Starting in August 2020, the incoming 7th & 8th graders at St. Michael Catholic School in Murrells Inlet, SC will be forced to attend Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. Andrews or a local public school in order to finish their middle school years. While this does not directly affect all families this coming school year, there is a strong sense of disappointment, frustration and confusion as to why this is happening with such short notice and no warning for these families. We, as a school and parish family, are disheartened and quite frankly saddened by this decision. Parents and caregivers make the choice to send their children to St. Michael because of the small class sizes, the family friendly relationships and the educators. Most believe this decision should have been brought to the attention of the middle school parents much sooner and with better options available. 

Each family that is affected whether it be this upcoming school year or two years from now are deeply affected by this decision, not only on a spiritual and academic level but on mental level as well. These families have been dedicated to St. Michael Catholic School for decades. Our children deserve better than this decision. 

I asked several parents who are directly affected to write letters. Please take the time to read each one so you can fully understand how this decision is changing their lives and the lives of their children. My children are not directly affected this coming school year, but I will say this: my daughter is going into 5th grade, so this will be a decision we will have to make in two years. My daughter has epilepsy as well as anxiety, depression and ADHD. We choose St. Michael for a plethora of reasons, but a lot of those reasons have to do with her medical issues and how the school is able to handle them. I will not send my daughter to a school where she has to be on the bus for 19 miles in either direction. She has seizures. There is absolutely no way she will be riding a bus for that length of time. These are issues that have not been addressed and it's incredibly disappointing. There is also the other large issue with children not feeling comfortable in another school setting. The public schools are at capacity and not accepting transfers which means that some parents with multiple children at different grade levels are left to figure out where their child should go and how they will get multiple children to multiple locations at the same time. This is affecting far more than feelings. These are people's children and their mental well being. 

St. Michael parent concerns and comments:

To whom it may concern, I wanted to express my feelings and concerns regarding the changes made at St. Michael’s school for next year.  To say that myself and my daughter and family were devastated  is an understatement. My daughter is a current 6th grader at the school and has been at the school since 1st grade.  Ava has enjoyed her years at the school and feels like she is part of a family. Ava has been looking forward to being an upperclassmen at the school for a long time. She is an all A student and excels in the sports program at the school in basketball and volleyball and was looking forward to reaching further academic goals at the school as well as being team captain.  Ava has had excellent teachers at her school especially in the last year with art and music. She has learned a lot with teamwork and skills with her basketball and volleyball under coach Klocek and was looking forward to that continuing.  I can’t express to you how difficult it was to tell my daughter not only will you not  get to finish out your school year due to Covid, but you will not be going back at all. I understand decisions need to be made but the timing of this decision was very insensitive and we as a family felt blindsided.  I have been a parent of a St. Michael’s child since 2009 when my oldest and middle started at St. Michael’s, both graduates of the school. I have seen what kind of school we were fortunate to be a part of in difficult times and in times of success at the school, one thing always remained the same the sense of family and belonging.  I am very upset and saddened that this decision was made without hearing my opinion or suggestions in the matter for my daughter.  I have recently been on a zoom call for Seton tour and a lot was discussed about family and I do believe that to be true of Seton from what I have seen and hear from parents, however what about the family we are already a part of ? It is hard enough to see your child  leave St. Michael’s after 8th grade graduation but to have it abruptly end 6th grade year is horrible. I am deeply concerned about a lot of things for Ava next year, one being she will only be 11 hrs old entering 7th grade and will now be with students up to the age of 17 possibly 18 yrs of age .. how will they be separated in such a small school to begin with.. also can I afford Seton?? As a non catholic that is a big concern of mine. It has been mentioned that Seton will honor the same tuition that we have been paying at St. Michael’s for 7th and 8th grade but what about 9th -12th . I thought I would have 2 years to decide where to send my daughter for highschool and now I don’t have that.  I don’t want to send her to a school for 7th and 8th grade and then realize in 2 years I have to pull her out because I can’t afford the highschool.  What sports programs will be offered for my daughter ? So many questions with little to no time to make decisions.  I wish that the diocese would have involved the parents during this whole decision making period instead of dropping it on us and our children during a pandemic crisis. I along with my daughter and many other parents plead that you change your decision and allow my daughter’s class of 10 to complete their  time at St. Michael’s for 7th and 8th grade.
Thank you for your time , Penny Reyes

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We began at SMCS when Emma was in the 2nd grade with Mrs. Damore, so we’ve been there for 5 years now.  We actually chose the school partly because we liked Shauna Schubiger, who had given us our initial tour.  We liked that she was young and trying to bring ideas and activities to the school to make it better.  We also liked the proximity to our home and the small class sizes.  Addyson started in Pre-K4, so doesn’t know any other school environment.  

In the 5 years we’ve been at the school there has been 3 principal changes (Schubiger, Walters, and Martin) and 1 or more teacher changes each year.  These changes have affected Emma (mostly) each year, as it was often her class teacher that switched.  We would think we were going to have a certain teacher and prepare for this, then find out it would be someone new.  It’s almost been like a ‘revolving door’ of staff, which makes it difficult to build and keep those relationships.  

*I think the school has made attempts to engage families, but with the continuous changes, families are eventually going to leave or disengage, due to the uncertainty.  

*What truly caused enrollment to plummett?  When we started at SMCS, there were like 150 students?  

*Regarding the decision to move 7th and 8th grade to Seton…

The timing of this decision (even if it had been in the works) seems really crappy.  Families are already dealing with hardship from the pandemic and now we’re adding this to an already emotional/stressful time.

They didn’t get any feedback from the families this decision affects.  It seems like we’re being forced to make a decision between Catholic Education, public school, homeschooling.  We honestly hadn’t planned on going to Seton for High School, due to the high cost of tuition and fees.  Now we would have to move Emma to Seton and then move her again to a public high school.  We’re not really liking our current choices, which makes this even more difficult.   

The Bishop seems more invested in Seton, based on his remarks during the virtual tour.  It seems like they want to build numbers at Seton, but not really considering how this decision will affect SMCS and their numbers.  Honestly it probably will backfire, as it appears there may only be like 3-5 kids that will actually move on to Seton.  I think this is out of maybe 12 kids, who would be moving up.  (my numbers may be wrong…just making some assumptions based on conversations)

Who will pay for the bus transportation?  Will it continue, even if there are only a handful of kids who take the bus?  

Why would I want to put my child on a bus for 30 minutes one way each day?  If she wants to do any afterschool activiites, I still have to pick her up.  

NO GYM:  Some sports activities are held at other locations, so we would still have to find transportation and then pick up.    

Seton seemed to be really small based on what Mr. Hanes showed during the virtual tour.  I only counted 6 or 7 classrooms.  Where are they going to put the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades they’re adding?  How are they going to separate the kids?  

It seemed that the gym was not a priority, as Mr. Hanes discussed the Chapel being built next.  

*I don’t think Seton has a kitchen, so kids need to pack lunch everyday?  No option to buy lunch.  I think they might order out 1x per week, probably pizza.  

*Right now they’re just talking about 7th and 8th grade from SMCS moving there.  Is 6th grade also going to move there, since Trinity’s 6th grade is going there?  Is this a future thought that the Diocese is keeping from us?

*Are classes going to be combined when numbers aren’t high enough?  Combining classes isn’t the best for the kid’s education.  Addy and Emma got so much out of their 2nd grade year, as Mrs. Damore focuses so much on the sacraments and first communion.  Would be difficult to combine 2nd grade and have that same experience.

Is the middle school at Seton accredited?  How long will this process take?  Will it effect my child getting credit for her hard work during the middle school years?      

Thanks so much,

Eryn Bergeron

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If the school needs to be reorganized then they need to draft a plan and put it out publicly so everyone knows the writing on the wall and not be taken by surprise. It is not fair to the families or the staff to live in perpetual limbo. State it clearly that if the enrollment numbers are not reached, we plan to implement the following plan.

Instead, yet again, the families who have been with the school since pre-k are left paying the price and given the following options:

Combine classes: I feel this is not effective because it takes away from learning. How effective can a teacher be when trying to teach multiple subjects and grades? Families are paying for a private education.

Seton or St. Andrews:

The maturity level of a middle school student to that of a high school student is different. The school is too far if parents need to reach their child in an emergency.
Playing sports and transportation to and from games. If we wanted to send our children to St. Andrews then we would have enrolled them there, many of us will put our children in public schools or move to other private schools like Low Country Prep were a substantial number of former families attend. Most of the current 6th grade class has attended SMCS since pre-k4 and now they are being pulled apart because someone wants to grow Seton. Our children have looked forward to their 8th grade year at SMCS so they can enjoy memories of classes past.
 

SMCS and Holy Trinity students should not be ripped from their current school to help bridge the gap at Seton. Most of us in the upcoming 7th grade cannot afford Seton High so why would we send our children there only to pull them out in 2 years. This action is only causing many of us to pull our children out of Catholic education and putting them in public schools early. Another consideration missed when you focus solely on the numbers is that many in the 6th grade have younger siblings. If we are forced out of SMCS most of those younger children will be out as well. This working family cannot drive to multiple schools and get to work on time.

If the diocese wants to implement this change then they should not have done it in the dark of the night. They should announce it to begin with 2021-2022 school year so families know ahead of time and can make decisions that work for them.

Thanks,

Lora