2nd Pacelli Preview Day opens door for families looking for options – Austin Daily Herald

After a successful first year, Pacelli Catholic Schools will be offering its second Pacelli Preview Day on Wednesday, Feb. 26.

Families will get the chance to visit the school in two sessions at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. for tours and presentations that school officials hope will tell the story of Pacelli to families looking for a possible educational alternative.

“You come and see what we have,” said Pacelli Social Studies teacher Nicholas McGrath. “See exactly what we do every day.”

The event this year follows up the success last year and McGrath said that there was a good energy the school hopes will carry over for this year.

The idea originally arose from conversations about how the school gets more of itself out into the public, with McGrath citing that they just need to get people in the doors in something of an admissions visit.

“You hear about who we are, our values,” McGrath added. “Get a feel for our culture.”

During the visits families will have the opportunity to ask questions of staff and students, something that is much different from families who tour in the summer when the building is empty.

In particular, McGrath said seeing the students in class or in the hallways is an important part of Preview Day.

“There are people who tour all the time,” McGrath said. “They see the building, they see the space. The kids make that experience so much different.”

“The best part is hearing from the kids,” he added. “All of them are Pacelli students and all of them have a reason why. ‘I like Pacelli because …’”

As part of the visit, families will also get a chance to sit in on presentations that explain the school’s 100-year history and its mission as well as what the school offers to the public.

The timing of the open house is important as well, because March 3 is when enrollment opens for the following year.

With this fresh view of the school, learning about opportunities afforded to the students as well as things like tuition and scholarships, prospective families learn more about available options and a different mode of education.

“The big take away is just the conceptions and misconceptions of what you want for our child,” McGrath said. “Everybody is afforded a choice — we are blessed to have choices. If people want to come and see and walk away more empowered, at least you considered the option.”