Alumni, Parents, and Teachers Tell What is Special about St. Clare School

St. Clare is my rock.  Though I don't make it back there very often, I always make sure to attend a weekend service when I do.  There's something about sitting in the church or walking around the school that is comforting to me.  I can still recognize a familiar face or two from the congregation - and fondly remember when whole families would attend mass together.  Maybe it's because of the 8 years I attended the school.  My life was surely enriched by the experiences there.  I have 8 brothers and sisters who attended the school.  We all share heart-filled memories of our time there when ever we're together. 

St. Clare provided the foundation from which my faith in God has grown over the years.  I still have friends spread across the country I knew way back then.  I was an alter boy and sang in the choir.  I still love to sing hymns in church, especially at Christmas.  I have fond memories of Spring Concerts, music and band class with Sister Corine.  I remember the tunnel between the church and school and how cool and mysterious it seamed.  I remember the principle, Sister Asumpta (sp), coming over the PA system to inform us of the assassination of President Kennedy - then going to my cub scout meeting afterwards and only talking about what we just heard.   I remember when TVs were placed in all of the classrooms - they were there to help us learn we were told - but we never missed a launch or splashdown from the space program.  I remember much larger classes there and still having the attention of my teacher - they always seemed more personable at St. Clare.  Then came the building of the new school, and smaller classes.  The personal touch stayed.  I can still recite prepositions I learned in 6th grade.  Looking back as a parent I can see the dedication the nuns and lay teachers put forth in their work.  All of these I count as blessings in my life.

I'm still discovering what St. Clare meant to me.  I'm still learning and growing in my faith.  St. Clare taught me to always wonder, to never stop learning and to thank God for what he has given us. God Bless St. Clare.

John Boyle
Potomac Falls, VA
Class of 1969

 I graduated from the Lyman Briggs College of Michigan State University, with a major in astrophysics, and I have been admitted to Wayne State Medical School.  What I liked best about St. Clare was the intimacy of the relationships between the students and teachers.  St. Clare staff members truly care about their students, and work to really know and bring out the best in each child.  This dedication is evident both in the classroom and in the numerous extracurricular academic opportunities at St. Clare.  I still speak with many of my former teachers to this day, they always ask how I am doing and I can tell their interest is sincere.
Ryan Thomas of Grosse Pointe Park
St. Clare Class of 1999

Ryan is the oldest of four sons.  Kevin, age 20, is a junior at Michigan State University, majoring in business.  Patrick will be an 8^th grader at St. Clare for 2007-2008, and the youngest, Matthew, will be in 6^th grade at St. Clare in the fall.  All four of my sons have benefited from St. Clare School’s solid academic program, constant focus on character development and community service, and numerous extra-curricular activities including forensics, choir, National Junior Honor Society, Midwest Talent Search, Future Problem Solving, and drama.  There is no question that their experience at St. Clare School has helped my sons develop into fine and successful young men with bright futures.
Michelle Thomas
Grosse Pointe Park

 I think that St. Clare of Montefalco School provided me with an invaluable educational experience. It's highly personalized education style and small classroom sizes helped me to develop comprehension skills applicable to all aspects of my life. This has also proved invaluable to my college experience. Now as an Art major at Oakland University, I hold academic honors and a GPA of 4.0 which I attribute highly to the education I received at St. Clare School. It has given me a step above the rest and allowed me to excel in ways which would have otherwise been impossible.
Rachel Thomas
Class of 2002

I have been involved in Catholic education for over forty years, so when I say the following I can speak with some experience.  Over the past two years--on an almost daily basis--it has been truly a privilege for me to work with the staff and the students of St. Clare of Montefalco Catholic School.  Today, with so much talk about "value based education,"  SCM not only talks, this school continues to produce genuine positive results.  This has been my consistent observation during my time here, and I leave with that conviction.  Our faith in Jesus Christ permeates this school; and that, combined with consistently high academic standards produces results of the first class.  A committed staff, happy students, and a truly supportive overall environment--you won't find a better combination than right here at our school.  Without question, our children are our greatest hope for the future.  St. Clare of Montefalco is here to provide the best for them.  And, as they say, you can take that to the bank!   Thank you, SCM, for two wonderful years.   
Sincerely in Christ, 
Brother Paul, O.S.A.