mill is about 700 students and that is far too big of a school.

I also read on here they closed the little school in CLifton and moved those kids all over the place. FCPS does not impress me in the least.

Oh crap, yet more leftwingers moving to the area because they fucked up the area they came from by repeatedly voting Dem. Now they'll fuck up this area even more by repeating their insane voting mistakes. Next thing you know, we'll have a leftwing board of supervisors arguing for higher taxes to pay for luxury housing for illegals!

Had Catholic school experience in that area with some of my children. I am product of Catholic school system myself from another location. Check out the teaching credentials very carefully. A few years ago did not need to be education major to teach in Arlington diocese, only a bachelor's degree. The school system is very hush hush about it. I left and went to FCPS with some trepidation but at least I get real teachers in FCPS. I got tired of having theater major or poli sci major teaching my children. Just evaluate it before you enroll. Good luck on your decision.

You seem serious - and may be new here - so the first obvious advice is to ignore the trolls. More will likely show up and will feed off any attention you give them.

Second, this is the wrong place to ask serious questions concerning your kids' education. I know from experience that the St Andrews principal and priest would be absolutely pleased to give you a tour and answer your questions. Everything you need to get started is here:
http://www.standrew-clifton.org/

And yes, they are a great school. Go check it out.

Eperienced Parent of Catholic and FCPS system Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Check
> out the teaching credentials very carefully. A few
> years ago did not need to be education major to
> teach in Arlington diocese, only a bachelor's
> degree.

So... a math major should not be teaching math, and someone who was an education major is automatically more qualified? A music major shouldn't be the band teacher? A history major shouldn't be teaching social studies?

I think what you mean to say (at least I hope) is to make sure the teacher holds a Virginia teaching license.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/16/2012 01:58PM by justsayin.

justsayin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Eperienced Parent of Catholic and FCPS system
> Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Check
> > out the teaching credentials very carefully. A
> few
> > years ago did not need to be education major to
> > teach in Arlington diocese, only a bachelor's
> > degree.
>
> So... a math major should not be teaching math,
> and someone who was an education major is
> automatically more qualified? A music major
> shouldn't be the band teacher? A history major
> shouldn't be teaching social studies?
>
> I think what you mean to say (at least I hope) is
> to make sure the teacher holds a Virginia teaching
> license.


What? Are you crazy!?! That kind of thinking could undermine the whole gravy tra... errr... system!

I visited St Andrews when touring schools for my soon-to-be Kindergartner. The school was way too small in my opinion, they only run 1 classroom per grade, and some of the classes literally had 12 kids in them. I'm a fan of small ratios, but in my opinion, spending an entire schoolyear with only 11 other kids is way too small of a classroom.

Classes last year ranged as high as the low 20s. Not aware of any classes that were 12:1 range. Again - these are good questions to ask the principal.

If being in a large, crowded school with high student:teacher ratio is a top requirement(?), then public school is clearly the choice. Union Mill ES can set you up in a 28:1 classroom.

Ask the S.A. principal about their math program. The 8th graders are crushing standard. test scores across the board. Also ask about advancement numbers to private high schools and TJ.

> > Check
> > out the teaching credentials very carefully. A
> few
> > years ago did not need to be education major to
> > teach in Arlington diocese, only a bachelor's
> > degree.

No colleges or universities in Virginia offer a major in education. Students seeking teacher licensure major in a liberal arts or sciences discipline and take a sequence of education courses.

I find it hilarious when people find FCPS inferior when it is one of the top school systems in the country. I can understand if you want a religious angle, then fine, but FCPS schools are as good as public school gets.

I went to St Andrew's for 8th grade. i remember at least 2 sex parties at this girl katie's house. Catholic schoolgirls are horny as fuck...not sure how it is now...but I am a product of st. andrews. our principal was mrs. hammang..she was old. not joking about the sex parties either. then followed-on to pvi half of freshman year....a lot of drugs their too.

I believe catholics and all churches should pay taxes just like any other for profit business. Hope this helps.

Hey ya'll. I had kids in the Catholic school system and the teachers did not have a license from Virginia to teach; just a BA. The key is "actively pursuing" an education certificate/license. I don't know about you all but if I have an electrician come to my house, I make darn sure that it is not an apprentice. I value my children alot more and want a licensed professional to teach them. Not all children learn in the same way. Don't want flack like you are giving other people, just my experience.

I like the religious angle. Nothing wrong with having your kids attend a school where the parents are all on the same page.

Don't want crap for my opinion Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hey ya'll. I had kids in the Catholic school
> system and the teachers did not have a license
> from Virginia to teach; just a BA. The key is
> "actively pursuing" an education
> certificate/license. I don't know about you all
> but if I have an electrician come to my house, I
> make darn sure that it is not an apprentice. I
> value my children alot more and want a licensed
> professional to teach them. Not all children
> learn in the same way. Don't want flack like you
> are giving other people, just my experience.

Valid point and sounds like a good question to ask a principle during the tour.

E Lye Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> our principal was mrs. hammang..she was old.

http://www.allsaintsscience.org/about.html

St. Andrew the Apostle School Clifton, VA 1995-2006
Principal
Teacher of Social Studies and Literature
Middle School Coordinator
Chair, Design for Excellence Self Study Accreditation Project

St. Andrew's is the most conservative parish in probably the most conservative diocese in America. I made the mistake of going to Mass there a few weeks ago and the priest's entire homily revolved around ObamaCare and how wrong it is. whether you agree with that or not, church is not the venue to be pushing your political agenda.

I think they just recently allowed girls to become altar servers as well (after severe teeth pulling).

to each their own, I just find everyone there to be 'ultra' Catholic and not very tolerant of differing viewpoints.

Just curious, when all the weekly collecting is done what is the Popes cut of the take? Anyone know?

In addition to gleaning what you can from this forum, I strongly urge you to post the same question on the "City Data - Northern Virginia Forum". It's a forum specifically designed for people moving (or considering a move) to a given geographic area. Give it a try:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/northern-virginia/

You mean they will find out how much the Pope takes each week? Is it a percentage or just a set amount.

St. Andrews sucks Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> St. Andrew's is the most conservative parish in
> probably the most conservative diocese in America.
> I made the mistake of going to Mass there a few
> weeks ago and the priest's entire homily revolved
> around ObamaCare and how wrong it is. whether you
> agree with that or not, church is not the venue to
> be pushing your political agenda.
>
> I think they just recently allowed girls to become
> altar servers as well (after severe teeth
> pulling).
>
> to each their own, I just find everyone there to
> be 'ultra' Catholic and not very tolerant of
> differing viewpoints.

Ten years at SA, and I can confirm that this is a complete bunch of lies. Matter of fact several families have left the church over the past couple of years because they felt the church is not orthodox enough. So, why make stuff up? What's your agenda? Or just a garden variety troll? What a bizarrely elaborate lie.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/17/2012 08:04PM by hey rube.

I have never been to SA, but yeah if they have girl altar servers then they are a rarity in the diocese and are more liberal than most others. I laughed when I read that person's post. I have only seen one parish so far that has introduced them in this diocese, about time and I hope it increases.