St. Francis de Sales School

​"As a parent, I cannot speak highly enough of the middle school experience my children had at St. Francis de Sales School. The environment there was unique, with teachers providing a level of support that you won't find at a larger school. The small class sizes made a significant difference, allowing for personalized attention and fostering strong relationships between teachers and students. This personalized approach really made a difference in my children's development.

My oldest son, who attended St. Francis through 8t h grade, enjoyed learning, and was pushed to excel. This extra push allowed him to enter high school feeling well-prepared and confident. His solid foundation from middle school made much of high school stress-free for him. He's now successfully finishing up his second year at Michigan Tech. I firmly believe that his success can be attributed in part to the extra push the teachers at St. Francis gave him, along with the study habits and organizational skills he developed during his time in middle school.
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The extra time spent at St. Francis also gave my children the chance to mature and handle the challenges of peer pressure and disruptions more effectively. When my youngest child briefly attended public school for 6th grade, we noticed a difference in his academic performance, causing us to constantly monitor his grades. Moving him back to St. Francis for 7th and 8th grade made a big difference, and by the time he
entered 9t h grade, he was better equipped to manage the larger class sizes and responsibilities. He is now finishing his junior year as an honor student. 
The variety of extracurricular activities offered at St. Francis, along with the opportunity for students to participate in activities with the public school, enriched my children's educational experience. They were able to explore their interests while also forming friendships with students at the public school.
 
Overall, I am immensely grateful for the positive impact that St. Francis de Sales middle school had on my children. It not only provided them with a strong academic foundation but also instilled values that have served them well into their high school years and beyond."
"I am a mother of 7, and all 7 of my children have gone to St. Francis, but only one so far has graduated from St. Francis. I hope, with all my heart, that my younger 4 will all graduate from St. Francis. First, I want to say that I have nothing against Manistique Middle and High School. We are very blessed to have a good public school in town, but what St. Francis has to offer; no public school could offer. St. Francis is a family. It has smaller classrooms and closer relationships with teachers and staff. St. Francis not only educates our students, but it teaches them how to care for others.
 
The older kids are role models to the younger kids, and the older kids love to help the younger kids. This is mutually beneficial because the younger kids feel special that the older kids notice them, and the older kids feel special because the little kids look up to them so much. St. Francis teaches leadership skills by having the older kids teach the younger kids by example, getting the children involved in the mass, and saying prayers together, but even that is not my biggest reason for sending my kids to St. Francis. My kids are gifts from God, and I want them to not only learn about God but to develop a relationship with him. St. Francis encourages prayer, teaches them how to pray, and teaches them to pray for and with each other. Life is hard at times, and there are times in our lives that we probably won't be able to make it through without God. St. Francis gives them a foundation, to help them through even the hardest of times. Our jobs as parents are to get our kids to heaven, and by sending my children to St. Francis, I feel that I'm doing one more thing to get them closer to heaven, and I only wish St. Francis had a high school !"
"​Over the past decade, my family has had an enriching experience at St. Francis de Sales School (SFDS). Our journey began when my oldest daughter entered kindergarten and continued through her graduation in the eighth grade. Similarly, my younger daughter started her educational path in pre-K3 and is set to graduate next year. Before enrolling our daughter, my husband and I explored several local schools in Munising and Manistique, ultimately choosing SFDS due to its welcoming community, educational reputation, and strong family orientation.
 
SFDS stands out for its smaller class sizes, which provide significant one-on-one attention that has been instrumental in enhancing my daughters' educational experiences. Both of my daughters have thrived in this nurturing environment, actively participating in various school and church activities. Additionally, the school's Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is very dynamic, organizing numerous enjoyable events and fulfilling various school needs.
 
Extracurricular activities have also been crucial to their education. Through sports and band programs at the local public school, my daughters have broadened their social circles beyond SFDS, fostering valuable friendships.
 
The quality of education at SFDS prepared my older daughter exceptionally well for her transition to Manistique High School, where she has excelled in advanced classes and has even been accepted for dual enrollment at Bay College for her sophomore year.
 
As my youngest daughter approaches her final year at SFDS, I look forward to it with great enthusiasm and confidence in the solid foundation the school continues to provide".
​"My middle school experience with St. Francis was one of the best things in my life. I cannot describe the people I met .and the differences in opinion I saw. This school is the best school in Michigan if you ask me. They have the best staff by a mile, and they help people grow as individuals. When you are in a small class your whole life, that isn't a class of kids anymore, that's a family. I will never forget this experience. I still talk to teachers and students there today because you cannot take the school out of the people that go there. It will always hold a special part in their hearts because of the kindness shown there. My personal experience is that I would give anything to go back. Just thinking about it makes me happy and nostalgic, as this was the best time of my life. Even through struggles, the class and teachers always helped each other, and I cannot stress enough the impact on my life this school has had. It is overall an amazing school, whose teachers have become like parents to me. I always got good grades, as the teachers made it fun to learn. If you ask me today questions about what I learned, I will still remember them even after I have left the school. I still help there. The experience for me was absolutely amazing."
 
"SFDS will forever hold a special place in my heart. The staff members at this school are some of my closest friends, and favorite people. They truly care about our children, and they are wonderful educators, administrators and caretakers!     My daughter attended St. Francis from Pre-K3 through 8th grade. If high school would have been an option she would still be there! We loved the close-knit feeling of family that this school provides, and the focus on Jesus and religion are unmatched.
 
The transition to high school from junior high is tough regardless of where students spend their 6th-8th grade years. I will never regret keeping my daughter at St. Francis, and she is also so thankful she was there. The focus on faith and family that was instilled in her as a Raider has helped her to make better decisions now that she is in high school.
 
Not a week goes by that we don't reminisce about SFDS. She tells me ALL the time how she wishes she could go back. Attending mass weekly and being able to weave faith into daily education is a beautiful gift we can give our children.    Many of our fondest memories are surrounded by our St. Francis school, classmates, and experiences.
 Our kids grow up so fast, and the extra years my daughter was gifted in this special school will always be treasured, appreciated, and loved."
"We are a large, blended family, and over the past 14 years, we've entrusted six of our shared. children to SFDS. With two currently in Elementary School, two in Middle School, arid two SFDS Alumni thriving in High School, it's evident that choosing SFDS has been one of our wisest parental decisions. Our children have not only received a top-notch education, but they were also immersed in a nurturing environment that reinforced our family values and provided a strong moral foundation. The smaller class sizes allow for more personalized attention, fostering academic growth and a sense of belonging. The emphasis on character development and service to others instilled important life lessons that extend far beyond the classroom. We're grateful for the holistic approach to education that our children have received, preparing them not only for high school but for life ahead. While transitions haven't always been seamless, SFDS has remained receptive to feedback, continuously striving to enhance the transfer experience between schools. We're committed to entrusting our children to SFDS until they graduate from Middle School, wholeheartedly endorsing the school's mission, vision, and values."