Grade five
Learn more about God daily
Jasmine Allen: When I was in pre-kindergarten my mom and dad wanted me to learn about Jesus Christ. They brought me to this school at the young age of 4. They really liked this school. We have religion class everyday so we get to learn more about God each day.
Safe and caring environments
Kristale Tumacder: Catholic schools ensure safe and caring environments for students. Students are actively involved with community service, including the Shoebox Project for the poor, Toys for Tots, and beach clean-ups. The teachers are polite and respectful to students.
Teachers who love God
Pearllyna Leota: The way that students are learning about God from Catholic schools is wonderful. In Catholic schools we learn about God in religion by listening to the nuns share about God’s miraculous life. Catholic schools have teachers who love God.
Taught to respect others
Daniella Bali: Our school staff, teachers and administrators teach us how to be respectful and show good behavior. Our parents know that we are taught to respect others at our school because it shows at home.
Cares for our health
Rhianne Valdez: Our school cares for our health. If we are sick, our teachers send us to the office to go home. Our school teaches us about health. If you are sick we must always cough or sneeze into our arm or a tissue. To not catch a cold, we must always wash our hands.
Learn how to write better
Jocelyn Kim: Catholic school students develop more effective writing skills. We have a lot of homework to do at Catholic schools. While we do our homework we will learn how to write better.
Teaches more discipline
Amy Phillip: I saw a difference (from public schools): Students who did their homework, who paid attention, and who always tried to listen and not break the rules. The school taught more discipline in order to help their kids follow, listen and do what is asked.
Family-oriented environment
Janna Isidro: A Catholic school is a family-oriented environment. We have fun activities like Family Bingo Night, Chuck E. Cheese Night, the Annual Family Picnic, and our Family Fun Fair. I feel like everyone is a family. Everybody knows your name.
Teachers are more fun
Joshua Florentino: Catholic schools are more enjoyable. Catholic school teachers are more fun and I think that is because we get to do more things and enjoy more fun activities. There are basketball and volleyball teams and those are super fun.
We do community service
Cheyenne Laya: They ask us to do community service. We go to a center where elders live and we help them by singing to them. Every month, we collect money and canned goods for people who need it.
Give service to the church
Jayson Zuniga: We are taught to give service to the church, and I am proud to say that this is my second year as an altar server and I take so much pride in this service because I feel closer to God and I am serving my school and parish with the talents God has given me.
Think and act like a scientist
Asin Retuta: Students have easy access to computers whenever they need them for more information and learning. The school also gives the students a chance to enjoy the state of the art science laboratory. This trains the students to think and act like a scientist.
Lot of personalized attention
Isaiah Milam-Akau: The teachers give us privileges. Sometimes we get snacks like popcorn and a movie to watch after we show good behavior. They also give us a lot of personalized attention. One of my teachers spends a lot of time with me helping me to be organized.
Formation of moral values
Verina Batangan: The most important duty of parents is to send their children to school in order to help them achieve their dreams in life. Choosing a Catholic school is the right choice because it teaches religion, offers a quality education and contributes to the formation of moral values.
A club called “Amazing Grace”
Aleksei Zuniga: We have an extra-curricular club called “Amazing Grace” which means that the club, along with the student council, goes out of the school to homeless people to give food to them. It just really makes me warm and fuzzy inside to know that some people have hope.
A wide variety of classes
Henry James: We take a wide variety of classes and we learn math, science, social studies, reading, language arts, etc. We start learning how to read and write early. We have computers that help us to use technology to research on the Internet, turn in our homework, and we create things.
We pray for one another
Darlene Nguyen: We pray for one another when someone is sick or hurt. When someone in our family is sick, we pray for them because we actually care about them. We would also pray for one another in class. The teachers at Catholic schools teach us to pray.
Many loving services
Samantha Sebastian: There are many loving services that kids can actively participate in, such as fundraisers, money collection, donations like canned goods or clothes, altar serving and more.
Teachers are role models
Isaac Escalante: The teachers are good examples to students; they are role models and they share their time and talents. When there is a problem the teachers will do their best to resolve it by talking to the parents and students and come up with a solution.
We do not tolerate bullying
Zen Navarro: We do not tolerate bullying. We never tease or humiliate anyone, nor do we call anybody names. To me, verbally bullying someone is repulsive, abhorrent, revolting and disgusting. In addition, all of us have many friends in this school and we work as a team/family.
Grade six
In church for daily Mass
Nicole Sebastian: When we come to school we put our bags down and walk straight and quietly to church for daily Mass at 7:15. (Then) we go outside and are warmly greeted by our principal, Sister Cecilia. We listen to announcements and then Sister Cecilia gets to choose the grade level to lead us in the morning dance. This is usually my favorite part. When we are all done outside, we grab our bags and go to our classroom, happy and with a positive attitude.
Learn to live like Jesus
Micah Barut: Catholic schools teach you to live and follow what Jesus taught. One way to live like Jesus is to be polite to others and not to bully others. For example, when someone gets into an argument, the student shouldn’t get into a fight, they should calm themselves down and talk through with a teacher.
Be closer with Go
Roger Apuya: My parents sent me to a Catholic school because they want me to be closer with God, they want me to have a good education, and they want me to be more responsible.
An outstanding academic program
Erika Macaraeg: Catholic schools provide an outstanding academic program that helps students become their best selves. St. John’s teachers recognize, monthly or each week, students who excel in academics and display good citizenship.
We always try to be of service
Kayla Rose Savellano: Whether it is clean-ups at the beach, feeding others at a homeless shelter, or even helping out at our school, we always try to be of service. We run beach clean-ups at Ala Moana beach park to help our island of Oahu become a better place. In grade four you can start altar serving. It is basically assisting the priest, and of course, serving the Lord.
God is a daily essential
Jessa Ancheta: At a Catholic school, I add God’s good news as a daily essential for my schedule, which strengthens my faith with him little by little every day as I worship him, talk to him, pray to him, and listen to his words. Students who go to Catholic schools have a greater difference in happiness.
Guided to be responsible citizens
Donovan Fujii: Our school provides an education that helps combine academic teaching with God’s principles and prepares each student to see Christ through our gifts of talent and in praying. It also helps guide every student to become a self-giving, responsible citizen and leader for Christ.
Disciplined, respectful, responsible
Teya Lacar: You learn how to be disciplined, respectful and responsible. You will see how we respect everyone at this school. The students always greet and say, “Good morning or good afternoon,” to the parents, teachers, sisters, and visitors. We respect everyone who steps on our campus.
Work for justice and equality
Rona Mae Calaycay: Evangelization or spreading the word of God to others and living the word is the core mission of Catholic education. Catholic School students are likely to work for justice and equality for all. They act and get things done.
Helping God’s people
Janels Moses: As students, we want to help and serve the community. So we help by giving donations of toys to sick kids around the world. During thanksgiving, the student council gave canned goods to the homeless in the parish hall. We are helping God’s people that don’t have what they need.
Teachers are very understandable
Yokiko Techuo: The teachers are not just telling us how to do it, they also ask questions like “Do you guys understand?” “Do you need help?” and they also walk around helping the students. The way they teach is very understandable.
Students will always help
bThe students here will help you if you need it. If you need to carry a lot of books, they will offer to help carry some for you. Another example is how people are there to talk to when you need them. We actively believe in God.
Donations to the poor
Reinard Tahilan: Some things our school does is donating toys to Toys for Tots in December, providing food for the homeless at The Next Step Shelter, and during Lent we give rice bowls with donations to the poor. By doing these activities we help the community around us.
The importance of being respectful
Rhusel Rivera: Teachers teach their students the importance of being respectful and disciplined. The students always greet their teachers when they see them either in the morning, afternoon, or after school.
Taught to love and serve the Lord
Dilbuil Floyd: Students participate in activities to help feed the homeless and collect donations to help those who need it most. At our school, parents help with service hours and participate in family nights and other family-friendly activities. We learn about and gain an understanding of God. We are taught to know, love and serve the Lord.
Everyone is nice and polite
Jayson Ancheta: The people at school are nice, polite, and participate in helping the school and others. If you need help with your homework, they will help you work out the problems. They are polite because students always say “Hi” to everyone, including the teachers, principal and other students.
