Considering transferring into Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools? Here’s what to expect

This paid piece is sponsored by Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools.

Maybe your child began in one elementary school, but you feel there might be a better fit.

Maybe you and your fifth grader have some decisions to make about middle school.

Or you have a high schooler who might thrive in a different environment.

With many different education options in the area, it can seem challenging honing in on the “perfect fit.” And making a move can seem daunting.

But Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools will make the transition easier than you likely would expect.

Elementary to middle school transition

Many families consider joining Bishop O’Gorman Catholic School for middle school before their students head into high school.

This can be a tricky adjustment to navigate for families. Public schools currently offer sixth through eighth grades in middle school, while Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools offers a seventh and eighth grade junior high school.

This can create a tough choice: Whether to keep a student in elementary for another year or have the student complete a year of public middle school before entering into seventh grade at O’Gorman Junior High School.

Desi Gaspar, the mother of a sixth grader at Holy Spirit Elementary, said this made the decision to move her daughter much easier.

“This was the No. 1 reason we chose O’Gorman/Holy Spirit,” Gaspar said. “Giving our sixth grader one more year in elementary was very important to us. The middle schools are so large, and we wanted another year for our daughter to build her confidence.”

Once a family decides how to make the jump, Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools works hard to help new students adjust to their surroundings even before they step foot inside the door.

“When we work with a student transferring into Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools, we do our best to help them adjust socially, emotionally and academically,” said Jenni Struck, admissions coordinator.

“We ask for a copy of a child’s current school records to understand how best to help them during the transition. We get them connected to the people in their areas of need and interests. We work with our families throughout the enrollment process and when applying for financial assistance if it is needed.”

Making the move

Michelle Brunz, the mother of a freshman, sophomore and junior at O’Gorman High School, said the collaboration was a huge help.

“We are not Catholic, but O’Gorman was very welcoming and accommodating in helping our oldest transition in the middle of freshman year,” she said.

“The following year, we transferred our second child over to OGJH as an eighth grader. There was a lot of communication between us parents and the staff and teachers to ensure a smooth transition.”

After seeing what Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools could do for their children, both Brunz and Gaspar have now transferred all of their children to the Catholic school system.

“Once we saw the smaller class sizes, the level of community, the way the school handled COVID and the education Preslie was receiving – we started the process to transfer our other children midyear,” Gaspar said.

The move to Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools at the junior high level also helps set up students for success as they make the journey to O’Gorman High School.

High expectations in academics can be a concern for many families looking to move, but it doesn’t have to come at the cost of a student’s GPA. Bishop O’Gorman is helping students make the adjustment every step of the way.

“There were definitely bumps in the road, but it helped to know we could always easily connect with the teachers, and those teachers knew who our child was. This was not the experience we had previously. At that point, we were confident we’d made the right decision to transfer our kids to O’Gorman,” Brunz said.

“If you’re looking at transferring your students at any age, reach out to the school. Visit the school. Have the school put you in contact with another family who can share their experiences of school transfer with you.”

The ease of moving to a new school and a new system made all the difference not only for her kids but her family as well, Gaspar added.

“The level of education and small-class approach makes a huge difference,” she said. “It feels like we are part of a community again. It has been a great experience for all of our children.  From enrichment programs, community and support, it has been such a great transition for our family.”