I'm more than happy to start the Charter bashing thread…read more No one who has attended this school since Mrs. Aversa became principal has good things to say about it. The administration enjoys running what used to be a school for the creative, odd, or otherwise non-traditional student into a bastion of fascism. Mr. Sternberg has been an even more horrific addition to the staff. He seems to believe that his job support students includes dashing dreams, enforcing rules for rules sake and generally being an ass. He actually told me there was no chance I would get into UChicago my senior year -- well, clearly he was mistaken. On from the admin -- to abstinence only sex ed? We had 3 freshman get pregnant and I literally heard one freshman my senior year say "We did it in a hot tub, so I know I'm safe." SERIOUSLY? In this day and age is this really possible? Not to mention the hokey speakers they brought and FORCED us to sit though. Like the abstinence lady who handed out "ATM Cards" which were Abstinence Till Marriage cards. Leaving the bad grammar aside, these people have their heads in the sand when it comes to the reality of high school student's sex lives. And then the education. As the "best" public high school in the county (the only "A" school) I found it to be a joke. I transferred here from a private school 1/2 way through my junior year and was horrified by what I found. We spent an entire semester working on a 500 word essay in one of my classes -- and the students complained it was too long! I never felt challenged or offered any worthwile opportunities here. I can only say I am grateful they didn't manage to ruin my chance of getting into a good college and getting out of there!

An incredible school for these talented high school students to further their talent. Everytime I'v…read moregone...I'm truly amazed how talented these young adults are! I'm sure some of these, if not many will continue to become famous in whatever endevour they desire.

It's awful, full of bugs the teachers seem absolutely miserable and overreact to just about…read moreeverything. Don't send your kids to this prison-like school

Great school. The staff and admin truly love students and seem to go above and beyond for them. I…read morelove having my child at this school.

The people working there dont do their jobs, my kid has an iep and was suppose to go to the main…read morecampus, for specialized classes for her needs, but because they didnt read anything even though they said they did she didnt get in. She was also dissapointed in her teachers not teaching the class.

Alumni K-8 and also had my two children at this school. Since the new pastor "Fr Matt", the school…read morehas really taken a turn for the worst. The priest himself is very judgemental, critical and unwelcoming. So many people have left. His 1920 beliefs are often verbalized and are starting to reflect in the behavior of students. The morale of the school took the biggest hit. I've never missed Msgr Nugent more. Additionally, Class sizes are bigger than public schools. Bullying, violence and even inappropriate sexual misconduct go unpunished if the family are "big donors". Many families have been forced out and shamed for not proving weekly mass attendance. They teach children as young as 7 about abortions and homosexuality and when you ask why, they say these conversations are necessary because of the "world we live in". My 8 year old was told to do an art project on what abortion meant to them. My 11 year old was told that having a girl best friend for too long would stop her from going to heaven. (At least that's how an 11 year old understood the age-inappropriate conversation the pastor was having). I had to answer questions and have conversations my friends with children in other schools were astounded. I'd hope putting them at St Helens would preserve their innocence and found it was doing the opposite. The curriculum supports and encourages hate, judgement, sexism and racism. As someone who was baptized, confirmed and married in that church; I can say with confidence these are new beliefs brought in by the new pastor. However, if you donate a lot of money, your child be treated better. Where this school used to be organized and their curriculum ahead of public schools; many teachers will tell you now they dread hearing a student is coming from St. Helens now because they know they will be very far behind their peers. I would steer clear of this school until the bishop fixes this lapse in judgment. I hope to see them one day return to their focus on education excellence instead of how they'll pay for their next Saint statue. Most recently, the pastor has refused sacraments to children who didn't have perfect mass attendance - even though they attended school full time and attended daily mass while at school as well as the class for preparation of the sacrament. The priest Refused sacraments to a child who can't drive themselves and embarrassed them in front of their classmates. It's a strange thing to do, alienate children who want to be in your congregation; it's not like people are hanging down the doors trying to join - why would you push away the youth who do?? Both spiritually and academically; this school is completely failing at the moment.

The head priest of this church and school has no business being a Catholic priest nor the head of a…read moreChristian school like St. Helen's. Not an example of Jesus Christ at all. Jesus gave us an example in Him. If I as a teacher treated my students like he treats some of his parishioners, I would be fired and lose my job. We attended the church here for 2+ years, we would see the priest at church and in our gym, he would never look at us, could never be bothered with us. He ignored us, avoided us, dismissed us, he was never welcoming or loving at all like most Catholic priests would be to his parishioners. He judged us without even knowing us, assuming, jumping to judgement, thinks he knows our problems, and just being completely indifferent. I would say "hello father" at the gym and he would completely ignore me. The school and church could never get our names and titles correct on any donations we made to them. We decided to go to another church about five months ago at Easter time, we decided to just go to the new church as that priest was so kind, loving, and welcoming. Father John at our new church would shake your hand, look you in the eyes, and invite you to events, his house, and happy hours. He was very kind and loving, like a Catholic priest should be. We are now at peace at out new church. Last week this old priest from St. Helen's approached us at the gym to ask if we were still at his church, we hadn't been there in five months, we said no, we switched to a different church. He seemed like he did not like our honesty and why. Acting like we are rude for being honest then mocking me. He talks about judging, but he judged us from the start and completely ignored us, never welcoming or kind. Priests should practice what they preach and be loving and welcoming to ALL people. There is a lot of hypocrisy here with this priest. Like Jesus rebuked the pharisees and scribes and told them they were hypocrites as they did not want to follow the Jews laws themselves and they were afraid of Jesus. Priests are supposed to help their parishioners to get into Heaven not chase them away from the church or their faith. This priest did just that. Then my spouse didn't want to go to church this past week after the priest confronted us. This is what this priest is doing to parishioners, chasing them away from the church and their faith. This is not correct. Bishop Fulton Sheen says we need to call out bad priests, I agree. This is unacceptable for a priest to treat people in his church this way. We have been going to church now for 60+ years, born and raised Catholic, and have never seen such a rude and indifferent Catholic priest in our lives. Imagine what he can do to children who are younger and more fragile in their development. I hope the priest will pray for all parishioners, all whether marginalized, ignored, etc. and show more love and be more welcoming. We pray for the priests that they can aspire to be more like Jesus and kind and loving to all parishioners. The church needs to be careful not to chase the faithful away from the church and their faith. We hope this helps this priest to become the best he can be and stop with the mediocrity and judgment, hopefully the truth will help him to be a better priest to all his parishioners. Love not hate, welcome, not ignore. Be like Jesus.