A. Fantis Parochial School

It seems that the cards on this cold, wet October day were stacked against this one—even though the last-minute announcement for an Open House on a Yahoo parents group seemed like serendipity.  I wasn’t scheduled to coach teachers in Emotional Literacy this morning, so it only made sense to carve out some time to visit a school in my very own neighborhood…

Situated just off Court on 195 State Street, A. Fantis Parochial School (www.afantis.org) looks much like a storefront posed on the edge of the part of town nicknamed “MetroTech.”  Trying to dismiss this cold impression, I attempted maneuvering past a deliveryman in the doorway as about fifteen little ones ran down the stairs, shouting in plaid uniforms.  Backing up against a wall to accommodate other parents emerging, I followed my nose upstairs, where coffee and pastries withered on a small table in a cafeteria-style auditorium.

Feeling a bit awkward, I looked for an “in”—perhaps a flier, a teacher wearing a name-tag, educational handouts, or even a posted agenda.  No such luck.  I couldn’t discern exactly who was the principal and who was a parent, and while it was obvious that one of the individuals was discussing admission, there was no clear information about just what was happening or what I could do to see the educational environment provided for children.  Glancing around for any clue, I noticed that a few of the adults were holding manila folders, nodding—but even the idea of a cookie couldn’t keep me:  I had important errands to run…despite the chilling rain.

It would have been nice to learn more, as A. Fantis Parochial provides educational opportunities for pre-K through 8th grade, but it seems that this was anything but an “open” house:  apparently, there’s a code that I couldn’t quite crack about this particular school culture.  The best thing I can say about this experience is that I took notes—lessons can be learned from any “rainy-day dead-end.”   It might have just been a refresher, but first impressions really do matter, and you have to feel welcome at the front door…or it’s probably best to just move along.  Perhaps what I can provide in my investigative educational endeavors is that I’ve saved you some time and energy.  My hope is that A. Fantis Parochial School will soon be forgotten, much like my soggy, rain-drenched gloves…