From January 28 through February 3, Catholic schools across the country will be participating in Catholic Schools Week, a time to celebrate Catholic education in the United States. Each day celebrates a certain aspect of Catholic education, such as Celebrating Your Parish, Community, Students, the Nation, Vocations, Faculty/Staff/Volunteers, and Families. 

This year marks a new, three-year theme that will be used from 2024-2026: United in Faith and Community. Cultivating both faith and community are two key values that The Franciscan School works to incorporate each day, and often things that families tell us are reasons why they choose TFS. 

This year, we interviewed two families with questions about what is most important to them regarding Catholic schools and TFS specifically. Stephen and Shannon DeMeo are in their 7th year at TFS, with three children in grades 6th, 4th, and 1st. Chris and Marie Bagin are in their 5th year at TFS, with five additional years spent at the St. Francis Preschool. Their four children are in grades 7th, 4th, 2nd, and Kindergarten. 

Let’s hear from these families about why attending The Franciscan School means so much to them.

Why did you choose a private school education, most specifically a Catholic school education, for your family?

The DeMeo family:

“We are both products of Catholic education, and it was very important for us to have our children have the same experience. Sending our future kids to Catholic school was something we had discussed and decided on before we even got married. Academic excellence was, of course, an important part of our decision, but we also wanted our children to have the opportunity to be a part of a community that opens their eyes to the world around them through service and thinking about how they can play a role in helping others.”

The Bagin family:

“We have very deeply-held Catholic values, and we strive to incorporate them into our daily lives with how we are raising our children. Today’s world is increasingly complex and confusing with a varied range of messages and ideas about what the world is and what is important.  Having our children attend a Catholic school gives them daily exposure to an entire community of people that believe, feel, and act the way that we do. They get to see what Catholic values mean on a day-to-day basis, including prayer as part of their daily routines, a focus on the value and dignity of every person, and care for the world that we live in.”

There are lots of options for private and Catholic schools in the Triangle. What led you to The Franciscan School?

The DeMeo family:

“We saw a YouTube video about TFS when we were starting to look at schools for our oldest. The students spoke during the video and we were very impressed with how well-spoken and happy the children seemed. We looked at other Catholic schools in the area, but it was definitely the community feel of TFS that led us to choose it for our children.”

The Bagin family:

“As graduates of a public-school education, we originally started our oldest daughter in the public school system. Our experience was generally positive, but the school struggled to meet reading and math proficiency scores. As a result, they diverted resources towards those subjects, which limited other opportunities that our kids could experience and benefit from. We finally reached the conclusion that we were not on a path that would provide the best opportunities for their education and development. We looked around and saw many different options. The Franciscan School's recognition as a Blue Ribbon School was an important factor in knowing that we were picking a school that had already proven itself for excellence.”

What aspects of a Catholic education do you feel are most important for your family?

The DeMeo Family: 

“The most important aspect of Catholic education for our family is giving our children the opportunity to be engrossed in their faith throughout their day, beginning with Morning Prayer. It gives them the basis that God is with them throughout their day and can be looked to guide them during their highs and lows. We hope they will carry this foundation with them throughout their lives.”

The Bagin Family:

“The balance of education and values is an important combination. There are so many influences and distractions in today’s world. Being able to send our kids to school knowing that they are in an environment that has a compassionate, God-centric focus gives us peace of mind that they are being guided towards strong morals while getting a great education.”

At The Franciscan School, the community tries to partner with families to ensure that they are carrying the values of home throughout the school day. How important is that to you? 

The DeMeo Family:

“It is extremely important to us that our values at home continue through the school day. We base our values at home on our Faith and looking at the world through Church teachings.”

The Bagin Family:

“Being surrounded by a strong, positive community is important to us. Whether it's making friends at school or seeing peers in stores, at Mass or as part of a sports team - the TFS community reinforces our values both at school and beyond. As parents, we appreciate connecting with like-minded parents. It helps to know that there are other families around us that are trying to achieve the same things we are. There is a genuine connection that we’ve found across the TFS community.”

What is your favorite part of The Franciscan School? This could be a tradition, the community, the education, faith, etc.

The DeMeo Family:

“Our favorite part of TFS is the community. We moved South to North Carolina 11 years ago and have no family in the area. Teachers who love our children like their own and the friends/families that we have met through TFS have become our extended family, our ‘village.’”

The Bagin Family:

“There are a lot of things that we like about The Franciscan School! Education is the most important. TFS offers a broad and rigorous education with access to resources that we know are helping our kids to grow and get ready for high school and beyond. There is a wide range of opportunities during the day and outside of the school day that include science, technology, art, drama, religion, music, language, Spanish, sports, and media. We’ve found opportunities for each of our kids to dig deeper into their personal interests (art, science, chess) and have opportunities to try new things (music, drama, sports). Public speaking experiences, like at morning prayer and weekly Mass, is another unique element that TFS offers. With all these opportunities, we can see our kids growing on a daily basis.  

The teachers and staff are amazing. We are regularly impressed at how the teachers and staff know each of our kids so individually and address them and their siblings by name throughout the day and outside of school. The teachers are in touch with their strengths and areas of growth. The classrooms are full of “jobs” which create opportunities for each child to be responsible above and beyond their day-to-day activities. We know that our kids are in good hands. Plus, Father Jim is an engaging role model who helps to make Franciscan values very accessible, inviting, and fun for the kids. Our kids are excited to go to school every day which is such an incredible blessing (and relief) as parents. 

The student and parent communities are another major asset of TFS. Each of our kids has been able to find and develop friendships with kids like themselves. They look forward to going to school because they have peers and teachers that they connect with. TFS is fueled by a tireless community of volunteers that work really hard to create positive experiences for the kids, teachers, and school community. The Home School Association (HSA) has done fantastic things through fundraising, program sponsorships, and informative speakers and resources. (We would not miss ‘Trunk or Treat’ for anything!)”