Dunne Together Packet

student enrichment

technology & infrastructure

professional development

tuition assistance

Message from the president

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e are excited to kick off our Dunne Together initiative this year, focusing on four areas of ongoing need for Bishop Dunne: Tuition Assistance, Professional Development, Technology and Infrastructure, and Student Enrichment. Dollars raised through Dunne Together will be invested in these areas of growth, based on student and faculty needs.

Tuition Assistance: to allow us to continue to grow our need-based assistance funds as well as merit scholarships for our students.

Professional Development: to support training, certification and specialty development for our faculty and staff.

Technology and Infrastructure: to support ongoing network, hardware and software needs to ensure our students, faculty and staff can stay connected both on campus and remotely.

Student Programs: to offer programs designed to support the growth of the whole child within our community of faith, ensuring our students are prepared for success in college. Included here are College Ready Academy and the Collegiate Institute, as well as assemblies and extracurricular activities at Bishop Dunne.

We need your support now, more than ever. We continue to proactively update our operating model to adjust to the ever-changing world of teaching in today’s learning environment. To do this well, we must fortify our teachers with the skills, credentials and professional development they need to deliver a robust academic experience to our students. With the support of superb technology, our faculty will continue delivering compelling and engaging content to our students.

It is our goal to make Bishop Dunne accessible to families seeking a Catholic, college preparatory education for their children. Concurrently, we must have monetary resources available to our many students who require financial support to attend Bishop Dunne, where they receive a transformative education.

As we prepare our students for “college and heaven”, we ask you to please support Dunne Together so that we may ensure a strong Bishop Dunne Catholic school for many years to come.

Mary Beth Marchiony, President

Message from the president

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atholic education is valuable in the life of a student because it provides a strong and loving atmosphere, which includes a structure and foundation based on biblical principles.

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- Cassidy Carlisle, Class of 2021

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ere at Dunne we celebrate and openly share our Catholic faith in all aspects of student life, from the opening prayer before a football game to morning announcements before class.

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- Sophia Gonzalez, Class of 2021

tuition assistance

Bishop Dunne is incredibly grateful to those who have helped raise over seven million for the tuition assistance program. These programs have generational impact for the success of our students. The Dunne Together initiative will enable Bishop Dunne students to become technological trailblazers, artistic creators, entrepreneurs, and leaders within their communities. Support of our tuition assistance programs provides the funding our students need, allowing us to leverage the unique geographic footprint of Bishop Dunne Catholic School to provide a Catholic college preparatory education in southern Dallas. Building upon a collaborative outreach to our donors, alumni and parents, the Dunne Together initiative is the catalyst for keeping everyone in the Falcon family Bishop Dunne strong!

Professional development for Bishop Dunne teachers equips them with the tools to develop their critical thinking skills and to better support their students’ educational needs while at Bishop Dunne and at the college level. For students to develop mastery of challenging content, problem-solving, effective communication and collaboration, and self-direction, teachers must also employ more sophisticated forms of teaching.

The professional development of our teachers empowers them to bring their ‘A’ game to the classroom every day. Our faculty are making a tremendous difference in the lives of our students, and your investment in our teachers is critical to their success in the classroom.

Teacher excellence equates to excellence not only for students, but for the future of Bishop Dunne Catholic School.

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- Erica Culton, Director of Middle School, Parent

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e teach our kids how to learn, how to be inquisitive and to ask questions of the world around them. We teach them how to explore their world and how to view that world through a lens tempered by The Gospels.

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- Mike Kistner, History Teacher

professional development

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e instill in our students a sense of pride in their work and all they do.

Teachers at Bishop Dunne showcase their dedication through every lesson and build relationships with their students each day.

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e are more than pleased to support Bishop Dunne on this initiative. I have personally worked with the faculty and staff at Bishop Dunne since 2012.

Their dedication to the students and the community in Oak Cliff is unlike anything I have witnessed elsewhere.

After being involved in several of their functions its easy to see why their students are positioned to excel. The time and dedication put into their facility, students and community is what makes us a strong supporter of Bishop Dunne!

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- Joe Perales, Mutual of America

Bishop Dunne faculty was prepared when the pandemic hit, transitioning immediately and seamlessly to distance-learning without missing a day of school. Our teachers created clever teaching plans, keeping our students engaged throughout the duration of the semester. Although returning to class this fall, teaching staff is prepared to revert to distance-learning should it become necessary.

State of the art technology, a strong, secure network and applications to enhance learning are paramount to our success as a school community. Having the ability to quickly adapt to any mode of teaching ensures our students continue to receive the top-quality education Bishop Dunne is known for providing. Resources to support this initiative are key to our mission and to attracting and retaining students, faculty and staff. Your support to Technology and Infrastructure helps ensure ongoing success of our school.

technology & infrastructure

Bishop Dunne prides itself in being on top of emerging technology. Never before has technology been such a critical element of teaching as it is in today’s learning environment. Bishop Dunne excels in utilizing technology to enhance teaching and to streamline operations.

At Bishop Dunne Catholic School, our goal is to ensure each student is well-prepared and wellequipped to succeed in higher education and beyond. There, the expansion and evaluation of student enrichment is more prevalent than ever. Bishop Dunne offers two unique programs in the vein of this development - College Ready Academy and Collegiate Institute.

Beginning in 2016, the director of college guidance introduced College Ready Academy, a two-year program designed to improve the college graduation rate for students who will be first-generation college students. the director invited qualified seniors and their families to enroll in a college readiness curriculum that demystified the application process, provided financial literacy, and outlined university expectations. The program guides each participant through nine weeks of individualized sessions, broadening their scope of which questions to ask and how to better address the college experience.

Orchestrated by the director of guidance and counseling beginning in 2020, the Collegiate Institute at Bishop Dunne helps students and families eliminate thousands of dollars in college tuition through satisfying college credit requirements and earning an Associate Degree of Science from Dallas College District (DC). The institute features a college curriculum and is taught on campus. This four-year program is available to qualified Bishop Dunne students entering the ninth grade and is offered at no additional tuition cost to the students.

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- Charleen Doan, Director of College Guidance

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ll incoming 9th grade cohort members of collegiate institute will know by the end of their 11th grade year what college they will be attending, what major they are going to major in and will have the money to pay for their tuition.

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- Dr. Elizabeth Hudson, Director of Guidance and Counseling

student enrichment

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aving the College Ready Academy opens doors to our first generation college students and families, providing them with the confidence to apply to college and develop the skills to succeed in higher education.