Why We Chose St. Charles - The Collins Family

The Collins Family: John, Brayden (5th), and Kelly.

Why Our Family Chose St. Charles.

Or maybe it’s more accurate to say—St. Charles chose us.

When our family moved from Philadelphia to New Jersey in 2017, Catholic school was not part of our plan. We chose Burlington County because of its excellent school systems. But a few years later, in 2020, as our son Brayden was about to start kindergarten, the world looked very different. The pandemic had turned everything upside down, and we knew that the hybrid model of education just wasn’t right for our family—or for Brayden as an early learner.

Having spent over 12 years in Catholic education myself, and coming from a deeply rooted Catholic family, I’d always cherished what it stood for. Still, over time, I had drifted from my faith, and Brayden had not even been baptized. Yet something in me felt pulled to tour St. Charles.

From the moment I met Mrs. Glass, I felt a sense of warmth and belonging that I can’t quite put into words. She made me feel at home. Before I even left the building, I knew this was the right place for us. I was blessed to get the very last spot in the kindergarten class and thought, we’ll just try it for a year.

But God clearly had other plans.

In February 2021, while learning about the sacraments, Brayden came home and said, “I’m not a child of God?” and asked to be baptized. From that day on, his faith came alive. He fell in love with St. Charles—the teachers, his friends, and the community that embraced him like family. By the end of the year, he begged to go back, and in my heart, I already knew he would.

What we love most about St. Charles is that it feels like home. Every teacher knows every student’s name. Faith is part of daily life, not just a subject. The community is genuine, caring, and rooted in love. Watching Brayden grow in confidence, kindness, and faith has been the greatest blessing.

Although he’s only in fifth grade, we know he’s already made lifelong friendships and memories that will shape who he becomes. Choosing St. Charles has truly been one of the best decisions we’ve ever made as a family. It’s more than a school—it’s a family of faith that welcomed us with open arms when we needed it most.

Check back every week for a new story from one of our amazing families about why they chose St. Charles for their children.

Interested in touring our school? Call the office at 856-829-2778 to schedule a tour. You can complete an inquiry request or submit a new student application online. The Open House for the 2026-2027 school year is scheduled for Sunday, January 25th, from 12:00 to 2:00 PM.