Seventh and eighth grade students at the Jesuit Middle School of Omaha (JMSO) had the opportunity to see what life will be like after they leave the familiarity of junior high, thanks to a “shadow day” experience at one of three metro Catholic high schools.  Twenty-eight students spent a half a day at Creighton Preparatory (16), Roncalli (9) or St. Peter Claver (3) high schools, some even eating lunch with their respective high school students.  

 

According to Kirk Trotter, Dean of Students, the young men at Jesuit have participated in “shadow day” for the past five years.  Doing so allows students to see the next step of education and often, what it’s like to interact with girls in a school setting.  It also gives them a chance to intermingle with a broad-range of students from across the city.  

 

The main goal of this exercise is for students to receive first-hand experience in “observing the academic rigor of good high school classes,” said Principal Tony Connelly.  “Our young men need to realize that they will be moving from a smaller classroom setting to a larger learning environment.”  Aside from this experience, Principal Connelly encourages each young man and his family to attend at least two to three open house events at Omaha Public Schools.  

 

Students who graduate from Jesuit attend both private and public schools.  Currently, nine of the 11 students from the Class of 2007 attend a private school:  five at Creighton Prep, two at Roncalli and two at St. Peter Claver, Omaha’s newest Catholic school.