The magic of Roald Dahl is coming to St. Lawrence Seminary High School! Next month, the students of SLS will shine at the production of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory! Come watch the students of SLS perform this classic. Join Charlie, Grandpa Joe, Mr. Wonka and all the other golden ticket holders as they embark on a once in a lifetime adventure in the Wonka Chocolate Factory. 

Your middle school days have finally come to an end (almost)! For most students, the summer after middle school is particularly exciting. This is the summer before you transition from middle school to high school. Come the fall, you will no longer be one of the oldest members of your school, but rather one of the youngest members. Before you dive into the adventure of high school, you should take the time to use your summer for growth, reflection, and faith building.

Here are some tips on how to make the most of your summer before high school.

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. 

Are you interested in attending boarding school or St. Lawrence Seminary High School but haven't been able to find any resources to help you make the decision?

The faculty at SLS understand how difficult the decision process can be. This is why we've created a digital resource that can help you learn more about boarding school and how it might be the right fit for your son and your family.

Athleticism and the life of faith have always been integrated in the lives of Christian disciples. Think about classic verses of encouragement from the New Testament. In many of St. Paul’s letters to the early church, he uses athletic metaphors to help new Christians understand the task of faithful life that lies before them:

When you ask what makes St. Lawrence Seminary special, you are likely to get a range of answers, depending on who you’ve asked. But nearly every answer will lead you back to SLS’s Mission and Values. These core beliefs are at the heart of every rationale, decision, and aspect of our program. Over the course of two, three, or four years, boys who are daring enough to embrace our program grow into impressive young men of faith. We ask a lot of our students, but we work to instill in them the tools they need to live these core values of St. Lawrence Seminary.

A few years ago, at St. Lawrence Seminary, a senior was applying to the prestigious United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. The Rector at the time helped write a letter of recommendation for him, but also put him in touch with an alumnus of St. Lawrence who had graduated from the Naval Academy.

As the  alumnus and senior began to talk to each other, they found they shared an excitement about St. Lawrence and the education they had in common, but also that they shared a common love for the Naval Academy. The alumnus was able to talk to the senior about life at the Naval Academy and give him advice about applying, getting accepted, and eventually thriving in a military academy.

1. Faith-based classrooms provide a safe space for open discussion of religion that public or non-faith-based schools do not.

St. Lawrence Seminary High School takes pride in the open discussion of religion in both the classroom setting and in Spiritual Direction meetings. Spiritual Direction is a place and a time to talk about a relationship with God and what that means. A Spiritual Director might ask about the student’s classes and activities, how he is taking care of himself, how he is getting along with his classmates, or how God is present in his life. The spiritual director will encourage the student to reflect upon all the experiences of his life and bring these to the meetings.

The whole process is a sacred sharing in the student’s life. Spiritual Directors will share their own thoughts, reflections, personal experiences and recommendations when appropriate to do so. Directors will challenge the students, when necessary, to take responsibility for each of their own questions, ideas and responses.

There is a significant maturing process during the course of the time the student is here. The first year sharing is quite general. In the junior and senior years, the meetings tend to be more in depth and a lot more questions about God are explored. Many more questions arise about religious life and the priesthood. The Director will support the student in times of discernment in whatever way is possible.

A boarding school may be an excellent way to prepare for future success in practical ways. The unique setting of a boarding school promotes numerous life skills. Many of these skills, as detailed below, are exactly the sort of skills usable in adult life and also the kind of skills that employers look for in potential employees: being independent, working well with others, problem solving, time management and sensitive to a wide variety of personal differences in peers, and displaying aptitude for loyalty, dependability and competence.

If ever there was a season made for reading, it was winter. Why? Well, at least in Wisconsin, winter conjures images of staying inside where it’s warm, wrapping up in a blanket, serving up a hot drink and an even better book. (Though, really, for an English teacher like me, any season is the right one for reading.) If you’re looking for a good book to read this winter—or any time of year—here are a few you might find worth your time.