A Family Legacy: The Petrungaros Admissions Experience at St. Michael’s
For Richard Petrungaro ’99, returning to St. Michael’s College School (SMCS) after 25 years was a revelation in every sense of the word.
“The school has gone through a major transformation since my days as a student,” says Richard. “The footprint has doubled, technology has been incorporated in every facet of the programme — we were blown away with the state-of-the-art facilities at the student’s disposal — a far cry from my days within the yellow bricks.”
He was the first of the Petrungaro family to attend SMCS, paving the way for his brother, Robert ’04, followed soon after followed by cousin Alexander Morris ’06. It’s now his son Ryan’s turn, as he began his SMCS journey in Grade 7 in September 2024.
“I was the first from my family and the only one from my elementary school and group of friends to be accepted,” says Richard. “Ryan is officially the first member of the second generation of Petrungaro’s to attend St. Mike’s.”
The Decision-Making Process
Despite the familiarity, when it came time to choose a high school for Ryan, his parents, Richard and Laurie, made a concerted effort to approach the process with an open mind.
“Our goal when looking at various private schools around the city was to be as unbiased as possible and let Ryan ultimately decide where he would like to attend,” he explains.
Ryan took full advantage of the admissions process, attending multiple open houses and school tours before making his decision. St. Mike’s happened to be the last open house they visited.
“The second we left the building, Ryan turned to us and said, ‘This is where I am going next year.’ It was as simple as that,” Richard recalls.
Ryan acknowledges that the breadth of opportunities was what ultimately won him over. “Personally, out of all the schools I looked at, St. Mike’s appealed to me the most, and I ended up applying for one reason — the variety of things you can do. There are over 50 clubs and many, many sports teams,” he says.
A Seamless Admissions Process
The Petrungaros credit the Admissions Team with making their decision even easier. They participated in every event offered, including the private tour, Open House, Shadow Day, and Family Breakfast. Richard found the personalized approach incredibly helpful.
“There were a few things that stood out as unique compared to our experience with other schools,” he says. “First, the general feel of all the events. At any event we attended, we genuinely felt like the Admissions Team, students, and staff were happy and excited to be showcasing the school and really took pride in it. We were treated with respect and never felt like a burden.”
The Open House, in particular, exceeded their expectations. “This was a common theme among many parents who attended multiple school open houses – St. Mike’s was by far the best production.”
For Ryan, the Shadow Day experience also proved to be a defining moment. “I had a great day with my shadow and came home feeling more confident in my desire to attend,” says Ryan. Richard adds, “The handwritten letter that came afterwards was also a nice touch, and the personalized video acceptance was a standout moment.”
Life at St. Michael’s
Heading into the final few months of the school year, Ryan has enjoyed a wonderful start at SMCS.
“My experience has been great at SMCS so far, to say the least. This school offers so much to do educationally and through co-curriculars, so each day is both challenging and fun from one class to another.”
Ryan has taken full advantage of the vast after-school offerings at SMCS and has immersed himself in four clubs, including Tower Media (Morning Announcements), Student Ambassadors, the Stock Market Club, and the Blue Beacon (the school’s newspaper club). He also competes on the Cross-Country team.
Both Richard and Laurie are thrilled to see their son flourish so early on at SMCS.
“Ryan has thoroughly enjoyed his first year at St. Mike’s. He has made new, like-minded friends and is actually upset if he has to miss a day due to sickness. In addition, he has joined many clubs and developed new interests. We are seeing him grow and mature before our eyes, and it solidifies our family’s decision to send him to St. Mike’s.”
Advice for Future Students
For parents considering St. Michael’s for their sons, Richard has one key piece of advice: “Register for all the admission events offered. Experiencing the school first-hand on multiple occasions removes much of the stress associated with making such a big decision for your son.”
With the final decision left to him, once Ryan had a first-hand opportunity to see SMCS for himself, the decision became clear.
“I had many family members who are St. Mike’s alumni, so I had always known about it. My cousins and dad all have graduation photos in the hallways, and it’s so cool to see them. To seal the deal, I noticed everyone I met throughout the application process was very nice, letting me know I was applying to a school in good hands with nice people.”
For the Petrungaros, St. Michael’s is more than a school—it’s a family tradition that continues to grow.
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