First, let me introduce myself: My name is Deborah (Provenzano) Baker, alumnus of St. Nicholas School, class of 1970. I'm the mother of two boys, grandmother of 5, and married to Deacon Robert Baker, Sr. for 44 yrs. I'm presently working as a Fiscal Analyst for the Jersey City Office of Emergency Management/Homeland Security.

            What I love about St. Nicholas School is the FAMILY atmosphere that the school offers. Everyone on staff is willing to help the students and their families. The love and respect they show are unbelievable. As I look back and remember one of my favorite teachers, Mr. Harry Reynolds. I remember a teacher who was more than just a teacher he was a kind and compassionate person. He taught the "WHOLE CHILD". He made you feel loved in the true sense of the word. He made learning fun!!!

          At St. Nicholas School you will get a quality Catholic education as well as a solid foundation that will help you later on in life. St. Nicholas School helped me become the person I am today along with preparing me for high school, college, and most importantly life. Those years at St. Nicholas School instilled in me a strong moral value which I hold tight to my heart to this day; along the belief that anything I put my mind to I can accomplish.

           If you want to be the BEST you need to be taught by the BEST. Saint Nicholas School is the BEST!!
Debra Baker

     For the past three years, our son has been attending St. Nicholas School. We initially chose St. Nicholas because the small class sizes would allow for individualized attention. But what we didn't realize was the strong sense of community and family that St. Nicholas fosters. An atmosphere of service to others is prevalent in regular teachings, drives, and projects.

     The administration and teachers are extremely approachable and accessible, ready to listen to concerns or answer questions. The dedicated teachers educate, support, and guide the students, especially during these challenging times.

     At the start of the pandemic, the school quickly transitioned to online learning. During the pandemic, the school reached out to families, encouraging suggestions and feedback regarding how to improve the current situation and plan ahead. They got students safely back into the classroom, while still offering remote learning. With this hybrid model, our son's teacher still keeps the in-person and distance learners feeling connected, included, and involved.

     We continue to choose St. Nicholas School not only because of its academic merit but because of the overall faith-filled environment, one that reinforces the tenet of Jesus' teachings, that we must help and love each other.

The Roque Family

     We are the parents of four boys. Next year, our oldest will be in 8th grade, and our youngest will enter PreK. St. Nicholas School in Jersey City is like a second home, and we are grateful for the opportunity to send our children there.
     We initially chose St. Nicholas School for our children because we knew that a Catholic school education not only focuses on the academic life of a student, but also on their spiritual growth. Catholic schools have a reputation for strong academics which is evident in the high schools thatSt. Nicholas students are admitted to. In addition to this, as a Catholic household, we knew that St. Nicholas would teach our children Catholic values - loving our neighbors as ourselves and seeking out opportunities to be of service to others. We wanted an environment that would be an extension of our household beliefs, where our children could see that the importance of prayer and our relationship to God is bigger than just what we teach them at home.
     The Principal, Mrs. Miglin, knows each of the students by name, and by extension, knows each of the families. She is open to dialogue, discusses opinions, and welcomes suggestions for various school activities. This level of attention helps students and families feel like they have a hand in their children's school experience. The families, in turn, feel like there is a larger return on their investment than just acadmics and that they are a part of the community of teachers for their children. In addition, this builds a community of families that know and look out for each other - no one is made to feel left out and everyone matters.
     Our children enjoy learning not only in the classroom, but also in the computer lab, the science lab, and the STEM Maker Space. They have access to after school activities like track, basketball, dance, and tae kwon do. As a family, we look forward to opportunities to volunteer or participate in service projects. Parents help set up and run various school events like Breakfast with Santa, school dances, and an annual family picnic at Liberty State Park. Students also write letters to veterans or collect food or donate mission money. We couldn't be prouder of both the school and the students it produces.
     For all of these reasons and more, whenever anyone asks for recommndations on schools, we do not hesitate to recommend St. Nicholas School.
Michael Cansino and Kathleen Lyons

Dear Prospective Parents,
We chose St. Nicholas School originally because our older daughter's school did not have room for our younger daughter. We wanted both our daughters to attend the same school so when we compared schools, we found that St. Nicholas School's curriculum was the best fit. Our oldest daughter entered in 6th grade, and our youngest entered in Kindergarten.

We love the fact that it is not a big school and the transition to St. Nicholas was seamless. We love the fact that she was made to feel as though she attended St. Nicholas since Kindergarten as most of her classmates did. She was able to make friends quickly, and became comfortable with the teachers.

Our experiences have been good with the teachers. We especially like the fact that when any of our children had difficulty in a particular subject, the teacher made time to meet after school to help. In some cases, teachers reached out early before conferences were scheduled. The Aftercare teachers as well are very caring.

Our experiences with both administrators have been very good. When we initially enrolled, Sister Ellen was Principal, and when she retired, Mrs. Miglin became our Head of School. It is not just our experiences with the administration, but our daughters' experiences as well. They liked the fact that the administration knew who they were. They were not just another child in the school.

We feel that the warm, family feeling that emanates from the school sets St. Nicholas apart from other schools. Our decision to enroll our daughters into St. Nicholas was not just about the academics and resources but the feeling we had when we toured the school. When we began searching for high schools for our oldest daughter, not only did we look at the academics, we had to make sure it had that warm, family feeling we were used to at St. Nicholas.

We would tell another parent that if they are looking for a school where their child will be recognized, they should consider St. Nicholas. We would also tell them that if they are looking for a school that has a warm, family feeling to it, they should consider St. Nicholas. The child needs to feel comfortable; they are the ones that will be in school all day, the parents are not.
The Castillo Family
 

    When we first moved to Jersey City Heights three years ago, we immediately noticed a beautiful Catholic church spanning an entire corner just a few blocks from our house. We looked into becoming parishioners at St. Nicholas and were happy to learn about St. Nicholas School. We enrolled our four-year-old daughter into the PreK program and she was slated to start September 2020. 

    Originally I was worried about how she would adjust to school during what was such a heavy, uncertain time. My concern quickly dissipated. The school takes all the appropriate measures to keep its students and staff safe. My daughter's teachers take a vested interest in understanding who she is as an individual and fostering her strengths while addressing areas of improvement. They genuinely care about her education and personal growth, which I can see happening each and every day.

    My daughter takes advantage of the extracurricular activities offered at St. Nick's and is always looking forward to the next celebration as the school hosts many. There is never a dull moment! The lines of communication are constant. Both the teachers and administration keep us informed through multiple channels.

 There is a sense of community and comradery that makes St. Nick's stand apart. The school's dedication to its students and their families is felt every day in multiple ways. Our daughter is warmly greeted by Principal Miglin and Ms. Val each morning as she walks through St. Nicholas' doors, and I take comfort knowing this is exactly where she should be. 
The Lupinacci Family
 

Dear Prospective Parents,

      I am writing this testimonial about St. Nicholas School. First of all, the administrator, teachers, and staff are absolutely phenomenal. As a family, we particularly appreciate the open communication and dedication. Mrs. Miglin, the Principal, helped us through the process of enrollment from a public school to St. Nicholas in a quick and efficient fashion; answering all the questions regarding the curriculum, school hours, and activities. 

     Both my daughters (Grades Kindergarten and 2nd) truly enjoy going to school, making new friends, and look forward to seeing their teachers and Mrs. Miglin every day.  We would highly recommend St. Nicholas to any parent looking for excellent education and a sense of community.

The Rojas Family

My Time at St. Nicholas School

I was new to St. Nicholas School in the 6th grade, and so far my time here has been great! Teachers offer a lot of support, I've made many great friendships, and everyone is very welcoming. The teachers go above and beyond to help the students including me succeed. I have never had a problem with another classmate.

  St. Nicks also has a lot of great sports students can play, including volleyball, basketball, and track. I’ve tried all the sports and the coaches are very helpful and teach the team how to work together, while also encouraging them to their best. In my opinion the whole school helps build great character and leadership skills in their students. Because of this I am currently in the NJHS (National Junior Honor Society) and was elected to the Student Council. 

  I’ve made a lot of friends here and I'm very excited to see what happens next. Regarding Covid19, St. Nicks has done a lot for the online children here. The teachers and principal make sure everyone is on task and that they are having no problems learning new material.

Lastly but definitely not least, the school helped me with my international volunteer effort to help a Catholic orphanage in the Dominican Republic. I would definitely recommend choosing St. Nicholas School.

Denissa R.