Catholic Schools Annual Report - 2017

Catholic Schools A N E D U C AT I O N Y O U C A N H AV E F A I T H I N

Archdiocese of Milwaukee 2015 - 2016 Annual Report

Catholic school students regularly attend Mass together.

Contents 04

Centered in Christ

07

Evangelization

10

Distinguished by Excellence

15

Education Doesn’t End in the Classroom

18

Steeped in a Catholic Worldview

21

Sustained by Gospel Witness

24

Shaped by Communion and Community

27

Accessible to All Students

30

Rooted in History and Catholic Identity

31

Catholic Schools Statistics

33

Centered in Christ Catholic education is centered in Jesus Christ and rooted in the Gospel. In light of Christ’s instruction, “Love one another as I have loved you,” our Catholic schools focus on more than academics. They concentrate on forming all aspects of students’ lives, including their relationships with their families and classmates, with the local and global community, and, especially, with Jesus Christ. Students are impelled to embrace a Gospel-driven lifestyle of service, sacrifice and respect. It is this emphasis on teaching the whole student – mind, body and spirit – that sets our schools apart and lays the foundation for all students to become the complete and holy persons God intends them to be.

Many schools in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee have been remarkable examples of Christ-centered student development, including St. Monica School in Whitefish Bay, which has implemented a Discipleship Development Program, and St. Thomas More High School in Milwaukee, which has developed a Servant Leadership Program.

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CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF MILWAUKEE

BEGAN 175 YEARS AGO

It is our emphasis on Christ-centered student development that sets our schools apart.

Students take an active role in parish life.

Evangelization In teaching the learners of today and the

the Catholic community, such as at Eden’s

leaders of tomorrow, Catholic schools play

Shepherd of the Hills School, where 5

a vital role in spreading the mission of

students and 3 parents of students were

the Church. As communities where faith,

baptized during the 2015-16 academic

culture and daily life are harmoniously

year. Catholic school students are also

integrated, Catholic schools welcome

more likely to join religious orders*, enter

students who are not Catholic and are

the seminary, or otherwise become

committed to enthusiastically sharing the

actively involved in Church leadership

traditions and teachings of Catholicism

than students who do not attend Catholic

with all.

schools. Milwaukee’s St. Anthony School and Catholic East Elementary School have

In the Catholic schools of the Archdiocese

been particularly strong in their efforts to

of Milwaukee, non-Catholics comprise

promote religious vocations among their

18 percent of the total archdiocesan

students.

elementary and secondary school enrollment. In many cases, non-Catholic

*Source: CARA report

students have chosen to become part of

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We welcome non-Catholics into our schools and our spiritual community.

Students of all faiths participate in spiritual activities.

(St. Sebastian Parish and School, Milwaukee)

Distinguished

by Excellence Academic excellence is a major hallmark

Educating the Whole Student, Mission

of a Catholic school. This tradition of

and Catholic Identity, or Technology

intellectual formation and scholarship

Integration. For 2015-16, three schools

dates back centuries. For more than 170

won Academic Excellence awards: St.

years, Catholic schools in the Archdiocese

Robert in Shorewood; St. John Vianney in

of Milwaukee have been known for their

Brookfield, and St. Eugene in Fox Point.

high academic quality. This tradition of excellence continues to be manifested in

Students from the Archdiocese

the standardized test scores and post-

of Milwaukee are also typically

graduate success of today’s Catholic

well represented in the Herb Kohl

school students, 97 percent of whom go

Foundation Awards, a grant program

on to college. These outcomes are no

that encompasses the entire state. This

accident. Catholic school leaders and

year, four of our students won Student

teachers are steadfast in their efforts to

Excellence Scholarships: Maureen Burke

meet the learning needs of all students

of Waukesha Catholic Memorial, Brian

and ensure their success.

Coe and Madeline Shea of St. Catherine School in Racine and Luke Holzman of St.

Biannually, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee

Mary’s Springs Academy in Fond du Lac.

highlights its commitment to excellence

Candelario Tellez of St. Catherine School

through its Exemplary Recognition

in Racine received a Student Initiative

Program. Based on guidelines from the

Scholarship. Additionally, two principals

National Standards and Benchmarks

won Excellence in School Leadership

for Effective Catholic Schools, these

Awards: Mr. Jeff Monday of Marquette

awards honor schools that apply and

University High School and Mrs. Donna

merit recognition in: Academic Excellence,

Schmidt of Messmer St. Rose and St Mary.

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Students are academically prepared for their future.

Every student can succeed in a Catholic school.

Over 97 percent of Catholic school students go on to college.

Catholic school students learn to give back to the community.

Education Doesn’t End in the Classroom Catholic school education is rooted

Our Catholic schools have also invested

in the conviction that human beings

in professional development programs

have a transcendent destiny and that

designed to help teachers and staff meet

education should be about the whole

students’ needs in all aspects of their lives.

person. Therefore, Catholic schools

Through the Greater Milwaukee Catholic

form the spiritual, intellectual, physical,

Education Consortium (GMCEC), we have

psychological, social, moral, aesthetic

been able to offer seminars and workshops

and religious aspects of each student. To

sponsored by area Catholic colleges and

accomplish this, the Catholic schools of the

universities on such topics as trauma

Archdiocese of Milwaukee have developed

response, early childhood education,

a wide variety of co-curricular, faith-

special education, English language

formation and service/ministry initiatives at

learning and technology integration for

both the elementary and secondary

Catholic school personnel.

school levels.

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Our schools educate the whole person.

The arts are important in Catholic education.

Steeped in a Catholic Worldview Catholic education aims at the

example of this. Rather than teaching

organizations, such as the Tablesetters

formation of the complete person. This

the four disciplines (science, technology,

Catholic School Teaching Program at

includes preparation for professional

engineering and mathematics) as

St. Francis Borgia in Cedarburg, as well

life, development of ethical and social

separate and discrete subjects, our STEM

as the St. Hyancinth Food Pantry and

awareness, and religious formation. Every

programs integrate them into a cohesive

the House of Peace student mission

aspect of a Catholic school spurs students

learning paradigm based on real-world

program at Pius XI Catholic High School.

to grow in the discipline to become a

applications and grounded in Catholic

Additionally, there are three International

self-learner, the ability to recognize moral

social teachings. By presenting the subject

Baccalaureate schools in the Archdiocese

behavior and the responsibility to transform

matter in this way, we give students the

of Milwaukee: Catholic Memorial High

the world with Gospel values. A Catholic

skills to understand global issues, such

School, St. Joan Antida High School and

school teaches students to view both

as environmental impact and medical

Wauwatosa Catholic. In all of our schools,

secular and religious topics from a Catholic

research, and respond in ways that reflect

the curriculum focuses on helping students

perspective.

a Catholic worldview.

develop the intellectual and emotional skills necessary to thrive in a global

The STEM curriculum in the schools of the

We also encourage the cultivation of a

Archdiocese of Milwaukee is a relevant

Catholic worldview through student service

community.

APPROXIMATELY

150 NEW TEACHERS WERE HIRED IN 2016

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Curriculum focuses on helping students develop the skills necessary for success in a global community.

Teachers are role models of faith for their students.

Sustained by Gospel Witness Catholic schools recruit teachers who

Literacy Day for all teachers, as well as

are practicing Catholics, who understand

regular curricular update sessions, most

and accept the teachings of the Catholic

recently in English / Language Arts

Church and the moral demands of the

and the revised Science and Family Life

Gospel and who can contribute to the

curriculum. Learning Support Teams and

school’s Catholic identity and apostolic

Early Childhood programs, sponsored

goals, including its commitment to social

in collaboration with the GMCEC,

justice and evangelization.

guide teachers in their efforts to assist students in their personal goals and

The Archdiocese of Milwaukee fosters its

overall development. Other innovative

teachers’ faith through the Sustaining the

programs, grounded in our commitment

Mission religious education certification

to expand the personal and professional

program provided through the Saint Clare

capacity of both students and teachers,

Center at Cardinal Stritch University. Every

include the Discovery Project, online

year, more than 2,000 of our elementary

and face-to-face blended courses for

and secondary school educators are

high achieving eighth graders, and the

formed in the faith through the systematic,

Future Leaders Seminar, sponsored by

coherent curriculum of this program,

the Institute for Catholic Leadership at

which is delivered during scheduled

Marquette University, aimed at developing

teacher in-service days. Other professional

the interests and skills of potential future

development programs include an annual

leaders for our Catholic schools.

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“The first duty of a teacher is to form Christians ... Society needs people of virtue more than people of learning.�

Blessed Basil Moreau, C.S.C.

Students are formed to be leaders in society.

Shaped by Communion and Community Catholic education puts an emphasis on the school as a community: a community of faith, a community of learning, and a community of care. Catholic schools do everything possible to promote trust and collaboration among teachers and parents, always mindful that parents are the primary educators of their children.

Our schools are also actively engaged with their parishes. In fact, 70 of the Milwaukee Archdiocese’s 94 elementary schools have a 1:1 relationship with a single parish, while the other 24 elementary schools and the 15 high schools develop relationships with local parishes in varied ways. Parish life is integral to our Catholic schools, and Catholic schools are integral to our parishes. Every parish, regardless of whether a Catholic school is on-site or not, has a commitment to Catholic education. Archbishop Listecki has emphasized that every parish has a Catholic school.

24

70

OF THE

94

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS HAVE A 1:1 RELATIONSHIP WITH A SINGLE PARISH

The end-goal is to build up a community of excellence in faith, learning and care.

Students from all backgrounds are invited to receive a quality Catholic school education.

Accessible to All Students Given their mission of evangelization, Catholic

and financial need. Similar programs exist

schools make themselves available to all

throughout the archdiocese. As a system-wide

people who want a quality Catholic school

fundraiser for tuition support, the archdiocese

education for their children. Working within

conducts the Soles for Catholic Education

the broader Catholic and civic communities,

Walk every year. Held at Mount Mary University,

Catholic schools maximize their use of available

it brings together students, families and

resources and find innovative options to make

community members for a two-mile fundraising

Catholic education accessible and affordable

walk, with all proceeds going toward individual

for all students.

school initiatives and tuition assistance.

In the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, this access is

Almost half of our Catholic elementary schools

achieved through a variety of scholarships and

and almost all of our high schools participate in

initiatives. The St. Gerard Scholarship program,

one or more of the Parental Choice programs

offered at select schools on Milwaukee’s

available in the state of Wisconsin. These

south side, is one example. Criteria for this

programs provide tuition vouchers for parents

scholarship include Catholic values, academic

who apply and are eligible for this form of

performance, service to parish and community

tuition assistance.

27 *Based on data collected as of June 30, 2015 from self-reporting parishes operating a non-consolidated elementary school.

Catholic schools are communities of faith, learning and care.

Catholic schools make themselves available to all who want a Catholic school education for their children.

Rooted in History and Catholic Identity Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki oversees

Each year, the elementary schools of the

the Archdiocese of Milwaukee’s 92

Archdiocese of Milwaukee participate

elementary schools and 15 high schools,

in a review process to ensure continued

ensuring that each offers a program

strength in academics and faith and are

of rigorous academics and a broad-

accredited by the Wisconsin Religious

based, multi-faceted education steeped

and Independent Schools Accreditation

in Catholic values. Actively putting into

Association and the Archdiocese of

practice his vision of making Catholic

Milwaukee. This rigorous accreditation

education sustainable, affordable and

process is based on the National Standards

accessible, the archbishop dynamically and

and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic

regularly promotes our Catholic schools.

Elementary and Secondary Schools.

Under Archbishop Listecki’s leadership, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee’s system of schools has flourished and grown.

The recently-founded Seton Catholic Schools, comprised of 26 Milwaukee County schools, is a network aimed at strengthening the academic excellence, evangelization, and organizational efficiencies of its member schools. A similar school network is being developed for the Catholic schools in Racine.

“Our Catholic schools teach young people how to live the Gospel through their actions, not just their words. These students are not only our next generations of Catholic disciples, but will also become active citizens, business men and women, and leaders in our communities. They will fill our pews and be the example of faith, knowledge and service to others.”

Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki

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Life. Lessons.

3501 S. Lake Drive PO Box 070912 Milwaukee, WI 53207 archmil.org 32