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We are a liberal arts high school offering a classical education in the Catholic tradition, located in the beautiful Willamette Valley of Oregon.
Open Letter to Home-Schooled Students:
July 3, 2003
My name is Erin Fleener. This past May, I graduated from the Marian Latin School. This brought an end to one of the best experiences of my life.
I had been home-schooled for seven years before I started going to private school. I was extremely unwilling to go to any school other than home. I didn’t believe it was right for me. I was scared that everyone would be so different from me and that I wouldn’t fit in or know what to do. Finally, I gave in and started out at Holy Family Academy, which paved my way to Marian Latin School.
I don’t think many teens get to have an experience like Marian Latin. After being there a short time, I knew what I had was special and unique. Everyone became like family. We played together, laughed together, studied together, and prayed together.
From my perspective, it was so much more rewarding and exciting than home school. I was challenged at school by competition with other students. I got to have discussions with brilliant teachers. These types of experiences have shaped my young adult life.
I was able to not only grow in knowledge, but in faith. I made lasting friendships with my classmates and got to know people whom I would have never known under other circumstances. I accomplished things I never knew I could do.
I could never thank God enough for the gift of Marian Latin School. I feel so enriched because of it and the memorable experiences I have had there. It is something I will carry with me forever. The high school years go by so very quickly, but I had the privilege of spending them with great studies and wonderful people, all while becoming closer to Jesus in my faith.
In Christ,
Erin Fleener
(Erin was valedictorian of her graduating class)
An Alumnus Experience at MLS
by Andrew Beyer
In my four years at the Marian Latin school I experienced a unique high school environment that I believe is one of the best offered today. The Marian Latin School has many unique characteristics and benefits that make it an excellent choice for any student, and I have always been grateful for my decision to attend school there.
One of the greatest benefits that MLS has to offer is the student to teacher ratio. No other school offers the student population as much individual attention and personal help from their teachers. The small class size at MLS, when combined with the friendly and helpful demeanor of the instructors, ensures that the students are able to master difficult concepts and advance rapidly in their studies. Also, the small class size affords instructors the time and flexibility necessary to tailor assignments to the unique needs of their students. Because of this each student is challenged and developed in the necessary manner, and individual progress is carefully monitored.
Additionally, MLS boasts a classical language arts curriculum, including the study of Latin, that helped me to build a solid foundation in my reading and writing skills. This served me well in college, as I was prepared to write college level essays. Also, the English and Literature classes gave me a firm command of the English language, providing me the tools I needed to communicate my ideas clearly and concisely. I believe that the Marian Latin curriculum is without parallel in helping students to master the arts of communication, including reading, writing, and speaking.
Personally, I also enjoyed immensely the community that was built at Marian Latin School. The student population is very intimate, and the small size enables all those who attend the school to form good friendships with all the other students there. These friendships have remained with me past high school, and I remember the MLS community with great fondness.
Finally, Marian Latin provides its students with solid instruction in Catholic morals and theology. The religion classes provide the primary vehicle for studying Catholicism, but the atmosphere of the school as well supplies students with a constant reinforcement in the Faith. The school prays as a whole three times daily and the student body also attends Mass together regularly. All of the studies and all student and faculty interactions are carried out in the light of the catholic Faith. As a result, the religious instruction at Marian Latin goes far beyond the religion classes, and instead encompasses the entire atmosphere of the school and the very philosophy of those who attend it.
In summary, Marian Latin provides its students with personal instruction, excellent language skills, and a strong base in the Faith, all of which contribute to forming well-rounded individuals capable of succeeding in the world today. In light of these unique benefits, I would recommend this education without reservation for any student who wants to get the most out of their high school learning experience.