Dunne Together

The Dunne Together initiative was launched in 2020, raising over $1 million to support our four pillars; tuition assistance, professional development, technology and infrastructure and student enrichment. This was achieved while observing COVID-19 restrictions, which did not allow any events or small gatherings on or off campus. Huge credit for these accomplishments goes to Bishop Dunne’s loyal donors, alumni, families, and faculty and staff, who gave of their time, talent, and treasure to ensure students continued to receive Bishop Dunne’s transformational education.

Tuition Assistance Funds were used for both merit scholarships and needs-based assistance for the 70 percent of our student body who received significant financial aid.

Universities Bishop Dunne graduates will be attending include Yale University, Rice University, and University of Texas at Austin. The 2021 Bishop Dunne Valedictorian received Texas Christian University’s Chancellor’s Scholarship, a four-year tuition and fees award.

Professional Development Support for our teachers enables them to bring their “A” game to the classroom every day. Teacher excellence in the classroom equates to excellence not only for students, but for the future of Bishop Dunne Catholic School. Funding was provided by the Beatrice and Pat Haggerty Foundation for teacher certification for the Collegiate Institute. In partnership with Dallas College, we will have eight teachers certified to teach college-level courses on the Bishop Dunne campus.

Technology and Infrastructure State-of-the-art technology, a strong secure network, and cutting edge applications to enhance the learning experience are paramount to our success. Through the efforts of board Member, David Martinez and financial support from the Duda Family Foundation, we were able to provide our teachers with laptops. Additional technology upgrades included network infrastructure, new servers and increased security.

Student Enrichment Bishop Dunne offers two unique programs for student enrichment, College Ready Academy (CRA) and Collegiate Institute (CI). CRA, a program for first generation students attending college, saw 14 graduates gain admission to college this year. Support was provided through the David M. Crowley Foundation. Students who successfully complete the four-year CI program concurrently receive a high school diploma and an Associate of Science degree through Dallas College, at no additional tuition cost. Students earn 60 hours of credit that are transferable to all Texas universities and colleges.

The Arts

Arts

Band

Bishop Dunne Visual Arts continues to flex its creative muscles and resourcefulness in spite of COVID-19 limitations. Allie Ramirez and Hannah McKee ’10 had students learning from home repurpose commonly used items to create paper sculptures and to paint portraits out of highlighters, pens, and magazine cuttings. Once in-person instruction resumed in the late fall, Falcons explored a wide variety of media to enhance their understanding of art sustainability and to expand their use of the elements and principles of art.

The Bishop Dunne Band celebrated over 50 years of musical artistry and had the chance to showcase the students’ dedication to their craft at this year’s March performance. Led by Daniel Harrelson and Stephen Netsch, band students honed their skills through Bishop Dunne marching band, drumline, wind ensembles, and jazz band. The Bishop Dunne Band continues to receive recognition at the regional, state, and southern state events, earning superior ratings in all categories.