Mother Seton Academy

4219 US HIGHWAY 9

Howell Township, NJ 07731

19 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-8
Type

private

Find Homes for Sale in this School Zone

Reviews

Submitted by parent on August 11, 2018

Our child has attended the school for many years now and we love the spiritual and academic formation he is receiving. I taught for many years and haven't had as positive an experience as we've experienced being part of this community.Participating in sports has been great because he is encouraged to not only do his best but to cheer for others too. With regard to bingo, it is illegal to compensate families in any way for working scheduled shifts. Anything done for families at other schools should never have taken place.
Submitted by other on February 28, 2018

This school did not do very nicely with my child. He was just kicked out of school in the middle of the school year. The one day when I was called to school, for his bad behavior. Without a warning and a report, they said that he had problems. They did not even give the time to find a new school. And in the end my child stayed at home for 2 months while I found a new school. I asked the principal why they did not give any report and did not let parents know that the child is a problem, in return I received (I DO NOT KNOW). And I figured out that the teachers give the children ipad during the lessons so they did not have to work much. It's a pity, but I'm not the first one not happy with this school.
Submitted by other on December 01, 2017

The Principal fosters a backstabing political culture amongst the teachers and teachers do the least to truely educate the student body in an effort to just collect a menial paycheck and get their minimal hours done for the week. The annual enrollment in this school has been rapidly deteriorating as a result of the disprespectful attidude conveyed by the Principal and tight nit of teachers she protects within this school in the Howell NJ community. A very poor reflection of values and educational culture a catholic school should impart on students and display to others seeking a genuine and quality catholic education to prepare students for the challenging objectives to attend college.
Submitted by parent on July 21, 2017

After reading the review from 6-3-17 it is very sad to see a child from St. Veronica feels this way about her school, these are the years children should be making friends and enjoying the learning process and receiving what they deserve in all areas of education as this sets the transition for High School, instead they are the Chosen ones but I must say he/she is so very right on so many aspects. I agree with the parent PTA and parents helpers (coaches, office lunch room, etc.) they and their children get ALL of everything student council appointments, play parts, sports awards, any type of Ambassador award, chosen to be part of any school function and if a parent does not agree and asks why the administration will make excuses and it is pushed aside after you are told we will take care of it! I also think bullying should be strongly enforced to the children and the Parents in the positions, this is something that is a learned behavior and children in grade school especially an extremely small school are most likely being taught, this is ok!. Perhaps a new administration would help, up to date, non-parent involved environment. I would not recommend this school for so many reasons but stated here are the most harmful to the children. Reverence, Respect and Responsibility not at all honored there. Once a good school turned bad by controlling parents!!!!!
Submitted by parent on June 17, 2017

BINGO is never enforced by the administration at St. Veronica, so only the parents who realize their moral obligation, actually work Bingo. Some families have been able to float through SVS for all their years that their kids attended and never once have worked a BINGO. They were not officially excused as their names were still on the sign-up sheet. However, they do get excused every year because attendance is never enforced. Everyone begins the next year with the same number of BINGOs to work. It creates a hostile situation. Why must it be up to the parents to call out other parents for not working Bingo? They have to because the administration does nothing to enforce it. Other schools have BINGO as part of the tuition. (Lower tuition if you work BINGO). Parents for years have been requesting a change to this policy at SVS, but no change is ever implemented by the administration. SVS only has 1 class for each grade. Other local Catholic schools have more classes per grade and charge more in tuition. However the bottom line is that SVS has the lowest tuition around and if SVS were to link tuition to BINGO as other schools do, SVS is not a strong enough school to be able to pull in kids, or maintain enough of the current students, at a higher tuition rate. Part of SVS’ debt includes tuition not paid. This tuition not paid is not from families that cannot afford it, but it is from families who just refuse to pay and then leave the school without paying. This was not a secret as this was part of a financial item on a pie chart addressed in open finance meetings. If it were only those families in need, then the person who gave the talk would not have mentioned that the administration was trying to still get paid for most of the unpaid tuition debt.
Submitted by other on June 03, 2017

The school is terrible. They make it so obvious that they play favorites. If you have a parent on PTA or a parent(s) who help at the school all the time your child is favored. The kids of these parents can get away with whatever they want at school because their mothers are all cliquey with the teachers. These children get picked to do everything fun because of their parents. The school is also run down. The wall in the girls bathroom is cracking, the water fountain is always leaking, and some parts of the ceiling are broken and held together with duck tape. There's no air conditioner so it gets extremely hot. There is fans in the classrooms but teachers sometimes refuse to turn them on. A teacher once told us she grew up without air conditioning and we could survive the heat. Some of the teachers are rude and have no patience because they should've retired years ago. Some of them go overboard with homework and projects. I have gotten projects in the past that were so dumb I had no clue how to do them(like plan a family vacation in fifth grade). I've also gotten library homework which is absolutely ridiculous. The substitute teachers aren't even teachers, they're parent volunteers. They have flyers going home about fundraisers every week because they're so poor. The enrollment has gone down so much over the past few years because the school is failing. The classes are small, one small class per grade. The biggest class has 23 students and this years graduating class has 14, only a handful of which have been there since kindergarten. Multiple students feel this way about the school but are too scared to speak up and say anything because we'll be looked upon as "bad kids". But speaking up doesn't even matter, because the principal, teachers, and staff don't care about your opinion unless you are apart of the PTA/parent volunteer clique. Student council votes seem like they don't even matter because every year it's the same children/PTA/volunteer children who win. The motto at SVS is reverence, respect, and responsibility yet they don't practice what they preach at all. I know I'm not the only student who agrees when I say the school doesn't treat everyone fairly and it is not a very friendly environment. Sincerely, a very disappointed student.
Submitted by teacher on April 09, 2017

SVS graduates leaders! All 3 of my daughters graduated from this school and are successful business women!
Submitted by parent on April 03, 2017

St. Veronica is truly a diamond in the rough. There is a sense of community in this school, from the Principal, staff and faculty, to the parents and students themselves. Among the four children we have enrolled, there is such a range of academic and athletic abilities, personalities, strengths and weaknesses; yet they are all thriving at St. Veronica School! Our children have become more independent, confident children who have grown in faith. They are highly motivated to do their best because of the school environment; an environment that encourages respect and responsibility, and a thirst for knowledge. There is a unique balance at this school. The children are challenged, but not overwhelmed. They are given independence, but not more than they can handle. They are given love and guidance, but not babied. This theme of caring for one another, helping each other grow academically, emotionally, physically, spiritually and otherwise is consistent throughout the school, even among parents and students. Your children will only thrive when surrounded by this environment! These are the kinds of friends and families you want your children to be surrounded by and grow up with!The academic curriculum is excellent and the teachers and staff have a close relationship with all the students due to a smaller class size. Your child is not just a face in the crowd at St. Veronica. The principal, teachers and staff personally knew all four of my children within the first month of enrollment.My children have achieved top scores on the Standardized Tests and are truly prepared and relaxed for them. There are many extracurricular and sports programs to choose from to suit a range of abilities. The music program offers a variety of instruments to learn and there is also a school/parish choir and amazing drama program. The annual school drama musical is a hit with our children!You and your children will not be disappointed with St. Veronica School!
Submitted by parent on March 13, 2017

I don't know where to begin. I feel like this school is being run by a bunch of very childish parents, not by educated professionals. These parents act like bullies, They set a terrible example for the children who in turn act like bullies and are allowed to get away with it because their parents are volunteering so much of there time to a school that is failing. It's shocking to hear mothers threatening other mothers about their child remaining in the school- it goes against everything that is taught in the Catholic faith. You try to ignore this behavior but, it trickles down to the children and affects them academically. Even some of the teachers engage in this behavior. Parents have gone to Sr. to discuss these issues and are blown off...It's appalling and because of this I have chosen to remove my child from the school.
Submitted by other on March 09, 2017

One of the main reasons we initially moved to Howell was because of the great things we heard about the public school district. We enrolled our oldest daughter in St. Veronica's Rainbow Patch pre-school program after touring several local preschools. While we really had no intention of continuing her schooling at St. Veronica beyond pre-school, we just fell in love with the program for so many reasons. Her teacher, Mrs. Bove was wonderful. A competent, caring and special educator. But beyond that, we just felt something was different about St. Veronica and the further we went into the school year the more we found ourselves falling in love with the program. As the end of pre-k approached, we began to discuss our expectations for both of our daughters education and the conversation kept bringing us back to St. Veronica. There is this sense of warmness and family in the halls and classrooms of St. Veronica. From the faculty, to the ministry to the families, there is a genuine caring and love for one another. We feel safe knowing that our girls are in a school where they are part of a family and not just 1 in a sea of hundreds or in some cases thousands. So far, the academics has been excellent, our oldest is in kindergarten and is thriving. Her teacher, Mrs. Londregan is one of those people who are born to teach. We cannot say enough wonderful things about her, truly an angel. While we always thought about our girls education in terms of academics, our experience at St. Veronica has also helped us to develop as a family our own spirituality, compassion and love for others. We were not what you would call a "praying" family prior to entering St. Veronica. God was an after thought and prayer was often reserved for times of tragedy or the occasional lottery ticket. I am happy to say that our experience at St. Veronica has changed all of that. God is front and center in our lives now and prayer is important to us. I just recently said to someone, "our 5 year old has taught us to pray." I meant it. She has grown our family's spiritual growth through her own experience at St. Veronica. We feel blessed to have found this school!
Submitted by parent on March 02, 2017

We have been blessed to have all three of our children attending SVS. My wife and I chose to invest in our children's future beginning with their education. Like most things in life strength and stability lie in the foundation. With our oldest in 6th grade and our youngest in first, we watched our little ones develop leadership skills, become confident, as well as grow in faith and knowledge. We trust in the faculty, curriculum, and culture of the school to give our children the foundation they need, the education they require and leadership skills for a bright future.
Submitted by other on February 20, 2017

I've had the outstanding experience of having three of my children attend St. veronica School from rainbow Patch on. Two have graduated and are flourishing young adults. My oldest is a Sophomore in College studying biology on the road to becoming a physician. My middle one is in High School achieving honors in all his honor level classes. The solid foundation they received at St. veronica School has set them on this path and armed them with the tools they require in our competitive society. My youngest in middle school is also flourishing, always scoring in the top percentile when tested. If it wasn't for the hard work and dedication of their teachers, guidance counselor and principal this wouldn't be the case. I've read many on these reviews and the rotten fruit scenario comes to mind. Although enrollment has lessened and class sizes have gotten smaller resulting in teachers moving on the quality of education has remained consistent. those who choose to find negatives usually do so to justify their decision or inability to have their children attend. My children have become well rounded life long learners as a result of the education and involvement in so many after school athletics and extra curricular activities. Whether it's education, athletics or witnessing them interact with those less fortunate and elderly they always lead with the heart. Thank You St. veronica School and Sister Cherree for all you are to my children.
Submitted by other on October 05, 2016

My Daughter has been a student at SVS since Rainbow Patch and is currently in the 7th Grade. I am a proud parent of SVS! The atmosphere at this school is very family oriented. It is a warm, welcoming environment. The academics are outstanding. The teachers are very encouraging and skilled at what they do. My Daughter actually enjoys coming to school and thrives in the classroom. We have had such amazing years here and it will be sad to leave next year after graduation. St. Veronica school has succeeded in preparing my Daughter for a bright future. For that I am thankful.
Submitted by parent on September 18, 2016

I was extremely disappointed in the way my son was treated by the staff and some students at SVS as well as the academics. We choose to send him there because we wanted him to get a Christian education however the adults he encountered didn't model Christian behavior. We decieded it was best to move on when we found he was being bullied by another student and the staff were doing little to help the situation. Academically he was much more ahead than his counterparts, I certainly do not feel I got what we paid for.
Submitted by teacher on March 29, 2016

We believe that this school was thriving years ago but in the last few years has suffered due to financial difficulty. They have cut teachers and assistants. They have no technology program- the computers were stolen last summer and in order to be replaced they had to make more cuts. We believe the computers were stolen due to a lack of a secure and safe structure/building. The physical structure of the school is falling apart- there are many power outages and many plumbing issues that can't be fixed. Academically, they have one large class per grade without assistants. The teachers who have stayed (who should have probably retired already) are overwhelmed as they are teaching 24+ kids with some who have IEP's and need special attention (and who need real professional help) making it a very unfair environment for everyone to learn. There is also a lot of frustration by the teachers which trickles on to the young students by yelling etc.. They have parents with no teaching experience constantly acting as subs in the classroom. The financial difficulty also affects the lunchroom and quality of the food and the people who are handling the food. They have parent volunteers handling food with no professional experience or training to handle food and, a lot of the food is expired, we have even seen the main lunchroom person drop food on the floor and continue to use it and serve to children. There have been a ton of complaints to the Diocese of Trenton about this school and they are discussing closing it and selling the property but we feel that in the meantime they are continuing to rob parents of a tuition fee that does not meet the standards of a private school. There have been several bright students who have left the school this school year. They are a desperate failing school and should be honest with all parents. As parents & teachers, we all feel guilty about what's happening.
Submitted by parent on February 12, 2016

I chose to send my children to ST. Veronica school, even though I knew the school was 'failing' because I believed they would learn strong values etc.. and I hoped that somehow the school would start to thrive again. Unfortunately, I think, I came at a time when the school was no longer fully functional. They had cut down on teachers, one large class only per grade, so you have a crowded classroom with only one teacher who may be certified, no academic resources for the teachers or students and the physical structure of the school is very outdated and run down. A lot of repairs both physical and academic that could not be made because of lack of funding due to a large decrease in enrollment. They are on a 'watch list' by the diocese. But, we also found out that it's not just demographics that have caused low enrollment. They have a serious internal bullying problem among students, faculty and parents. They have too many 'volunteers' who are parents running the school and it overtakes the professionalism that is needed and actually makes the school unsafe and ineffective. I would not send your children into a 'sinking ship' for their education. It's unfair that they are charging a large tuition with all that's lacking- this school is robbing parents.
Submitted by parent on April 01, 2014

I have both my children attending St. Veronica School. Both of them have been there since Kindergarten. My oldest is now in 8th grade. Both of them have excelled academically and athletically. On the Terra Nova standardized tests my oldest consistently scored on average greater than 95% of all students who took the test year after year. She's been accepted into the John Hopkins Center for Talented Youth program. This is not only because of her; this is from what she's learned at this school. The teachers and administration at St. Veronica's has provided so much support to both my children and has helped us instill an excellent sense of morals, respect and strong religious belief in addition to high academic standards. I highly recommend this school. I'm sorry to see some negative comments about the school. You get what you put into it. We spend time to ensure our children study and communicate with their teachers and we couldn't be any happier with the school and how much they've helped our children.
Submitted by parent on January 21, 2012

We have two children attending SVS currently and plan to send our third there as well. Both started with pre-school and were well prepared for Kindergarten. The curriculum is definitely competitive with public schools, as we have compared notes. We are very pleased with the sense of community that the school provides. We are a part of a big family and there is a sense of respect for all and a great sense of morals in the children. We have nothing but great things to say about the school and would highly recommend it to anyone looking to send their children to a school that has a great curriculum while reinforcing great morals and respect for others.
Submitted by parent on November 23, 2011

I'm a parent of 5. My oldest was enrolled from preschool through 8th grade. 3 others are in the school now (since pre-K) and my youngest will be enrolled next year. My oldest was accepted into an Honors program in the Freehold Regional HS system after graduating from SVS 2 years ago. She is a straight A student in an All Honors program. All my kids have scored "off the charts" in their Terra Nova standardized tests in every grade. The one area of criticism is the 7th and 8th grade math curriculum... which has been addressed this year. In my case, the facts speak for themselves... my children are straight A students, well behaved, well rounded - and most importantly - spiritually rich in their Catholic faith. Isn't that why we pay Catholic school tuition after all? Catholic education is suffering declining enrollment because of the economic downturn. Many no longer have the ability to write the check. I deeply value Catholic education and will do what it takes to pay the bill. That is why SVS asks for donations... enrollment is down and the school is trying to keep tuition affordable. I love this school and I hope my 13 year commitment to it is testimony to that fact.