Some families travel a good distance so children may attend Catholic schools

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
Jan. 25, 2007

For some people, the desire to provide their children with a Catholic school education is so strong that they don't let a few miles get in the way. Many families travel a good distance to attend Catholic schools in various parts of the Diocese of Sioux City.

Carol Geu of Vermillion was so pleased with Catholic school education that when her son Taylor completed the fifth grade at St. Agnes, a K-5 school, in Vermillion, they knew they wanted to look at other Catholic school options in the area.

"We decided that the faith-based education was important to us," noted Carol. "We looked at Sioux City. I came down and spoke to Mrs. (Brenda) Ferrie and was very impressed with the school system and with Sacred Heart as well as the opportunities there would be for him through high school."

The Geus, who are not Catholic, considered looking at the Yankton (South Dakota) Catholic school but it only went to eighth grade so they turned their sights about 30 miles south to Sioux City.

"We thought if we wanted to stay with a faith-based education, we wanted to be some place where he would make friends in middle school years that he would have all the way through high school," said Carol, whose son Taylor is in the seventh grade at Sacred Heart. "We are very, very pleased with the quality of education and the acceptance that we have had."

She commended the Catholic Church for its history of providing education and mentioned, "You do it so well. We not only wanted a faith-based education, but a high quality education - the test scores reveal that."

Carol said they are very grateful that a non-parishioner is allowed to attend Sacred Heart and are very thankful for the environment in which he receives her son receives his education.

One Bancroft family travels just about three miles to their local Catholic school of St. John's, but opted to continue with the Catholic education in Algona. Cheryl Hamilton mentioned that they always wanted their children to attend Bishop Garrigan High School, but rather than going public for a few years after completing the fifth grade at St. John's, they would continue with the Catholic education at Seton Middle School in Algona.

Presently, the Hamiltons have a preschooler, two children at St. John's in Bancroft and a sophomore at Bishop Garrigan. Next year, they will have two at St. John's, one at Seton and one at Garrigan.

"Sometimes you have to juggle a few things, but we think it's worthwhile," said Cheryl. "We like Garrigan and he (their son) enjoys going to school there, so we will continue on."

While the Catholic education is a plus, she mentioned that they like the school facility, the environment and the people, "it's the whole package."

In past years her son was among several students from the Bancroft area to take a shuttle bus to school, but this year Cheryl's son drives the 16 miles.

Dawn and Jeff Aesoph, residents of Onawa, send their oldest two children to the St. Michael Center of Holy Cross School in Sioux City. It's about a 40- to 45-minute drive to the school, but Dawn noted that she works in Sioux City and that added a convenience factor. For instance, if the children became sick during the school day she would be in the same town. In addition, her mother, who resides in Sioux City, was willing to help with after-school care and a friend helps with after-school transportation, as does her husband.

Still, a wish to provide their children with a Catholic education sealed the decision. The Aesophs both received their education at Catholic grade schools and Bishop Heelan High School.

"I've been very happy with the choice," she said. "It's been worth it. We are investing in their education now by providing a school with a Catholic education - with the good morals and values that they teach."

The Aesophs third child will start school next year and their fourth child will follow in a couple of years.

"It's fun to see that our kids are going to school with people we graduated with from Heelan," said Dawn. "We have that common bond."

Tanya Pflibsen of Bode has two children attending St. Mary's Grade School in Humboldt, which is about 15 miles from home. Both Tanya and her husband work in Humboldt, so like Dawn, she found it a plus to have her children in the same town as she worked.

"We are happy they have a small, Catholic school in Humboldt," said Tanya. "We debated a little bit, but the choice was pretty easy. I had heard nothing but good about it."

In weighing their options, the Pflibsens had considered the public school where they lived, the public school where they worked (in Humboldt) and the Catholic school.

"We had to think about budgeting a little bit - in regards to tuition - but we felt it was important for our children to have a Catholic education. It's something you can't put a price on," said Tanya, who is a parishioner at Sacred Heart in Livermore. "Knowing that you are paying for something that will stay with them the rest of their lives makes it an easier decision."

Nancy Richman of Barnum has four children attending St. Edmond Catholic Schools in Fort Dodge. The oldest is a freshman and there is also a seventh grader, fifth grader and preschooler. They have attended Catholic schools for five years.

Both Nancy and her husband Jerry work in Fort Dodge, so the students travel the 10 miles into town with the parents.

"We had been in a public school system and there were a lot of changes," noted Nancy, who said it made it a good time to switch to Catholic schools. "I felt Catholic schools were a good idea. Children face a lot of difficult challenges and decisions these days and that little extra bit of faith can't hurt them when they are going through different struggles."

She likes the fact that the students have religious activities such as the weekly Mass.

"Sometimes when there are things going on at the school and we have to run home and run back in, it can be hectic but it's really not that big of a deal and actually it works out very well," said Nancy, a lifetime member of St. Joseph's in Barnum, which is now part of Holy Trinity Parish of Webster County.

She mentioned that she attended public school in the area and had often considered going to St. Edmond's.

"It's well worth it. The close-knit school and community has been very beneficial for the kids," said Nancy. "I have been very happy with the change."