by Communication Directo | Nov 27, 2023 | Testimonials
“When there is something wrong with your kid, it’s all encompassing,” Arielle Lindner says, expressing a feeling about which far too many parents can relate. In this case, David and Arielle Lindner’s only son Alfie had rapidly changed into a child so unlike the one she had been raising, she knew something was amiss—and she was determined to get to the bottom of it.
“I really do believe God gives us the children we are supposed to have,” she says. Arielle has a degree in medical anthropology, which not only studies medicine throughout history but is also a comparative study of the practice of medicine across cultures, giving Arielle the background she needed to tackle the problem at hand.
In Alfie’s case, his usual behaviors had given way to hyperactivity and the feeling of emotional overwhelm, particularly after the school day was through. Hearing issues had also come to the fore, beginning with a six month stretch of deafness. The family had moved from New Jersey to be closer to David’s mother, who had moved to South Carolina and had then been widowed. They chose a Montessori school nearby, primarily because of one particularly gifted teacher.
By the time the Lindners had gotten to the bottom of the mystery, they knew they were dealing with the aftermath of a medical adverse event and a son who was not thriving at his unstructured school. The teacher that had drawn them to the school in the first place was no longer there, to boot. Very importantly, they knew they wanted a Catholic school that would provide Alfie with exemplary faith formation. They set forth to find a school that would provide that formation, accommodate special needs, and offer strong structure.
David and Arielle began touring Catholic schools in the Upstate. “When we got to Prince of Peace, it was just an instant, ‘Oh, this is it,’” Arielle says. Prince of Peace had recently hired special education teacher Ms. Krista Pfaff, and the support she offered for students with special needs, offered a key part of the puzzle. It was obvious the school had the sort of structure Alfie needed, and “we love Father Smith,” Arielle says, complimenting his vision for the school and his strong leadership.
While the Lindners had high hopes for what the school would do for Alfie, the reality exceeded their expectations. “Instead of him getting into the car after school upset, he gets into the car and says, ‘Today was amazing!’ or ‘I love Mrs. Avery!’” Arielle says. “At first I was like, ‘Really?’ I couldn’t believe it!” But now, well into his 3rd grade year, Alfie’s newfound love of school has become normal.
The three things the family had hoped to find—faith, structure, and support—have been provided in abundance by Prince of Peace Catholic School, and Alfie is thriving.
In a final confirmation that Alfie is exactly where he should be, Arielle shares a story about her mother-in-law, who works at Hamrick’s. Over the summer, a group of women came in, looking for a certain skirt in black. When different colors were offered, the women explained they were nuns—no other colors were needed. Alfie’s grandmother excitedly told them about her grandson, who would be going to Prince of Peace Catholic School. The nuns eagerly absorbed the story and reached out to Arielle. Throughout the year, Arielle has provided the nuns with updates about Alfie’s progress at Prince of Peace, and the nuns have kept him in their prayers. “If you’re looking for a sign he’s in the right place, I can’t think of a better one than that,” Arielle concludes.
by Communication Directo | Nov 2, 2023 | Testimonials
During the dog days of summer, Isla Young found herself feeling something completely new—excitement about the return of school. It would be her second year at Prince of Peace and her first as a middle school student. “I just can’t wait for school to start,” the 12-year-old said repeatedly, somewhat to the surprise of her parents, David and Carrie Young. To say that Isla’s feelings were not nearly so positive the year prior would be a huge understatement.
Having attended public schools her entire life, Isla was devastated by the prospect of the upcoming change. A member of a Baptist church in Greer, Isla had only occasionally attended Prince of Peace, and Catholicism was largely foreign to her. She did not like the idea of uniforms, new rules, private school, or leaving all her friends behind. However, her parents decided a change was necessary. Isla’s grades, sense of self, and her understanding of the curriculum, necessitated a drastic intervention.
Today, Isla has advice for any public student who is transferring to Prince of Peace. “Don’t be afraid,” she says. “When I found out I was going to Prince of Peace Catholic School, I thought it was the worst thing that ever happened to me. But once I got into my classroom, everyone was so welcoming.”
Looking back at her time in public school, Isla now recognizes how much she was struggling. “The teachers would tell you what you would be learning that day, and then put you behind the Chromebook and you were left to basically teach yourself.” Prince of Peace teachers, Isla says, “are creative. And they care whether or not you understand, and they want you to ask questions. If you don’t understand, they work with you until you do.”
In addition to engaged teachers, Isla has benefitted from being held accountable. “At my old school, I never did my homework,” she confesses. Of course, the changes in Isla’s study habits didn’t happen overnight. “If you don’t do your homework at Prince of Peace, they care. Mrs. Marlar had to take me out into the hallway two or three times, and it was so embarrassing! But she wasn’t mad at me, she asked why I hadn’t gotten it done, and what could we do so I wouldn’t forget. She helped me.”
David Young says he feels far more confident about Isla’s future now that she has embraced her education at Prince of Peace. “I was fearful she was getting lost,” he says. “Now she has a much better outlook toward school and life in general.” David, who is Baptist, also appreciates his daughter’s Catholic education. “It is important to me that she is surrounded by Christ-loving students and a positive environment. Public school was a mix of influences, many of which I found concerning.”
Isla has also come to enjoy the religious education found at her Catholic school. Not only does she feel that the spiritual structure at Prince of Peace improves the learning experience, as it fosters discipline and good work habits, but that the focus on faith leads to an overall wellbeing. “When you walk into Prince of Peace, everyone is happy,” she says. There is a feeling of safety she did not have in public school.
As it turns out, the sixth grader has a special affection for Latin—something she would never have anticipated a year ago—and often says the blessing before the family meal in Latin. “Getting to learn a new language has been fun!” Isla enthuses. She is excited to branch out in the future, with the goal of mastering Spanish and French.
A creative person with a natural aptitude for visual arts, writing and music, Isla had historically found math to be a tough subject. This was borne out by her MAP scores at the beginning of the year, which found Isla in the 57th percentile. She had quite a hill to climb in mathematics. But climb it she did, with Mrs. Marlar’s help. The end of the year MAP test saw Isla had risen to the 87th percentile.
“It is so important for students to be known,” says Isla’s mom Carrie. “At Prince of Peace, Isla came to be known by her teachers, who cared deeply about her success, and because they cared, so did Isla. I cannot imagine a greater gift than to instill a love of learning, and I believe that is the gift Mrs. Marlar gave to Isla.”
When asked to think about what life would be like had she continued in public school, and never gone to Prince of Peace, Isla pauses for several moments, then says, “Honestly, I’d probably be pretty messed up. How do I put that into words?” When it is suggested that she just did so, Isla nods and gives a thumbs up.
