On a cool October evening, Capuchin Franciscan Friars gathered in the chapel of St. Lawrence Seminary in Mt. Calvary, Wisconsin to celebrate the Transitus of St. Francis, a unique Franciscan tradition that commemorates the “transition” of St. Francis from his earthly life to his heavenly reward.

Held from Thursday to Sunday, the Weekend Visit Experience is designed to allow young Catholic boys (and their families) to explore St. Lawrence Seminary as a prospective high school.  Not only does it allow families to see what a day in the life of an SLS student, but also serves as a crucial checkpoint in the admissions process. 

Before you attend a Weekend Visit, here’s what you need to bring with you and what you can expect out of your visit.

Many of us have heard the saying “if you love someone, set them free.” Setting someone free means letting them explore themselves and the world without limitations. Parents know all too well that it can be difficult sending a child away for college, but parents of current boarding school students can attest to a similar feeling when they send their children off to boarding school for high school.

But the decision to send your son to boarding school does not have to be as difficult as you might think. Boarding school provides safety, academic structure, expressive freedom and so many other benefits for all students and reassurance for parents.

There are many options for high school - charter, private, boarding, religious, public – and each have their advantages. However, there are unique benefits to attending a private Catholic high school that the other options don’t provide.

It’s safe to say that at the core, all schools strive to educate their students and prepare them for success after graduation.

It’s also true that each school takes various approaches to help their students reach their goals, and when it comes to boarding school versus private day school, they can have many similarities but they can also be very different.

High school an important time, when students learn more about the world around them and find their passions. They get involved in clubs and sports and have to learn about time management and goal-setting. The transition from middle school to high school is daunting for many students. Here are some tips on how to prepare for high school and be a successful student.

Choosing a school for your son is an important consideration. Both private schools and boarding schools offer many benefits, but there are a few key differences. At St. Lawrence, we find these differences provide more opportunities for students to form lasting relationships while also learning how to be independent in a safe environment.

Those of the St. Lawrence Seminary students who went back to their families for the Winter Break, found their friends at home were a bit confused, because many other schools were on Spring Break. This was simply a function of the calendar and the late Easter this year, but it was amusing that our students found that their friends from home were on Spring Break while St. Lawrence observed Winter Break. St. Lawrence Seminary isn’t afraid to be different once in a while.

Choosing a school for your son involves many considerations and questions. If faith is as important to you and your son as it is to us, a Catholic seminary school is the right choice. Here are 5 reasons why you should choose a Catholic seminary school for high school.