It works beautifully!  Our kids attend our parish school and we are so blessed.  They do go to Adoration every first Friday and other times, if the teacher wants.  My children are blessed to attend daily Mass every day of the week except for Wednesday.  Their teachers are able to incorporate our faith and values into every subject.  But it’s not exactly free.  Our diocese subscribes to a stewardship way of life…time, talent, and treasure.  So each Fall, we do our stewardship renewal and you pledge what you are able to give during the following year.  As long as you make good on that pledge, your children are able to attend school.  We also make sure to involve ourselves in other ministries in the school and parish.  It is not unusual to walk through the halls and find moms and dads helping kids with their prayers, to see parents and grandparents planting new flowers in the beds outside, or some might organize our annual fundraiser.  It truly is a blessing!  I know that other dioceses have visiting here to “see what it’s all about” and I think there might be one other diocese in the country who has adopted the same format, but it’s a shame that more haven’t.  I know it’s scary to jump from the deep end and trust that the people of God will provide the money for it to happen.  But once you do and the people truly experience a shift in their thinking, when it comes to stewardship and tithing, beautiful things can happen!

We live in the Diocese of Wichita and our parish school is wonderful!  In fact, I believe our parish is the only K-12 school in the country that is funded through a stewardship model.  No tuition, but you are expected to tithe, and they really stress stewardship as a way of life and how to give of your time, talent, and treasure.  You are held accountable to the amount you say you are able to give.  The faith is really incorporated into so many aspects of the childrens’ day.  The younger kids do not go to Adoration on a frequent basis, but they do go to weekly classes in our Atrium where they follow the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd which is a Montessori based teaching method.  I feel so blessed to live in the Diocese of Wichita!

Hi Scotch Meg,

Thanks so much!  I would *like* for my oldest (9th grade) to take some classes at school, and beyond, but my husband thinks it isn’t necessary.  I won’t argue about that here.
As we begin High school, I just want to get the straight scoop on what is expected as a graduate.  Your personal experience really helps!
I used to teach in the public school system, (upper-elementary) but feel very much like a fish-out-of-water as a guidance counselor.  I began using the liason-based program through the school district, because I really wanted to be sure I wasn’t being a “slacker mom” and that many of the expectations of others at the grade level we were working would be met, as I would be accountable to someONE else.  We are able to avail ourselves of many of the district options, as well as field trips, and extra materials.  Up until this year, I felt great about my advisor, (we were co-teachers at my first school), but now that it is someone else, I find myself irritated and almost angry at what I feel like are unreasonable expectations put upon us because we *are* homeschoolers.
-workouts every day
-written reports for PE
-Cannot count our science (includes creation)
-history is not truthful/based on Christian beginnings…
-“Frankenstein” and Bram Stoker’s Dracula is on “required reading list”
and so forth

The thing is, I’m rather torn: I understand as a former public school teacher that there are specific things that all students must do in school to warrant a diploma.  I know I must learn as I go, and that the district does this all the time.  I want my children to receive a diploma, but I’m not so sure that this is the way I want it to occur.  Since we have been working with this new advisor, I’ve seen my daughter work MUCH harder on her work, her study skills have improved greatly, and she is taking it much more seriously.  The only negative thing I’ve witnessed, is that she is incredibly stressed out!

On the other hand, if I wanted the school district to have it’s fingers in everything I do, then I should have sent them to school!
Thanks again for your ideas—I’ll look up those websites

This is a question for “Trying…”

What is the problem with Frankenstein or Stokers’s Dracula? Those are classic books and should be part of a well-rounded literature education.

Hi Daisy,

Why?

Why is morbid literature about fictitious creatures, no matter how well-written, part of a “well-rounded education”?

I mean, there are SO MANY other literature greats that didn’t make the list, that I don’t understand them being required!

Is it Regina Doman?
http://www.reginadoman.com/main.cfm?r1=2.00&ID=20&level=1

Yes! Thank you!